The Michigan State women's basketball team celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day during their game Monday night against Indiana, since the Spartans’ game against Penn State was postponed Jan. 31.
During halftime, the team and the rest of the crowd celebrated all MSU women’s sports by calling out various women’s teams and recognizing their achievements from their current or previous seasons. These teams included the cheer/dance team, rowing, gymnastics, track and field, cross country, tennis, field hockey, swim and dive and volleyball.
“I just think that everything we do, women just automatically get the inferior spot in life in general," junior guard Taryn McCutcheon said. "We're starting to realize that that's not the right way to do it and giving women in sports gives a chance for them to show some leadership and take more of a platform in the world. I think that a lot of young women look up to people like girls or women who play. I know a lot of little girls come to the games, they see us playing and they see what we can do.”
It also was the team’s Glow Green night, with the team wearing special neon embroidered jerseys and socks. Glow sticks and rally towels were distributed to the crowd before tipoff.
“There's so many life lessons in (sports), the work ethic, the challenging yourself, taking risks, failing, fighting through adversity, coming together as a team," coach Suzy Merchant said. "When we can celebrate young girls and women doing that ... that's what we're all about, is embracing that."
"We were disappointed that the game got postponed that night and I know there probably would have been a better showing that night because it was promoted. That was the big game. But I still looked up there and saw a lot of young faces and a lot of our women's teams." coach Merchant said. "I want to thank all of them, too, for coming out and celebrating women in sports and certainly teaching young girls what it's like on some life lessons through a game they love.”
Redshirt junior guard Shay Colley, who lead the team in points on Monday night, was appreciative they had the chance to recognize all of the MSU women’s teams during halftime.
“It's important to recognize women in sports today because we came a long way from Title IX back when girls started first getting scholarships and stuff like that,” Colley said. “It was just very important for us to take that time out and just recognize all women in sports. It doesn't matter what sport they play.”
The Spartans travel to Wisconsin Feb. 14 to take on the Badgers (11-13) at 8 p.m.
Support student media!
Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Discussion
Share and discuss “Women's basketball honored National Girls and Women in Sports Day” on social media.