OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The push to get women in professional sports the same opportunities as men in their professional sports. Lawmakers held a study on Tuesday morning examining how female sports teams help the state and the players’ professional careers, as well as discussing a bill that they’re hopeful will pass to address the issue.
“When communities invest in women’s professional sports. These ripples extend into real economic growth,” said Marlene Livaudais, the former corporate director for the Tulsa Shock.
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During the interim study on Tuesday, lawmakers and supporters looked at the impact sports have on female athletes in the workforce and professional sports settings.
“As these girls grow into women. The lesson of sport, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, carries on into the boardrooms, classrooms, and civic life,” said Livaudais.
Tina Floyd is the owner of the Oklahoma City Spark softball team. She believes professional women’s sports are important to the future of Oklahoma.
“I’m gonna fight for it until these women get the same spot, I’m not gonna say that they deserve…but that they’ve earned…because they have earned it,” said Tina Floyd, the owner of the Oklahoma City Spark.
Lawmakers are working on passing a bill to create similar opportunities as male sports, to continue bringing women’s sports to Oklahoma, and to keep them here.
“This is not a DEI initiative or anything like that. This Oklahoma landscape is ready for this, and we are ready to make those investments,” said Representative Emily Gise (R), Oklahoma City.
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There’s also the economic side that supporters of professional women’s sports believe is a good investment for the state, but they say right now, that isn’t readily available for professional women’s teams.
“It’s a partnering position that says we as a municipality, we as a state see that and we’re gonna work with you on that because we know when you come here and we can help you, because it’s gonna have those economic benefits…but none of that happens, if there’s no market for it,” said Eric Newendrop, a Sports Management Professor at University of Tulsa.
Senator Mary Boren and Representative Emily Gise are hopeful the bill will be heard in the upcoming session and pass to increase the opportunities for professional women’s sports in Oklahoma.
