February 5 is an important day throughout the country. National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a landmark celebration nationally, and one the University of Arizona honors with its own rich and storied history. From the nation's most winners of NCAA Woman of the Year award to top women's sports programs with iconic coaches to historic achievements by female student-athletes, Arizona Athletics is a proud supporter of National Girls and Women in Sports Day and its impact on our nation.
On this day many of the fixture's in this celebration shared their thoughts as Wildcats throughout the country joined in.
Mike Candrea is entering his 35
th season as the head coach of Arizona Softball, which is one of the most preeminent women's athletic programs in the country. Candrea has over 1,600 wins in his career, 23 Women's College World Series appearances, eight national championships and an Olympic gold medal. The iconic coach spoke about the growth of women's sports at the University of Arizona.
Arizona Women's Basketball has emerged on the national scene in the 2020-21 season as Coach
Adia Barnes and the Wildcats have reached the top of the national rankings. Perhaps even more impressive is the growing support and popularity of the program in the Southern Arizona community that was sparked during the team's 2019 WNIT Championship run. Following record crowds, including a sold out crowd of 14,644 for the WNIT title game, the program has seen their average attendance continue to grow this season. Arizona set a new high for the most-attended rivalry game in its all-time series with Arizona State as more than 10,000 fans filled McKale Center.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day takes on an international appeal with Arizona Women's Tennis whose roster encompasses young women from Belgium, Canada, England, Hungary, Israel, the Philippines and the United States. This multinational and multicultural program shows you the power of women's sports reaches far beyond the United States and its national borders.
The University of Arizona boasts 22 national championships won by its programs with over half won by its Synchronized Swimming, Softball, Women's Golf and Women's Swimming and Diving programs with the most recent being Arizona Women's Golf's 2018 national championship.
The prominence of women's sports at Arizona Athletics has deep historical roots. Included in Arizona's 122 Olympians are 56 women. In fact, Arizona's first two Olympians represented Arizona Women's Swimming and Diving. Irma Lozano competed for Mexico in the 1952 Olympics in the 3-Meter Springboard, and Patty Kempner participated in the 1960 Olympics for the United States. Kempner swam in the 200-meter breaststroke and was part of America's gold medal 400-meter medley relay team.
The powerful impact celebrated by National Girls and Women in Sports Day is felt by thousands of Wildcat student-athletes of past and present. It's a special day at Arizona Athletics because it truly is a celebration of the greatness and excellence Wildcats have accomplished and continue to achieve.
CELEBRATING NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
