On February 18, Villanova students packed the Finneran Pavilion for the highly anticipated women’s basketball game against UConn. Everyone was buzzing with excitement about having entered the lottery and won, because who can remember the last time there was a lottery for a women’s sporting event? 

  The Villanova versus UConn women’s game was the first game that included a lottery, not just this season, but in recent years. I went to the Pink-Out game where the Wildcats defeated Marquette, 73-54. 

It was an exciting game, and I was shocked to see how many empty seats there were, especially in the student section. For years, a common excuse for a lack of student attendance has been, “Well, the women’s sports don’t do as well as the men’s,” but in terms of basketball, our women’s team is nationally ranked. 

This year, the Villanova women’s basketball team is ranked much higher than the men’s in their respective divisions and have been performing better. In general, playing a Division 1 sport is difficult, and given the strength of our women’s team, they should be getting as many packed seats as the men’s.

  Women’s basketball is not the only sport that does not get the recognition it deserves. 

When thinking of Villanova sports, a person hardly hears about field hockey, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer- the list goes on. Sure, people go to the games, but most of the time it is to collect enough points to win lotteries for men’s basketball games. 

Oftentimes, people leave after the first half of the game because they received their points and do not really care to stay for the outcome of the game. I am sure it is discouraging for Villanova’s female athletes to see such a lack of support from their peers given how hard they work. 

In response, Villanova should make it so students can only scan and receive their points at the end of a game. 

That way, people can not leave halfway through a game after receiving points, and students can give their proper attention and support to our deserving womens’ teams.

  Villanova senior and avid women’s sports supporter Gabby Slentz gave her opinion on student recognition of womens’ sports at Villanova. 

“I totally think women’s sports are underrated,” Slentz said. “These athletes are just as talented and put in the same amount of time. It is super frustrating to see them not get the hype.” 

Slentz also shared her positive experiences with women’s sports and how we need to care more. “One of my favorite memories, ever, was being invited onto a Notre Dame women’s basketball bus to meet the team after they won,” Slentz said. “The girls were so nice and took pictures and chatted with us. It is so important for young girls to have role models who inspire them to be better people and to work hard.” 

  The Villanovan also spoke to sophomore Corrine Wilm, and asked what she thinks would help the women’s sports teams at Villanova recieve the same support from students as the men’s do. 

“Making the women’s basketball games have lotteries for each one will make it have that special feeling the men’s games have,” Wilm said. Lotteries get our student body excited, so why can’t both teams have one? 

  Outside of Villanova, we see this imbalance in women’s sports everywhere. Everyone gets excited for the Super Bowl, World Series and countless other men’s playoff games, while women’s sports are rarely even aired on TV. 

Women work just as hard in their collegiate sports as men and deserve support, not only during college, but in their future careers as well. 

We need to care more about Villanova’s women’s sports and set a new standard that both men’s and women’s sports are entertaining and worth watching. 

Young girls need role models, and strong women in sports who get support from their fans are the perfect fit. To do our part, we need to give Villanova’s women’s sports just as much recognition as the men’s.