Girls in Flag - She’s Got Game: Breaking Records and Building Leaders

This fall, we set a new milestone by enrolling over 2,000 girls in our programs—surpassing the total number of girls who participated throughout the entire 2022-2023 school year. This incredible growth is fueled by our She’s Got Game initiative, which is dedicated to investing deeply in our female athletes and coaches.

She’s Got Game tackles gender inequity in sports head-on. We intentionally create safe, supportive spaces where girls can explore, grow, and thrive through physical activity. By empowering young women to play a variety of sports—from softball and basketball to soccer, volleyball, and swimming—we are helping them build confidence, leadership skills, and healthy lifestyles that will benefit our entire community for years to come.

The need for initiatives like She’s Got Game is urgent. Louisiana ranks in the bottom 10 states nationally for girls’ participation in sports, and research shows that by eighth grade, girls are 50% more likely than boys to drop out of sports (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2019). Yet, sports have a powerful impact—94% of female corporate executives surveyed played sports growing up (Every Kid Sports, 2021).

At The 18th Ward, we’re committed to creating a place where girls not only have fun and feel safe but also develop the skills and confidence to lead—on and off the field. Because when girls play, they win.