Female Athlete of the Year

The 2024 Olympics in Paris highlight the increasing prominence of women's sports, with athletes like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles achieving historic milestones. Interest in women's athletics is surging, evidenced by record attendance at women's college basketball games and the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League, with projections indicating women's sports will generate over $1 billion in revenue in 2024. In high school sports, Kendra Santiago was named the Standard-Times Female Athlete of the Year for her impressive contributions in soccer and track, while women’s basketball at Iowa continues to thrive as the program celebrates its top players. Meanwhile, Sue Enquist, a renowned UCLA softball coach, is influencing the U.S. women's volleyball team as they pursue another Olympic title, emphasizing the mindset of being 'bigger than the moment.' The achievements of female athletes across various sports demonstrate a legacy of pioneering work that has fostered greater visibility and opportunity for women in athletics.