The inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala provided a platform for prominent athletes to discuss the burgeoning landscape of women's sports. Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, hockey player Hilary Knight, and soccer player Trinity Rodman shared their perspectives on the red carpet, emphasizing the importance of visibility and representation.
"Visibility is huge," Gu told TIME. "To be able to be represented, and [for] people to show up and be a part of what we’re doing is just so incredible."
Knight, who previously captained the Seattle Torrent, noted a record-setting event in women's hockey. In April, more than 18,000 spectators attended a game at Madison Square Garden where her team played against the New York Sirens. This marked the highest single-match attendance for a women's hockey game in a U.S. arena.
"I truly believe that sport can unite people like nothing else, and it’s just so special to be a part of that," Knight said. Gu echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that increased representation will inspire young girls to participate in sports.
"I hope [it] encourages just one young girl at home to give it a shot and feel like this sport belongs to her too," Gu stated.