5 Most Popular Sports for Women

     Sports have a larger-than-life presence, whether we pursue them as a profession or merely play for fun. This used to be a male-dominated sphere for years, with big names like Michael Jordan, Diego Maradona, Michael Phelps and many others.

    From the famous tennis sisters, Serena and Venus Williams, to the Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, the sports industry is undergoing a transformation, thus carving out space for girls who are ready to show the world what they’re made of. These changes are followed by an increased interest in sport among the fairer sex.

    So, we are now taking you to the 5 most popular sports for women around the world.

Tennis

       Tennis is the first game that usually comes to mind when talking about female sports. After all, it’s the chosen sport of legends like Maria Sharapova and Steffi Graff. A great number of people worldwide tune in to follow WTA games and watch young hopes such as Naomi Osaka carve a name for themselves. It’s no wonder, then, that many women turn to this activity as their recreation of choice.             Aside from being popular, tennis is an ideal activity to stay in shape and improve agility. This sport entails continuous movement, which means you’ll improve your flexibility and agility over time. If you’re trying to lose weight and looking for the perfect cardio routine, consider giving tennis a go. Some findings indicate that recreational players can lose 600–1,200 calories per 2-hour training session. Not bad, right?

Basketball

    Our second spot goes to one of the most popular sports around the world — basketball. Millions of people across the globe flock together to see which team will hold the famous Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. That said, the WNBA isn’t lagging far behind either, with names like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart at the helm. These powerful women have inspired many girls to take up basketball.

    The benefits this sport offers are aplenty. Just like tennis, basketball is a great example of aerobic exercise. It’ll get your heart rate up and help burn calories. Moreover, basketball is a sport that requires stamina, so with regular training, you’ll build muscular endurance and strengthen your core. Basketball also entails having decent foot and hand-eye coordination since you’ll need to watch out for other players as you shoot, pass, or dribble.

Soccer

    The third spot on our list of women’s sports belongs to soccer. It is one of the most widely played sports, with organizations like FIFA leading the way. Soccer is gaining traction among women, to the point that the Women’s FIFA World Cup 2022 had 1 million spectators. Global superstars like Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd continue to serve as role models for numerous girls who are new to the sport. 

    As you start getting into the game, you’ll notice your body starting to change, too. Namely, soccer requires you to use a broad range of muscles, so you’ll be fostering both upper and lower body strength. Moreover, since it is a team sport, you’ll also get to build your people skills. Soccer is so much more than just kicking the ball and scoring goals; you need to work with all team members to come out on top.

Hockey

    You probably would’ve never thought to put hockey on the most popular sports for women list, yet here we are. The popularity of this sport among women has surged in recent years. We have players like Hayley Wickenheiser, who has made history as the first woman to play full-time men's hockey professionally. 

    Those who want to speed up their metabolism can definitely consider hockey to help them achieve their goals. Thanks to the start-stop nature of the sport (periods of rest followed by skating), you’ll be getting high-intensity interval training, increasing your metabolism, and burning calories.

Softball

    Finally, we round off our list with softball. The beloved team-focused game dates all the way back to 1887, when Yale and Harvard graduates played the first softball match ever. The gameplay couldn't be any more straightforward, which is a testament to the sport's modern-day popularity. There are scads of collegiate teams and successful players across the USA, including Jennie Finch, the winner of the 2001 Women's College World Series.

    Playing softball will require you to think on your feet the whole time. It’s a great sport if you’re looking for total body conditioning, as you’ll be using a wide range of muscles. Of course, consistent exercise is a great stress reliever since you have to focus on the task at hand.