Villanova-Marquette serves as a celebration of national girls and women on Sports Day

One of the Big East women’s basketball games on National Girls and Women in Sports Day featured two of the conference’s three female head coaches: Villanova’s Denise Dillon and Marquette’s Megan Duffy. This was an opportunity that Big Her East Commissioner, Val Ackerman, could not pass up.

“I was thinking of doing something special with the women’s basketball game this year,” Ackerman told The Inquirer. “We had the idea of ​​celebrating them, so we added the aspect of working on the TV side to this. …It all came together and everyone was really excited.”

Ackermann added, “We want to celebrate everything that has happened in the last 50 years.” [since Title IX]”

» Read more: How Philadelphia’s top two women deal with pressure and media during banner season

The Wildcats beat the visiting Golden Eagles 73-54 Wednesday night, but it was basketball that celebrated the achievements of girls and women in sports.

An all-female television crew from Fox Sports highlighted the event.Kim Adams and Sloane Martin were on air, with Megan Caffrey as sideline reporter, Bonnie Riley as director, and Kristin Hennessy as producer. Further details were also considered, such as three female referees and an all-female a cappella group singing the national anthem.

“I could count on one hand how many female producers we’ve had,” Adams said. “When I went out and saw the production trucks outside, it was annoying in a good way. It was all women working there.”

Prior to the presentation, Villanova hosted a Women’s Leadership Panel featuring NBC Sports Chief Financial Officer Christine Dolfler, Playfly Sports Properties President Christy Hedgpeth and Sixers Chief Operating Officer Lara Price. bottom.

“The moderation of the panel was fantastic,” says Adams. “Just hearing from her three women who are at the top of their respective fields, at some point or still are in the minority.”

» Read more: Maddy Siegrist has Villanova’s scoring mark and a special bond with old record holder Sister Rose Marie.

For the most part, women are still a minority in the sports industry, but on Wednesday night it was just the opposite at the Finnelan Pavilion.

“It was really special to be there,” Caffrey said. “Now I’m sunk in that we were part of something bigger. Hopefully others will be excited to move forward.”

Adams added: It’s a really great experience. ”