As March comes to a close, the world of women’s sports is surging with momentum, marked by historic achievements and long-anticipated breakthroughs. In the nation’s capital, the energy this Women’s History Month has been undeniable.
There’s much to recap: from Howard Softball making program history, to the University of Maryland Women’s Basketball powering their way back to the NCAA tournament, and the WNBA reaching a landmark new collective bargaining agreement.
With these moments emphasizing that women’s sports are not just growing but thriving, many fans across the D.C. area feel the future has never looked brighter.
“The DC Sports scene has always been somewhat popular but now it’s blowing up on a wider scale,” said DMV sports fan Kyle Alexander.
Howard Softball Makes Program History, Earns Series Wins
On the first day of Women’s History Month, the Howard University softball team added a tremendous milestone to the program’s legacy.
The Lady Bison made program history with a 5-4 upset victory over the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Hillebrand Invitational in Tucson, Arizona. This marked the program’s first win over a Power Four opponent.
“I wanted to puke the entire game,” said head coach Tori Tyson. “Since I [started in] 2018, that has been on my vision board and in 2018 it literally sounded impossible. I think that the last two weeks have been heartbreaking because we have been banging on the door so I’m so happy that the girls just finally knocked the door down. And they didn’t just do it for themselves, but for so many alumni that have spoken this vision into existence.”
The Lady Bison kept that momentum rolling through a commemorative home-opening weekend, highlighted by an alumni celebration and a 2-1 series win over the UMES Hawks. Howard won Saturday’s doubleheader with back-to-back 4-1 victories before dropping the finale to Hawks on Sunday 8-3.
They rode that momentum all the way into their matchup with Delaware State, a familiar MEAC rival, where Howard delivered a dominant three-game sweep, outsourcing the Hornets 26-5. The performance marked their second conference series win of the season and extended their strike streak to nine consecutive MEAC series victories dating back to 2024.
“We’re not here to play, we’re here to win, and we’re here to compete,” said senior pitcher Julia Holt. “And build ourselves greater than what we’ve already proven to ourselves.”
Lady Terps Power to NCAA Tournament With Women-Led Coaching Staff
The University of Maryland Terrapins Women’s Basketball team made their way back to the NCAA, led by an all-female coaching staff this March.
With head coach Brenda Frese, the Terps (24-9) earned a No. 5 seed and advanced past No. 12-seeded Murray State 99-67 in the First Round. The win was powered by a historic freshman showing with 45 combined points from Kyndal Walker, Addi Mack, and Rainey Welson. Senior Mir McLean added a season-high double-double, highlighting the blend of experience with emerging talent.
“The mindset was just to have fun,” said McLean. “[I’m trying] not to put too much pressure on the game, knowing I am a senior and my season could end or my career could end at any night. [I’m] just trying my best and trying to be the best version of myself. Coach [Frese] talked about that at the beginning of the talk. That really resonated with me, trying to be my best and be an example for the freshmen and the people whose tournament this is their first.”
As the Lady Terps advanced, some fans and experts note that Maryland’s season— built on leadership from Frese and assistants Kaitlynn Fratz, Carley Kuhns, Lindsey Spann, Jessica Imhof, and Noelle Cobb— underscores the impact of women-led programs.
With 16 straight NCAA bids and 22 under Frese in 24 seasons, the Terps continue to set benchmarks in wins, player development and mentorship. Although their tournament run ended with a 74-66 loss to North Carolina, the program’s growth, historic milestones and leadership signal a bright future for the Terps and women’s basketball at large.
“I was really excited,” said Frese. “For me, coaching here, it’s a place that I know. I’m very familiar. You’ve been here numerous times. We’ve been able to get a lot of wins here. For me, it was really comfortable for our team.”
Washington Spirit Loses in Home Opener, Makes Comeback on the Road
A historic night at Audi Field saw the Washington Spirit draw a sellout crowd of 19,215, marking their seventh sellout in the past two years and a major milestone in the club’s growing support.
“The sellout was pretty awesome,” said star forward Trinity Rodman. “That was the craziest I ever felt the energy from the start. I think the walkout even was insane, to look up and see that. Year to year, game to game the passion in the stands creates a lot of fun.”
Despite the electric atmosphere, the Spirit fell 1-0 to the Portland Thorns FC, with a scoreless first half before Portland broke through in the 52nd minute. Washington created late chances, including a shot off the crossbar, but they couldn’t find an equalizer.
The Spirit then carried that loss on the road, bouncing back against the Racing Louisville FC. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw.
Goals from Sofia Cantore and Leicy Santos fueled the second-half comeback, securing a point and extending the Spirit’s unbeaten streak against Louisville to 12 matches.
“I think a part of our identity is always the same,” said Head Coach Adrián González. “Obviously we can learn from the past and be ambitious about the future but the reality is that we have today and this what we are doing— trying to be humble, learning from our mistakes, and trying to prove that we can be better than the season and last week.”
The WNBA Reaches a New Collective Bargaining Agreement
In a historic step, the WNBA and its players union have reached a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is set to run through 2032, reshaping the future of the league and women’s sports overall.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”
The deal dramatically increases investment in players, highlighted by a salary cap jump from $1.5 million to $7 million marking the introduction of revenue sharing, giving athletes a direct stake in the league’s growth. With total player compensation projected to exceed $1 billion, it paves the way for million-dollar salaries and marks a major shift in earning power.
Beyond finances, the agreement improves travel, benefits, and roster support. It also signals a new era of stability, growth, and player empowerment, making it one of the most transformative deals in professional sports history.
“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” said WNBPA President and 10-Time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward. This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”
Lady Bison Make History on the Court, Celebrate Women
Howard University Women’s Basketball has had an eventful Women’s History Month.
Even before kicking off March, the Lady Bison hosted its annual fundraiser, known as 100 Women for Howard: A Legacy In Motion on Feb. 21, at The Oliver, bringing together leaders across sports, business, and beyond to invest in the program’s future.
Paired with a key conference matchup against the North Carolina Central Eagles women’s basketball in the regular season, the day blended competition with community impact, and support for women in sports.
“The intention was to have it for women’s history month but [Feb. 21] is senior day for Howard Women’s Basketball so we had to do it this day,” said event host and CEO of the SVE Firm April D. Taylor. “But the lead up of it, to have so many phenomenal women of color, especially Black women here today at the Mecca, like you can’t ask for a better recipe of a good time.”
More than a single event, it served as a catalyst for growth and strengthening the resources for student-athletes, featuring dynamic panels of accomplished women who provided mentorship, and discussed visibility, NIL expansion opportunities, leadership, and navigating career pathways for women in sports.
“This event was a vision of mine five years ago to just be able to impact women and support women,” said Howard head coach Ty Grace. “Obviously it’s a bigger deal for my young ladies because I get to see them on a daily basis but I want them to know that there are other women out there and that they can aspire to be and that they can be inspired by. You can’t be what you can’t see. And obviously we’re in a room full of phenomenal women in sports and outside of sports. You know it’s just a great day to be able to see the impact that women have on the world.”
That momentum mirrors the team’s success on the court. The Lady Bison captured the 2025 MEAC Championship with a 53–46 win over Norfolk State Spartans women’s basketball, marking their record 12th championship and first since 2022. That MEAC title earned them a program-best No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
As support for the Lady Bison continues to grow, Howard is positioning themselves as a rising force in women’s basketball while advancing equity, opportunity, and long-term sustainability for the program. “Our goal is to ensure our student-athletes are supported holistically academically, athletically and professionally,” said Coach Grace, “The impact of 100 Women for Howard goes far beyond one day. It helps create pathways, exposure and opportunity that last well beyond the season.”