The sports media, entertainment and events industry has long been a competitive and male-dominated space with women facing gender barriers to career opportunities and advancements. When Isa Almeida, a senior majoring in journalism, received a press assignment for a women’s basketball game at the Moody Center, she was surprised to find that her first thought upon entering the press box was, “Why am I the only woman here?”

“I think women, especially when covering women’s sports, have a personal view because it is a group that has been through a lot, and we kind of feel it in our skin,” Almeida said.

Since that experience, Almeida’s position as sports editor for The Daily Texan has allowed her to see a change in and outside of the press box as women’s presence in the industry continues to grow. However, the memory of being the only woman during her women’s basketball game assignment from her early days at the Texan still lingers.

Like Almeida, many women in sports media and entertainment continue navigating an industry where the playing field isn't always level. Two student-led organizations at the University of Texas, Texas WISE and Girls Club Texas, are working to change that by offering the skills, mentorship, networks and community needed to succeed in these industries.

Texas WISE

Farah Ray, a senior majoring in psychology and Plan II honors with a minor in sports media, founded Texas WISE after noticing a disparity in the coverage, enthusiasm and attendance between male and female sporting events.

“I realized there wasn’t much happening for women in sports,” Ray said. “They’ve been underrepresented and undervalued historically, so I wanted to create a platform that not only gets women’s foot in the door, but also helps them succeed in their designated sphere once they’re in that field.”

Since its founding in December, Texas WISE has grown quickly, providing members with essential tools for success, including internship opportunities, job resources and professional connections. The organization is also planning to close the technical skills gap that often limits women in sports media and entertainment by offering workshops for tools like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign in the future.

Additionally, the organization is developing a pathway to Texas Studios, a broadcast and video board production center powered by Dell Technologies that provides content for the Longhorn Network. This initiative would offer members the opportunity to intern and gain hands-on experience.

“Once you're involved and see yourself working in the field, you become that much more tied to it,” Ray said. “You’re surrounded by women who only want to see you succeed.”

As the outgoing president, Ray hopes to leave behind a strong foundation for an organization that will continue to push women to be at the forefront of the sports industry.

“There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s progress, not perfection,” Ray said. “Hopefully, one day, we can achieve it.” 

Girls Club Texas

Girls Club Texas, like Texas WISE, was founded for women pursuing careers in sports at UT or fans of the game. For Araceli Reynoso, a journalism sophomore with a sports media minor, the lack of a community on campus for women in sports became clear early on.

"When I first got to UT, I was looking for a group of women who were also interested in sports," Reynoso said. "But I never found it. UT is such a big school, and I thought, ‘Why is this not a thing?’"

Determined to change that, Reynoso, now the vice president of the organization, along with other students founded Girls Club Texas. A space where women of all backgrounds can come together over their shared love of sports.

Ciara Brown, an advertising sophomore with a minor in business and sports analytics and the organization’s recruitment co-chair, shared a similar experience. Since joining, she said the organization has helped her thrive while nurturing her passion for sports.

"With a lot of programs on campus, it always felt like I was having to prove myself,” Brown said. “With Girls Club, there’s no test. It’s a come one come all type of organization. There’s no pressure to know a specific amount about sports or to have an internship in sports. If you’re here for the love of sports, we’re here to welcome you with open arms."

Girls Club Texas celebrates more than female athletes. The organization provides a platform for the women working behind the scenes — nutritionists, journalists, videographers, analysts and more.

Reynoso said she is working on launching a YouTube channel and podcast for the club and encouraged those who were interested to join the organization. 

"It doesn’t matter if you have experience or not," she said. "We want to create an open space for everyone to share their opinions and ideas."

In addition, the organization is developing a website where members can write articles on any topic they choose. For Brown, Girls Club Texas is about giving women the platform to express themselves in whatever form they choose and providing them with the confidence to do it.

The rise in visibility for women’s sports has helped develop newfound confidence for women in the industry, showcased right outside the Moody College of Communication’s door at 1972: ATX Women’s Sports Pub, opening this spring. However, despite the progress, both organizations recognize that there is still work to be done.

“We need more classes that cater towards sports and females,” Ray said. “You're constantly fed ideas growing up that women aren't supposed to be good at sports. There's always going to be a person that discredits a woman's knowledge.”

This ongoing inequality continues to fuel the mission of Texas WISE and Girls Club Texas as they aim to create a more inclusive environment for women, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

"We’re not going anywhere,” Reynoso said.

Students interested in joining Texas WISE or Girls Club Texas can find more information and get involved by visiting their Instagram pages: @girlsclubtexas and @texasw1se.