ESPN launched a campaign on International Women’s Day celebrating female empowerment in sports leading up to the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
The spot is narrated by Good Morning America host and former college basketball player Robin Roberts, and is underscored by Pink’s song “What About Us”—which is also the name of the campaign that will continue throughout the tournament which runs from March 16 - April 1.
The 30-second video weaves together iconic moments from previous NCAA women’s tournaments, with images of female athletes who have defined expectations, broken gender barriers and achieved incredible feats in their sport.
Those featured include:
Pat Summitt – legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach who was a pioneer for the sport
Danica Patrick – most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing
Becky Hammon – assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs (second female asst. coach in NBA history, first full-time), former WNBA player
Laila Ali – former professional boxer and philanthropist, health advocate and TV personality; daughter of the late and great Muhammad Ali
Mia Hamm – Two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the best female soccer players in history
Ibtihaj Muhammad – American sabre fencer and Olympic bronze medalist; first American Muslim woman to wear a hijab while competing for the US in the Olympics; first female American Muslim athlete to earn Olympic medal
Billie Jean King – tennis great who fought for equal prize money for women in the sport
Chloe Kim – the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding medal
“Final Five” USA Gymnastics team – Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian; won team gold at 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
Annika Sorenstam – one of the best female golfers in history
Janet Evans – Five-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming
Serena Williams – one of the greatest tennis players of all time
CREDITS
Agency: ESPN CreativeWorks