National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Athletes Answer Questions
2/6/2025 8:10:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball
This week as UC Riverside is celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day by spotlighting our incredible female student-athletes in a special video series. To make the experience even more meaningful, we invited members of the UCR community to have their daughters, granddaughters, and nieces—ages 6 to 10—submit questions for our student-athletes to answer. What followed was a heartfelt exchange between young, aspiring athletes and those who have walked the path before them.
For many of our student-athletes, this experience was a nostalgic reflection on their own journeys. Seneca Hackley of the UCR Women's Basketball team shared, "I remember a point in time when I was younger and I wanted to know everything about what college athletes do and what it's like to be a college athlete. I just think it's really cool that all these young girls are working to become college athletes because it's a really cool experience."
KaMia Elliott from UCR's women's soccer team echoed that sentiment. "At a young age, I had the same questions as these girls, but I was too nervous to ask. I was happy to give them advice and clarity as they begin their soccer journey."
Sports are about resilience, perseverance, and growth. Every athlete experiences setbacks, but the true test is how they respond.
"Failures are all part of the process," said UCR women's golfer Gabrielle Kiger. "I want these young athletes to know that it's important to get back up, keep playing, and keep practicing hard. Every setback is just one step closer to success."
Kiger emphasized that learning from failures is key to improvement, a message that resonated with many of her fellow athletes.
Beyond competition, our student-athletes recognize the privilege of serving as role models for the next generation. Volleyball player Layla Hooks reflected on how answering the questions brought back memories of her own childhood. "Answering these questions was really meaningful to me. When I was younger, I looked up to older athletes, and their stories helped me believe in what I could accomplish."
Tennis and Track student-athlete Olivia McIntosh-Adams felt similarly. "It made me feel great and a little emotional because I remember being that little girl trying to find my way in the sports world."
Being an NCAA Division I athlete comes with a unique platform, and Chloe Vu of the UCR Women's Tennis team takes pride in that responsibility. "Competing at the D1 level allows me to represent females in sports and inspire younger girls to work hard and follow their passion."
McIntosh-Adams also emphasized the importance of self-belief and determination, regardless of when a young athlete begins their journey. "Starting a sport later in life is okay, too. Having that self-hunger and drive will get you where you want to be, whether you started at five or thirteen."
For Hooks, this experience underscored the importance of sharing her journey with the next generation. "Growing up, I didn't always see as many female athletes in the spotlight, so I want to contribute to changing that narrative," she said.
McIntosh-Adams added, "I wanted to give my perspective to see if it could help younger girls who are still figuring out if college sports are right for them."
The history of women's collegiate athletics is a testament to resilience and progress. Before the passage of Title IX in 1972, opportunities for female athletes were scarce. Since then, women's participation in college sports has soared, paving the way for generations of athletes to compete on the biggest stages.
As you'll see in our videos, the athletes had a blast answering these questions, many of which reflected the curiosity and aspirations they once had as young girls. UCR softball student-athlete Haylee Lindsey added, "NGWSD means a lot to me. It means that the women of the past, present, and future are a step closer to getting the recognition they all deserve."
Their stories serve as a powerful reminder of how sports can shape confidence, resilience, and lifelong ambition. National Girls and Women in Sports Day is not just about celebrating achievements—it's about inspiring the future and ensuring that every young girl believes she, too, belongs in the game.
Please watch their live reactions and responses below.
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What happens when young girls get to ask our female student-athletes anything? Pure inspiration! Watch as they talk sports, school, and chasing big dreams. #NGWSD #PlaytoLead #GoHighlanders pic.twitter.com/qiEIWkR5HP
— Highlander Athletics (@UCR_Athletics) February 6, 2025
