Play It Forward: How Women Are Changing Sports to Change the World

New from TOGETHXR—the sports media company that set the sports world on fire with their defining statement “EVERYONE WATCHES WOMEN’S SPORTS”—this inspiring collection of stories shines a light on the grit, smarts, and determination of record-setting and boundary-breaking female athletes around the world and across sports.

Play It Forward features twenty‑five inspirational stories of badass women from all corners of the sports universe, curated by TOGETHXR, a sports media company founded by legends Sue Bird, Alex Morgan, Simone Manuel, and Chloe Kim. From profiles of professional athletes and Olympians at the top of their game to everyday women putting in the work without a crowd, these are true tales of fierce competitors, dedicated teammates, and passionate advocates who are all too accustomed to hearing the word “no.” Each story highlights an inspiring athlete or team who is defying expectations and rebelling against inequality in big and small ways, including:

• Indigenous women forming a softball team in Mexico

• Older women finding friendship and purpose through competitive swimming

• A woman mountain-climbing her way out of oppression in Afghanistan

• WNBA players developing a voice for social justice and influencing a pivotal election

• Incarcerated women playing soccer to prepare for life after release

For sports fans of all ages, Play It Forward celebrates and elevates the gutsy true stories of activists and dreamers who are changing the game, and the world of sports, for the better.

WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETES: A foreword and afterword by world-class athletes and Olympians Alex Morgan and Sue Bird set the stage and offer key context for this inspirational collection of stories of women who are defying the odds and breaking the rules.

STORIES FROM ACROSS WOMEN'S SPORTS: TOGETHXR created the viral sensation "Everyone Watches Women Sports" that caught fire during the record-breaking NCAA 2024 Women's Basketball Tournament. Their ongoing mission is to elevate women's sports coverage in a space where culture, activism, lifestyle, and sports converge. In this powerhouse book, TOGETHXR gathers celebrity and everyday stories to create a breadth of inspiration from powerful women across a range of sports, from basketball, soccer, and hockey to swimming, gymnastics, rowing, and professional bowling.

ENGAGING JOURNALISM: The stories are contemporary and underreported features covering athletes and teams that will be new to many readers. The essays are all written by acclaimed female and nonbinary journalists from around the world.