Five new and returning sports for Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games celebrate International Women’s Day
Find out what inclusion means to cricket player Smriti Mandhana, flag football quarterback Diana Flores, softball’s Kelly Maxwell, squash World No. 1 Nour El Sherbini, and lacrosse star Erica Evans.
The five sports that will either make their debut or will be returning to the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028 came together to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday (8 March).
Five inspirational women in their respective sports of cricket, flag football, softball-baseball, squash, and lacrosse were asked, “What does inclusion feel like?”
Read on to find out more about the athletes, and find out what their answers were.
Smriti Mandhana plays for the Indian women’s national cricket team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Women's Premier League.
The Mumbai native was awarded the 2021 ICC Women’s Player of the Year award before helping India to gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
On inclusion, Mandhana said, “It feels like winning.”
Flag football star Diana Flores is the quarterback and captain of the Mexican national team who won gold at the 2022 World Games.
The global ambassador of Flag Football for the NFL said, “It feels like togetherness.”
Smriti Mandhana of Royal Challengers Bangalore looks on during the WPL 2023 match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals at Brabourne Stadium on March 5, 2023 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
USA women's softball player Kelly Maxwell is a two-time college All-American, and was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist in 2022 and 2023.
The Oklahoma Sooner added, “It feels like every woman can dream bigger.”
Women’s World No. 1 squash player Nour El Sherbini is a seven-time world champion.
The Egyptian, who became the youngest woman to win the women’s world championships in 2016, said, “It feels like you can inspire the world.”
Erica Evans is the head women's lacrosse coach at Trent University in Ontario
The former Canada international, who helped her nation win silver at the 2022 World Championship and gold at the World Games, said, “It feels like someone’s got your back.”
