Becoming a mother is one of the greatest gifts. Becoming a mother can also change a woman’s life in more ways than she expected. When it comes to professional athletes, having to choose between starting a family or keeping their career alive is a question that is very much real. Without the support of their family, team, or even sponsors, many women fear being unable to fulfill both roles at the same time.
However, little by little mother athletes have been making strides to show the world they can do both. Women in this day and age may still be fighting for certain rights, but they are doing it loud and proud. Getting what they ultimately deserve if or when they chose to become mothers throughout their career.
It was just in January 2020 when the WNBA Players Association and WNBA came to an eight-year agreement in regards to multiple topics, such as “Motherhood and Family Planning Elements”. This included:
– Players to receive full salary while on maternity leave.
– A new annual child care stipend of $5,000.
– Two-bedroom apartments for players with children.
– Workplace accommodations that provide a comfortable, safe and private place for nursing mothers.
– New, progressive family planning benefits of up to a $60,000 reimbursement for veteran players for costs directly related to adoption, surrogacy, oocyte cryopreservation or fertility/infertility treatment.
While this was a huge step in the right direction, this is just a small percentage of athletes in just one professional league.
Now as we prepare for the much anticipated Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games, the world has turned its eyes to watch the best of the best compete for a ticket to represent their country. For many watchers like myself, we get to learn stories of certain athletes that we may have never heard of or rarely pay attention to until this time of the year.
In particular, is top track star Allyson Felix. On her way to her fifth consecutive Olympic Games, Felix will be competing as a mother for the first time after experiencing backlash for her pregnancy. Being sponsored by Nike and pregnant with her daughter in 2018. Felix felt that Nike was more interested in her winning than her recovery after birth. Because of this Felix chose to leave Nike and create her own brand.
After experiencing the feeling unsupported during her pregnancy, Felix has become very vocal about being a mother and an athlete and how to make these two work as one. Recently, along with her now sponsor Athleta and Women’s Sports Foundation, she launched “Child Care Grant” to support athletes who are mothers.
Through an application process, mothers who are chosen will receive $10,000 to help with child care expenses whether that’s needing to bring a sitter, travel, meals, equipment and medical expenses. A total of $200,000 will be given out for 2021, which means 20 moms will be able to get the assistance they need.
That list at the moment includes:
Gwendolyn Berry (Track & Field), Natasha Hastings (Track & Field), Quanera Hayes (Track & Field), Sally Kipyego (Track & Field), Brittney Reese (Track & Field), Kaleo Kanahele Maclay (Sitting Volleyball), Diana Taurasi (Basketball), Skyler Diggins-Smith (Basketball), Alex Morgan (Soccer), Natalie Schneider (Wheelchair Basketball), Elana Meyers Taylor (Bobsled), Aliphine Tuliamuk (Track & Field), Foluke Gunderson (Volleyball), Lora Webster (Sitting Volleyball), Jamie Whitmore (Paracyling), and Mariel Zagunis (Fencing).
While the top athletes may have the income to support their travel expenses and training to compete at such a level, other athletes are still looking to break the internet for that big sponsorship. With grants like this, it allows mother athletes to not have to choose to either chase one’s dream or being a mom.
For more information on the “Child Care Grant” criteria and how to apply: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/wsf_programs/child-care-grant/
