Our Story

Our Story

No female athlete should have to fight alone.

I know what that loneliness feels like. When Lia Thomas joined my swim team at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, I spoke out. The university told us their decision was “non-negotiable.” My teammates went quiet. The community I had built my entire athletic identity around disappeared overnight. I was not prepared for how isolating it would be to do the right thing with nobody standing beside you.

That experience is what Athletes for Action was built on. Not the controversy, but the silence around it.

"The biggest thing missing in women's sports right now is not another advocacy campaign. It is community."

Because here is the truth: what happened at Penn is not unique. Every day, female athletes across this country are dealing with something, and they are dealing with it alone. Underfunded programs. Inadequate support. Coaches and institutions that tell them to stay quiet and fall in line. A sports culture that still treats women as an afterthought. And when girls do speak up, too often they find out their teammates are afraid, their school is indifferent, and there is no one in their corner.

We are changing that. Through local and national chapters, Athletes for Action connects female athletes to each other and builds real community, the kind that does not collapse when things get hard. We are not here to talk at athletes. We are here to talk with them, show up for them, and make sure no girl ever has to navigate any of this by herself.

Women’s sports deserve more than awareness. They deserve people who actually have their backs. We are building that, one chapter at a time.

 – Paula

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Inquiries?

Get in touch with Athletes for Action.

Phone:

(215) 300-9827

Email:

info@athletesforaction.com

Interested in creating a A4A chapter at your high school or college? 

 

Please reach out to Liz Harris at (215) 300-9827.

    At Athletes For Action, our mission is to educate, empower, and advocate for Title IX and the advancement of girls’ and women’s sports while protecting the integrity of these programs. We believe in giving parents and girls a voice, ensuring their concerns are heard and valued as we actively lobby for girls’ rights in sports and push for equitable policies and legislation. By working collaboratively with schools, leagues, and stakeholders, we develop innovative solutions that guarantee fair locker room spaces and athletic opportunities for female athletes. Our commitment is to foster a culture of inclusivity and support, enabling every girl to thrive in a safe and empowering environment, while we strive to break down barriers and create a brighter future for women’s sports by upholding the rights of female athletes at all levels.