The iWoman Report: Women's Sports Dominate, A New Approach to Aging, and Gilmore Girls is Coming Back

Women’s Sports Are Breaking Records and Building Futures

This past weekend in San Francisco, more than 40,000 fans filled Oracle Park for a matchup between Bay FC and the Washington Spirit, setting a new attendance record for the National Women’s Soccer League. The event, billed as “The Show,” served as a visible marker of women’s sports entering a new era that is more defined by its record crowds, unprecedented investment, and expanding opportunities for athletes than the general indifference that used to be attached.

Bay FC, one of the NWSL’s newest franchises, has already become a symbol of this movement. Playing in a stadium long associated with Major League Baseball legends, the team’s record-breaking turnout highlighted the shifting cultural landscape: women’s sports are not simply drawing attention, they are commanding center stage.

While soccer continues to break barriers, another sport with a long history of exclusion is preparing for a major milestone. The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), set to launch next year, is creating the first structured pathway for women to play baseball at a professional level in the United States.

For decades, opportunities for girls in baseball effectively ended after youth leagues, the only path forward to make the switch to softball or exit the game entirely. The WPBL changes that equation. Recent open tryouts in Washington, D.C. drew athletes ranging from teenagers to women in their 40s, all eager to seize an opportunity once thought impossible. Their participation reflects personal ambition and a desire to pave the way for younger generations who will now see professional baseball as an attainable goal.

Soccer and baseball are not alone in this momentum. Across the sports world, women’s leagues and events are setting new benchmarks. The WNBA has seen its strongest attendance in over a decade, fueled by a new wave of superstars, (i.e. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese), and heightened visibility. College women’s basketball is shattering television records, with this year’s NCAA women’s championship drawing more viewers than the men’s final for the first time. Professional tennis, long a leader in spotlighting women athletes, continues to set the standard with global icons commanding sold-out arenas.

These achievements are being reinforced by rising investment and media coverage. Corporate sponsors, streaming platforms, and traditional broadcasters are all taking notice, recognizing that women’s sports represent not only social progress but also major market potential. What once seemed like a niche audience has become a mainstream movement, and it is only growing.

Beyond the Games Themselves

The surge in women’s sports is about more than tickets sold or television ratings. It represents a cultural shift in how athleticism, competition, and representation are valued. Record crowds at soccer matches, the birth of a professional baseball league, and the visibility of basketball stars on primetime television all contribute to reshaping expectations of what women in sports can achieve and how the world responds when they do.

For young fans in the stands, these moments set a new baseline for what is possible. For families, they create bonds across generations. And for the athletes themselves, they validate years of persistence in the face of limited opportunities.

The Road Ahead

The convergence of milestones across soccer, baseball, basketball, and beyond signals that women’s sports are rapidly growing, and proving that people do want to watch women play sports, despite the years-long narrative that they aren't as interesting or crowd-pleasing as men. With every sellout crowd, every groundbreaking league, and every surge in ratings, the foundation for long-term sustainability becomes stronger.

What once seemed like isolated wins are now part of a broader, unstoppable trend: women’s sports are thriving, and the world is watching.

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Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright Pushes for a New Approach to Women’s Longevity

Research consistently shows that women live longer than men, but orthopedic sports surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright argues that those extra years are not always healthy ones.

“I am acutely aware that even though we're living longer, we're suffering longer,” Wright said. “Most of the conversation around longevity in this country has been directed at men, or using the science of men.”

For two decades, Wright served as an academic surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh, where she researched musculoskeletal aging and the science of staying active later in life. Her work included studying seniors competing in the National Senior Games, athletes over the age of 50 who challenge conventional ideas about aging. Today, Wright is a practicing clinician, the founder of Precision Longevity, and author of Unbreakable, a women’s guide to healthy aging. At age 58, she follows the same lifestyle she prescribes to her patients.

Daily Habits for Healthy Aging

Wright emphasizes physical activity as a cornerstone of longevity. She walks 45 minutes most days, incorporates sprints twice a week, and lifts heavy weights to maintain muscle mass. She also highlights the benefits of multidirectional jumping, whether through hopscotch or weighted jump ropes, to strengthen bones.

Equally important, Wright said, is brain health. She prioritizes consistent sleep, from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., and engages in continuous learning. Since experiencing cognitive decline during perimenopause, she has used estrogen replacement therapy, pointing to research linking estrogen to brain function.

Social connection is another factor Wright stresses. She maintains a small circle of close colleagues in women’s health, communicates daily with her blended family, and even stays engaged with her Instagram community.

On nutrition, Wright advocates a high-protein, anti-inflammatory diet focused on leafy greens, dairy, meat, and limited sugar. She avoids most refined carbohydrates, with the exception of homemade sourdough bread.

A Broader Vision for Women and Aging

Wright’s approach reflects a larger mission: ensuring women do not just live longer, but live well. With women comprising the majority of the senior population, she believes aging research and guidance must shift to center their specific health needs. “I want to build communities of people who believe they have the agency to change their future,” Wright said.

Her message is clear: longevity is not about avoiding aging, but about approaching it with strength, resilience, and intention.

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Gilmore Girls Documentary in the Works Ahead of 25th Anniversary

Fans of Gilmore Girls are about to get a fresh look at Stars Hollow as the beloved series marks its 25th anniversary this fall. A new documentary, Searching for Stars Hollow, is officially in production, featuring interviews with cast members, crew, and fans whose lives were shaped by the iconic show.

According to its Kickstarter campaign, the documentary promises to uncover “the story you thought you knew of how Gilmore Girls came to life, why it continues to resonate across generations, and how its unique blend of humor, heart, and pop culture shaped a devoted worldwide fan community.”

Returning Faces from Stars Hollow

Several original cast members have already joined the project, including Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore), Jared Padalecki (Dean Forester), Chad Michael Murray (Tristin Dugray), Keiko Agena (Lane Kim), Sally Struthers (Babette Dell), Liz Torres (Miss Patty), Emily Kuroda (Mrs. Kim), Rose Abdoo (Gypsy), Kathleen Wilhoite (Liz Danes), Matt Jones (Morgan), and Grant Lee Phillips (the town troubadour).

Behind-the-scenes voices will also be featured, including director Jamie Babbit, writer and producer Stan Zimmerman, casting directors Jami Rudofsky and Mara Casey, and Gilmore Guys podcast host Kevin T. Porter.

Behind the Documentary

Co-director Meghna Balakumar revealed that the team has already filmed over 100 hours of footage, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “The interviews that we’ve already conducted with the cast have been a delight." She said through the making they have unearthed stories, commentary, and critiques, among other things. They continue to shoot content for the doc in order to present fans with the most complete and full story about the show and its continuing impact that spans generations.

Producer Jim Demonakos added that the documentary aims to capture both the creation and cultural impact of the series. “Searching for Stars Hollow will reveal how Gilmore Girls came to life, why it continues to resonate across generations, and how its unique blend of humor, heart and pop culture shaped a devoted worldwide fan community,” Demonakos said.

A Legacy Beyond Stars Hollow

Since its debut in 2000, Gilmore Girls has maintained a dedicated following, with its fast-paced dialogue, pop culture references, and mother-daughter bond at the center of its storytelling. With Netflix’s 2016 revival A Year in the Life reigniting interest in the series, the upcoming documentary aims to contextualize its place in television history while celebrating the community it continues to inspire.

Searching for Stars Hollow is currently in development, with more cast interviews and behind-the-scenes insights expected to be revealed ahead of the show’s milestone anniversary.