At Wright State University, support for men’s, women’s and club teams highlights the role of athletics in building school spirit and community. Increased attention and standout performances are raising visibility for women’s sports while teamwork, dedication and cross-team encouragement show how sports can inspire athletes and fans alike. Attending games and supporting all teams contributes to a culture of engagement that extends beyond competition.
Beyond the headlines
Media coverage of women’s sports has traditionally been smaller compared to men’s, though that’s started to change in recent years. There continues to be a difference in media visibility between men’s and women’s teams, particularly in sports such as basketball and soccer.
Sports like basketball and soccer often receive more attention for their men’s leagues, while women’s teams generally receive less coverage in television and other media outlets. This difference in coverage has been noted across college and professional levels, even as women’s teams continue to achieve strong results and draw dedicated audiences.
At WSU, support for athletic teams spans both men’s and women’s sports as well as club programs. Students, fans and fellow athletes make an effort to attend games and cheer for all teams from Division I programs to the wide variety of club sports. This culture of encouragement helps boost morale for athletes and builds school spirit, showing that dedication to sports goes beyond wins and losses and includes every team on campus.
Senior center-mid for WSU women’s soccer, Elise Canter, reflected on this culture of support.
“I honestly don’t make it about the attention, it just something I love doing, so I keep working towards it,” Canter said.
At WSU, athletics are about more than just victories- they are about unity and pride. Students, fans and athletes rally behind every team from varsity to club sports, fostering a culture of teamwork and raider spirit. With dedic
ated players and a supportive community, WSU's athletic programs continue to flourish and inspire.
Inspiration beyond the game
Historically, women’s sports have received less recognition than men’s but in recent years, several athletes have gained wider attention. In basketball, for example, some players have drawn new audiences and increased interest in the sport, showing that dedication and hard work can inspire athletes across all levels.
Graduate student and guard for WSU women’s basketball, Lauren Scott, shared her thoughts on the topic.
“I feel as women’s basketball has been on the upward trend in this area which is awesome to see. I feel like men’s basketball has always garnered a lot of support and media attention but with recent stars like Paige Bueckers and Caitlyn Clark we’ve seen that uptick across women’s basketball and honestly other women’s sports,” Scott said.
These players have attracted new fans and increased visibility for women’s sports. Their performances and passion for their sport are getting recognized daily.
“Sports are not a morally neutral space. In part, character matters in athletics because a high level of integrity is required to maintain the terms of the games themselves, but character’s greater relevance is in the transformative role athletics plays in our lives,” Scott said.
According to Psychology Today, these athletes’ hard work both on and off the court shows the impact sports can have overall. Their dedication draws in fans and motivates other athletes to keep pushing and improving, proving that sports can teach lessons and bring people together beyond just the game.
Showing up matters
When attending athletic games at WSU, it is common to see other teams in the stands showing their support. From men’s soccer to women’s volleyball and many other programs, students and athletes come out to cheer for their peers and familiar faces from around campus often make the crowd feel like a community. This cross-team support helps boost morale for the players and adds to the overall school spirit at every event.
At WSU, the athletics program places a strong emphasis on supporting one another and cheering on other teams, recognizing that teamwork and encouragement extend beyond the court and the field. As a result, it is rare to see a WSU team without support from fellow athletes and fans.
“Our women’s basketball team and our volleyball team, they come and support us, and we go and support them,” Canter said.
These teams work just as hard as any others giving their best effort in every game. It is important to recognize that dedication and show support equally across all sports, including men’s and women’s teams, Division I programs and club sports.
“I think for [WSU] specifically we draw a smaller crowd than the men, but I would say that fans that we do bring in are super passionate and we have loyal ones who come back every game season to season. I recognize faces which is awesome to see but I’d say we're moving in the right direction, we're not quite there yet but there’s a lot of hope in that area,” Scott said.
Although some games may draw smaller crowds than other, the steady support from students, fans and fellow athletes reflects the growing strength of WSU's athletic community. As teams cheer each other on and fans return year after year a culture of encouragement continues to uplift morale, enhance school spirit and enrich the overall experience for every athlete on campus.
