Feminist icon and powerhouse journalist Gloria Steinem passed away Thursday at 92, but her impact stretches far beyond the pages of *Ms. Magazine*, deeply shaping the women’s sports world we know and love today. Her lifetime of fighting for gender equality built foundations that allowed women’s basketball, in particular, to flourish into the popular and visible game we enjoy in 2026.
A Voice That Changed The Game, Off The Court
Steinem spent her life on the front lines in the quest for gender equality. She broke ground as a journalist, launching the incredibly influential *Ms. Magazine*, which finally gave women a voice in media that was truly controlled by women. She was instrumental during the second-wave feminist movement, advocating fiercely for reproductive freedom, pushing for equal pay, and bravely combating sexual harassment in the workplace. This wasn’t just talk either; she founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Ms. Foundation, ensuring women had a voice in politics. She even co-founded the Women’s Media Center to expand women’s involvement in media through training, scholarship, and content creation. It’s wild to think she didn’t have a background in sports, setting out to be a journalist in honor of her mother. But her activism during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s created a ripple effect no one could have fully predicted.
The Courts Paved By Her Fight
That monumental body of work naturally found a home in the feminist world of women’s sports. You saw it instantly when the news broke: Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve posted a tribute on social media, making it clear. Reeve thanked Steinem for “a lifetime of devotion to equality,” adding, “You paved the way for the life I live today. In whatever small way I can, I will carry the torch of equality so that the next generation of girls/women can live as you dreamed of for them.” That says it all, doesn’t it? The 1970s marked a new era for women’s sports, with the passage of Title IX in 1972 opening doors for women to take up sports with greater protection and investment than ever before. Fast forward to today, 2026, and women’s sports, especially women’s basketball, has never been more visible or popular. And guess what? It took those same grassroots efforts Steinem put into motion decades ago to get the game to where it is right now.
Steinem’s passing is a reminder that the battles fought off the court directly impact the magic we see on it. We owe so much to her dedication. The torch Reeve talked about? It’s our turn to keep that flame burning for every girl and woman who steps onto a court, now and for generations to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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