SANTA CRUZ, Ca. - The UC Santa Cruz Athletics & Recreation department is proud to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Wednesday, February 4, with a week of programs designed to highlight leadership, well-being, and the positive impact of sport. 

Please see below for the full week's event programming:


Monday, February 2
Wolfpack Book Debrief
The week begins with UC Santa Cruz Athletics and Recreation's Mental Health Committee debrief of Wolfpack by Abby Wambach, Olympic gold medalist, coach, and all-time leading goal scorer for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. The discussion will explore themes of collective leadership, purpose-driven action, and embracing failure as a pathway to personal and professional growth. All students are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Tuesday, February 3
National Girls and Women in Sports Day Panel | 7–8 p.m. Merrill Cultural Center
Athletics & Recreation will host a National Girls and Women in Sports Day panel discussion open to all students. The panel will feature Steph Graziano '18, Director of Community and Public Relations for the Santa Cruz Warriors; Marci Haduca Covell '04, Assistant Athletics Director of Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at CSU East Bay; Arwen McCullough, Baseball For All and Women's Professional Baseball draftee; and Ariel Rittenhouse, current diving coach and 2008 Olympian. The panel will be moderated by UCSC Senior Woman Administrator Cristen Babik. Panelists will share their perspectives on leadership, sport, and the experiences that shape women's participation and advancement in athletics. This panel is open to the UCSC community.

Wednesday, February 4
NGWSD Youth Sports Clinic | 2–3:30 p.m. East Upper Field
In recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, UCSC Athletics & Recreation will host a free youth sports clinic for elementary and middle school girls. Participants will rotate through sport stations led by members of UCSC's NCAA women's teams and Club Sport programs, offering opportunities to learn new skills and engage with student-athlete role models. Please register here.

Thursday, February 5
NGWSD Celebration at Women's Basketball 4:00pm West Field House
The week will conclude at a UCSC NCAA Women's Basketball game. Youth clinic participants are encouraged to attend and will have the opportunity to meet team members following the game. A poster giveaway will be available for youth attendees, with an opportunity for post-game autographs.