ST PAUL, Minn. — Echoing through the Xcel Energy Center is more than cheers from fans — it's the growing support for women’s sports.
More than ever before, women’s hockey is more accessible. Just take a look at the Minnesota State High School League Girls Hockey Tournament.
“It’s much different now than it was 10 years ago,” said Leslie Rimstav, who was at the stadium cheering on her daughter. “You see a lot more of women’s sports in the media nowadays than even 10 years ago.”
Back then, girls hockey might not have made air.
“It has really ramped up the PWHL,” said Rimstav. “It has been amazing for the ladies.”
Thankfully, times have changed.
“The lack of coverage had consequences on women in sport, in terms of if you're not showing the women, they have a harder transport equal play,” Courtney Boucher is the Assistant Director of Research and Programming at the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center. “They have a harder chance stability, sponsorships, longevity within the sport, because no one's watching."
Steps away from the hockey tournament, the Girls Gymnastics State Tournament at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
Minnesota has become a powerhouse for gymnastics. St. Paul native, Sunisa Lee helped shine a light on the youth programs after winning an Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. In four months, Minnesota will host the U.S. Olympic Trials for the first time ever.
Fans say they wish women’s sports were on the news a long time ago.
According to Boucher, 10 years ago only 4% of the coverage was going to women's sports. Now we see it's about 15%.
Jackie Petersen and her family are cheering on her granddaughter's school at this weekend's state girls hockey tournament, especially since this would have never been an option for her when she attended school. She is the grandmother of a child who's school is represented at the championship.
“There wasn’t such a thing,” she said.
Her granddaughter, Cece, says that wasn’t fair.
“It’s sad because girls should be able to do whatever boys can do,” she said.
But now, young athletes can see themselves in the game.
“It makes me feel inspired like I can do it too,” said seventh grader Mary Koenig.
And that's a message that should be heard loud and clear.
Watch more Breaking The News:
Watch all of the latest stories from Breaking The News in our YouTube playlist: