International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate all the progress made in the pursuit of gender equality, while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done.
It's been 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was created to achieve equal rights for all women and girls and to commemorate that milestone, the International Women's Day theme this year is 'March Forward: For All Women and Girls'.
Looking at this theme through a sporting lens, a roundtable of experts -- ESPN women's sport lead Brittany Mitchell, ESPN reporters Marissa Lordanic and Isadora McLeay and ESPN contributors Mary Konstantopoulos and Megan Hustwaite -- gathered to talk about what has worked for Australian Rules, rugby league, rugby union, football, and basketball; what hasn't be so successful; and what is needed for women's sport to march forward for all women and girls.
Women's sport in Australia has exploded in the last three decades with the emergence of the A-League Women, NRLW, AFLW, Super Rugby Women, as well as the continued success of the WNBL which was founded in 1981.
Throw in Aussie women shining on the global stage, such as Jess Fox, Ariarne Titmus and others, and it has truly never been a better time for women in sport.
The Australian landscape is unique in the sense that all of the nation's major codes have both men's and women's competitions and that is a fact worth celebrating.
Each league has taken a different path to get to where it is today, whether that be the slow and steady route of the NRLW or the rapid expansion of the AFLW.
Any path comes with pros and cons but the panel was in agreement on the key things that need to be improved to ensure the women's game continues to grow and succeed in the decades to come.
Sport at the highest level is still a part-time endeavour for most women athletes in this country.
"We expect these women to show up, advocate for their competitions, be exceptional at what they're doing while essentially living in job insecurity and it's just not good enough," Konstantopoulos said.
And these improvements don't solely relate to increased pay. Access to adequate training and playing facilities, year-round contracts, longer seasons, increased medical standards, support for players with young children and through pregnancy, safeguarding from online abuse and harassment all contribute to allowing players to be the best versions of themselves.
Often the conversation for how women's sport can improve is left solely to women but progress requires input from everyone.
"We've got to pass the baton a little bit now. I think a lot more men need to step up and probably acknowledge that the women's game isn't meant to be the same as the men's," Mitchell said.
The influence and platforms that male athletes have in sports can be better utilised through sharing a post on social media or attending women's games in person.
Moreover, the men in leadership positions across these sports need to have bold visions for where the women's game can go and actually begin to act to grow the sports.
There is plenty of evidence that when women's sport is given the time, attention, and resources it can be a world class spectacle. There are plenty of examples from across the globe but few better than the benchmark set by the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023.
From record crowds, record TV viewership, a best ever result at the tournament for Australia, and Matildas mania touching every corner of the country, it was a proof of concept that was hard to ignore.
And there is plenty more to look forward to in the women's sport space from finals series to new seasons and more major tournaments and the next generation of players who have benefited from decades worth of work who will grace the fields, courts, and pitches.
"They're not grateful. They have expectations and they know no different," Hustwaite said of this new crop of sporting stars.
"A lot of them haven't had to fight the fight or see the inequalities. It's just been sport. And I think that perspective is really important."
