Girls came out to play en masse on Witter Field Sunday afternoon for what’s become a popular annual Piedmont Recreation Department event. Girls from 2-18 throughout the Bay Area were invited to try their hand at sports from fencing to flag football to roller derby at 25 interactive demo stations, with supportive guidance from skilled athletes and coaches. The 2023 event drew over 700 girls from across the region — this year the number drew close to 1,000. PRD’s Eva Phalen conceived of Play Like a Girl+ several years ago as a way to boost girls’ participation in sports and build community.
Highlights and new features for 2024 included:
- Q&A and photo ops: 5-time Olympic gold medalist Dana Vollmer-Grant (swimming), 2-time Paralympic gold medalist Bethany Zummo (sitting volleyball), professional boxer Dalia “La Pantera” Gomez, and professional baseball player Tamara Holmes
- Sports Equipment Swap: Participants were invited to bring gently used sports equipment to swap. Hosted by event sponsor Dress Best for Less.
- Firefighting Fitness station: The women of Piedmont Fire and Tamara Holmes of the Oakland Fire Department shared what it’s like to work as a firefighter.
Scenes from the day captured by Exedra photographer Julie Reichle:
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Play Like a Girl+ Piedmont was made possible by the support of title sponsor Dress Best for Less and many Piedmont athletic organizations hosting stations, including the PHS women’s basketball team, PRD fencing, PHS flag football team, Piedmont DEVO mountain biking team, Piedmont pickleball, Piedmont junior running club, Piedmont Baseball & Softball Foundation, Piedmont soccer, PMS Sports, Piedmont swim club, and the PHS track & field team.