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LOS ANGELES---There’s something uniquely feminine about the summer of 2023—from the Barbie premiere, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour making its rounds, to the Women’s World Cup.
And tonight, August 18, to add to that repertoire: the Los Angeles’ Dodgers Women’s night.
The stadium has found its speakers’ sound waves dominated by the likes of Shania Twain, Latto, Rihanna, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift, with DJ Kara setting the tone in the Centerfield Plaza.
Ellen Karrigan, senior director of baseball administration with 40 years of experience, along with Dodger reporter and host Kirsten Watson, started the game off with their ceremonial pitches. Singing the national anthem was Nutsa Buzaladze. Ain’t nothing without a woman.
Kirsten Watson practicing for her ceremonial pitch.
With an exclusive sherpa and photo booth activity honoring and celebrating womanhood, women of all ages and backgrounds have found themselves striding the stadium—empowered and appreciated.
“Women have always been a part of baseball, it just hasn’t been as upfront as it is now,” says Sara Curran, one of the amazing women behind the scenes of the Dodgers. Curran works in finance and accounting, keeping the financial affairs of the boys in blue clean and pristine. Her presence is self-assured, but not cocky.
Sara Curran of Dodgers Finance and Accounting.
“Our executives and organization in general, stand behind everybody who works for the organization.”
We’re sitting in the Dodgers dugout, having some girl talk and passing the Bechdel test. “I started as an intern twenty years ago, and now I’m in control of the Dodgers.” Curran sits cozily, taking charge of the space and in a way, taking charge for every woman out there dreaming to someday be in her place.
Author Katareena Roska and Sara Curran. Woman to woman.
From clothing drives, setting up the Women’s Opportunity Network in July 2020, and even purchasing from women-owned businesses, the Dodgers have practiced what they preached, fulfilling their goal of making “...sure that women knew they were as important.”
And their advocacy extends to the press box, where I look around to find my own presence reflected in so many women around me.
“We like to advocate for women inside the organization, and outside.”
As the game rages on, I find myself drawn to the women in the stands and on the jumbotron. From little girls and their mothers, to lifelong female fans of the game repping the women of Los Angeles. This is not just a male space, which the Dodgers have worked tirelessly to ensure.
“We have a lot of women who come to the games, and they want to bring them and make them feel welcome and involved and not just, you know the guys playing on the field.”
But the Dodgers don’t stop there. With a second annual Women’s Conference coming up in November, Curran notes that the event will spotlight women who work in sports everywhere.
Representation in all fields is critical, and Curran recognizes that it “...plays a huge part in baseball, as well as in the offices.”
The struggle that the female experience presents bonds women together like sisters. It’s at this time I ask Curran if there’s any woman she’d like to recognize, giving her a minute to think.
Curran doesn’t hesitate.
“The person I’ve always admired the most is Kimmy,” referring to Kimmy Ng, Major League Baseball’s first ever woman GM. “She’s amazing and so smart… always so brilliant.”
To every woman out there, Curran says this: “Don’t be afraid to get your foot in the door.”
“Work hard, and you’ll be recognized.”
Who needs to be “The Man” when you can be “The Woman”?
A special thank you to the women in our lives and shout out to Ally of the Dodgers PR. The future is female.
Photo Credit: Jonah Breton
So where are all the people who support this? I see empty stadium. I do not see many women support this or any women sports leagues. I personally do not support any teams female or male or whatever is out there. Sports today suck and I have way more better things to do than watch men or women run around and complain who makes more and who makes less.