Why Women's Sports Matter: A Photographer's Perspective from Mexico

Why Women's Sports Matter: A Photographer's Perspective from Mexico

When people ask me what sport I photograph, I never know exactly how to answer.

Over the years, my camera has taken me to basketball courts, football stadiums, and handball arenas. I've photographed championship celebrations, heartbreaking defeats, national teams, youth tournaments, and professional leagues.

What began as a passion for sports photography slowly became something else.

Because visibility matters.

Representation matters.

And role models matter.

Of course, growth is not measured only by attendance or social media numbers.

The connection between athletes and supporters feels closer, more personal, and increasingly stronger with every season.

Football has been one of the clearest examples of this growth. Liga MX Femenil has become one of the most-watched women's football competitions in the world, attracting millions of viewers and setting attendance records that would have seemed impossible only a few years ago. More importantly, it has created a generation of fans who follow players as closely as they follow clubs.

The same can be felt in basketball.

As a photographer, one of my favorite moments is looking into the stands and seeing young girls watching the game with complete attention. Sometimes they are wearing the jersey of their favorite player. Sometimes they are simply imagining themselves on the court one day.

Those moments matter.

I realized I wasn’t just documenting games.
I was also documenting the growth of women’s sports.

From basketball players chasing international opportunities to footballers performing in front of thousands of supporters, I have had the privilege of witnessing a transformation that is still unfolding.

Professionalization remains one of the biggest challenges for women's sports, not only in Mexico but around the world.

However, progress is happening.

Athletes today have access to opportunities that previous generations fought hard to create. Better working conditions, medical support, greater visibility, and stronger institutional backing are becoming increasingly common. There is still work to do, but there is also clear momentum.

One of the biggest changes I've noticed is the fans.

When I first started attending women's sporting events, the atmosphere felt different. Today, the stands tell a new story. Families fill the seats. Young girls arrive wearing the jerseys of their favorite players. Children ask athletes for photos and autographs with the same excitement previous generations reserved almost exclusively for men's sports.

In collaboration with @11lgnds

That progress is visible from behind the lens.

It appears in sold-out sections that didn't exist years ago.

In young athletes who now grow up with professional role models.

In leagues that continue to improve their level of competition.

And in the stories that are finally receiving the attention they deserve.

There are still sports I hope to photograph one day. Volleyball and softball are high on that list. Both continue to attract passionate communities and demonstrate that the appetite for women's sports extends far beyond a single discipline.

Professionalization remains one of the biggest challenges for women's sports, not only in Mexico but around the world.

However, progress is happening.

Athletes today have access to opportunities that previous generations fought hard to create. Better working conditions, medical support, greater visibility, and stronger institutional backing are becoming increasingly common. There is still work to do, but there is also clear momentum.

Because at its core, this has never been only about basketball or football. It is about athletes who dedicate their lives to excellence.

It is about communities that continue to grow around them.

And it is about preserving those moments before they become history.

As photographers, we often talk about capturing decisive moments.

But some of the most important moments happen long before the final whistle.

Sometimes, they happen when a young fan sees herself reflected in an athlete for the very first time.

Those are the moments that remind me why women's sports matter.

In collaboration with @11lgnds

In collaboration with @11lgnds

In collaboration with @11lgnds

In collaboration with @11lgnds