Let Her Play is playing the long game to close the gender gap through the power of sport

Sport participation can dramatically impact a young girl’s ability to reach her full potential and compete in life.

However, girls’ sport participation rates both lag and have higher drop-out rates than boys’.

Founded in 2022 by Gia Fruscione ‘00, Let Her Play has been working to stave off girls’ attrition from sports in adolescence, improve the overall pipeline of participants, and build a network of girls and women to support each other along the ladder of life.

Fuel Our Growth

“We cannot sit on the sidelines and watch our girls fall behind. It’s time to equip girls across the nation with the skills for a lifetime of success. Let Her Play!"

Gia Fruscione ‘00, Founder & Executive Director, Let Her Play

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We wouldn't be where we are without our network. As we continue to grow as an organization, we would appreciate your support through network connections and professional expertise. Please fill out this form to share how you can provide support.

+7% higher annual wages of former athletes vs. non-athletes

Where will you find your next leader? EY & espnW, 2015

Girls who are mentored by older peers have an increased sense of trust in others and feel more comfortable being themselves than before mentorship.

Journal of Adolescent Research, 2017

“Girls who play sports are 14% more likely to believe they are smart enough for their dream career.”

The Girls’ Index: Girls and Sports Impact Report., 2018

“Making friends and feeling part of a team” is what young girls like the most about playing sports.

Women’s Sports Foundation

74% of executive women say a background in sport can help accelerate a woman’s career.

Where will you find your next leader? EY & espnW, 2015

Founded in 2022 by Gia Fruscione ‘00, Let Her Play‘s mission is to increase girls’ sports participation nationwide. We have excellent traction, with 8 collegiate partners across 41 teams, 15 sports, and more than 1000 student-athlete volunteers. With on-campus events, we have connected with more than 2,500 local youth who are sport-curious to collegiate female athletes to-date. Our model is working! 

“If I can see it, I can be it!”  

We are simultaneously inspiring participation on two levels: youth sport play and young adult service-through-sport. 

This fall we will launch our next initiative: Playing the Long Game – the LHP Matching Initiative. We are focusing on developing a deeper relationship with our existing pool of female collegiate athletes by engaging them in post-collegiate service to a local youth sport organization. These young women can and should be tapped as youth coach volunteers focused on participation and fun to keep girls in sport longer. To get this initiative up and running, we need your help.