From growing up playing softball or basketball, to the classic lesbian date of going on a hike, to the thousands of queer women who play professional sports around the world, sports are an integral part of many queer women’s lives.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this list of the eleven gayest women’s sports.
We know this list is going to be controversial. How gay a sport is may be very personal to many people. Yes, all of these sports are staggeringly gay, and all of them deserve a spot in the top five, maybe even the top three. That being said, we did put them in order from least gay to gayest. So this is canon now.
Did your favorite sport make our list? Keep reading to find out!
11. Tennis
Tennis is a classic gay sport, with legends of the sport like Billie Jean King (above) and Martina Navritolova (although she’s since become a TERF) being outed in the early 1980s. Today, queer stars like Daria Kasatkina, Greet Minnen, Demi Schuurs, Nadia Podoroska, Guillermina Naya, Emina Bektas, and Tara Moore carry on the legacy.
10. Climbing/Bouldering
Rock climber bouldering in nature
Shutterstock Creative
Rock climbing and bouldering may not be the first sports you think of when you think of queer women. However, the more you think about the two, the more they go perfectly together. I mean, what lesbian doesn’t love carabiners? And that hand strength and dexterity? Legendary. Plus, climbing legends like Lynn Hill and Silvia Vasquez-Lavado give queer women a strong presence in the history of the sport.
9. Boxing
Traditionally, a hyper-masculine sport, queer women like Christy Martin and Nicola Adams (above) have been making history in boxing for years. Currently, stars like Nesthy Petecio, Kellie Harrington, Cindy Ngamba, and Beatriz Ferreira are keeping up the legacy with Olympic wins. Lesbians love a woman with muscles, and in boxing, women can show off that those impressive guns aren’t just for looks!
8. Wrestling
The pageantry and costumes of professional wrestling make the sport inherently gay, and now that more and more women are getting opportunities to join, the sport is becoming a haven for queer women! Wrestlers like Sonya Deville (above), Mercedes Martinez, Shayna Baszler, Toni Storm, and Saraya are some queer stars we love to see in the ring!
7. Field Hockey
Ukrainian woman field hockey championship
Sergii Kumer/Shutterstock
Field Hockey is an all-time classic lesbian high school sport. Many girls first discovered their queerness while running around a field, bashing into other girls, and chasing a ball with sticks. As long as there are girls playing sports, queer girls will play this sport.
6. Ice Hockey
Much like field hockey, ice hockey is one of the gayest sports a woman can play. It’s such a gay sport that there are several examples of opponents from star women’s hockey teams marrying each other! In 2018, Team USA star Meghan Duggan (above) and Team Canada star Gillian Apps got married. Previously, Team USA star Julie Chu married Canadian star Caroline Ouellette, and before that, Team Canada’s Jayna Hefford and Team USA’s Kathleen Kauth were married!
5. Softball
World Championship Softball
Jan de Wild/Shutterstock
For many queer women, softball has a long tradition of being considered the ultimate lesbian sport. The show A League of Their Own, based on the movie of the same name and the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, highlighted the gay history of softball and baseball, and still today, queer women are drawn to the sports.
3. Basketball
Lesbians like Brittney Griner (above) have been making history in the WNBA since the early 2000s, and are an even bigger part of the sport now. Women’s basketball would be nothing without queer players and fans, and the WNBA currently has at least 41 queer players in it.
4. Soccer
Soccer is another sport inexorably linked to lesbianism. The NWSL is one of the gayest sports leagues in the world, with over 50 out players playing in 2025. With legends like Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Ali Krieger, and Marta (above) as well as current stars like Tierna Davidson, Esther Gonzalez, Debinha, and Jess Fishlock, the sport will always be linked to queer women.
2. Rugby
Sports can hardly get gayer than rugby, the tougher, more physical cousin of soccer. Rugby players get bruised, beaten up, down, and dirty during games, and queer women can’t stop signing up.
In 2024, Team USA won its first Olympic medal in rugby in 100 years, led by six out players on the team, including Alev Kelter (above). Other out rugby stars who won medals in 2024 include New Zealand legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Canada’s Olivia Apps.
1. Roller Derby
Roller derby training match
Beata Janeczko/Shutterstock
Does anything say “queer women” like roller derby? This aggressive and physical sport is full of pageantry and slamming into one another – things that most lesbians love. It’s also a haven for alternative crowds, meaning that queer women already have an inroad. Many sources even point to Texas Roller Derby, a queer-dominated league based in Austin, Texas, as one of the main leagues to revitalize the sport in the early 2000s. WNBA, NWSL, and women’s rugby matches are great places to meet queer women, but nothing beats a good roller derby if you’re looking for queer dates or queer community.
Ball State vs. Trine University
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, Trine 0 (1/5/2025)
Series History: Ball State leads the series 2-0 Match History – Trine
These teams met for the first time in 2024 as the Cardinals swept the Thunder (25-16, 25-20, 25-19), holding them at a .077 hitting percentage. In 2025, Ball State completed a sweep once more (25-13, 25-13, 25-13) and held Trine to a .085 hitting percentage. Patrick Rogers led the effort that afternoon, leading the team in kills (10), aces (3) and blocks (2). Scouting Trine
Trine concluded the 2025 season 15-9 overall, including a record of 5-3 in the MCVL (Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League). The Thunder made it to the semifinals of the MCVL Tournament, falling 1-3 against eventual tournament champion Mount Union.
SETTING THE SCENE HEAD COACH IANDOLO: Mike Iandolo was officially named the Cardinals’ head coach on Dec. 16, removing the interim label he had held since last June. After joining Ball State as an assistant coach prior to the 2022 season, Iandolo helped the men’s program to a 23-4 record, MIVA regular season and tournament titles, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, earning the No. 2 seed and a semifinal bye. Since 2022, Iandolo assisted the Cardinals to three 20-win seasons from 2022-24 and three MIVA regular season championships. His promotion ahead of the 2026 season marks the second head coaching role of his career, following a three-year stint at the University of Charleston (W.Va.).
NEW-LOOK COACHING STAFF: Head coach Iandolo is joined on the coaching staff by newly acquired assistant coaches Brian Hogg and Charles Norman who were announced to the program in August of 2025. Hogg comes to Ball State after earning two-straight IVA (Independent Volleyball Association) titles and IVA Coach of the Year honors as head coach at Lincoln Memorial from 2024-25, totaling a record of 45-6. Prior to Ball State, Norman helped the women’s team at Barry University to a 24-5 record in 2024 and led the men’s program during its inaugural season in 2025, ranking fourth in the nation in blocks.
NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES: The 2026 roster brings 11 well-known returners and seven exciting new additions. Ball State returners include team captains Griffin Satterfield, Wil Basilio, Patrick Rogers and Eyal Rawitz, as well as impactful standouts such as Lucas Machado, Ryan Louis, Braydon Savitski-Lynde, Will Patterson, Marty Canavan, Peter Zurawski and Jason Harris. Entering their first seasons with the program are freshmen Tyler Windt, Adir Ben Shloosh, Daniel Günther and Dante Cayaban as well as transfers Nicholas Everett, Jacob Surette, and 2023 national dig leader (3.56 per set) Victor Scherer.
2025 SEASON: The Cardinals finished 2025 with a record of 17-13 along with a 9-7 mark in conference play, ranking fifth in the MIVA. The men ranked third in the conference in blocks with 2.36 per set and points with 16.00 per set. The 2025 season saw Ball State record notable victories over ranked opponents, including #13 Stanford (3-0, Jan. 10), #14 Lewis (3-1, Feb. 13), #16 Ohio State (3-2, Feb. 27), #19 Penn State (3-2, March 15), and #10 McKendree (3-1, March 29). The season concluded as the Cardinals fell 3-2 to #4 Lewis in the MIVA Quarterfinals (April 19).
PRESEASON All-MIVA: Outside hitter Patrick Rogers and setter Lucas Machado earned 2026 Preseason All-MIVA honors, with Rogers leading conference voting to be named MIVA Preseason Player of the Year after recording a team-high 363 kills in his second season with the Cardinals while averaging 3.18 per set on a .271 hitting percentage, adding 65 total blocks and a team-leading 33 service aces. Following the 2025 season, Rogers was named All-MIVA first team and an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, then spent the offseason with the U.S. National Team, winning gold at the 2025 NORCECA Final Six and earning tournament MVP honors, as well as capturing silver with the Men’s U23 National Team at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup. Machado totaled a team-best 771 assists in 2025, averaging 8.38 per set, posted a career-high 54 assists against Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 26, reached 40 or more assists seven times, and added 117 digs, 49 total blocks and 22 service aces.
AVCA PRESEASON POLL: Ball State enters the 2026 season ranked #16 in the AVCA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll with a total of 144 points. The Cardinals will match up against seven other ranked opponents in the season, including #1 UCLA, #7 Loyola Chicago, #9 Stanford, #12 Lewis, #14 Ohio State, #15 McKendree, and #19 George Mason.
This volleyball skills program is geared towards providing a safe environment where young athletes can develop their skills in volleyball!
We will also work on the importance of sportsmanship and how to behave in a team environment. The goal of this program is to prepare our athletes to compete at the highest level all while making it affordable and creating the best experience for our participants.
Location: Biltmore Hills Date: Mondays and Wednesdays Time: 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. Ages: 10 – 14 Cost: $225 Monthly Fee / $30 Drop In Register on RecLink
PAPIO AND WESTSIDE FACE OFF IN THE NIGHTCAP. CREIGHTON VOLLEYBALL ADDS ITS THIRD HIGH PROFILE TRANSFER OF THE OFFSEASON. TRINITY SCHAD SERIES. SHE’S AN OUTSIDE HITTER FROM WISCONSIN. SHE’S FROM ONTARIO, CANADA, AND IS A STANDOUT TRACK ATHLETE AS WELL. HOW ABOUT THIS GUY? SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE OLYMPIC TRIALS FOR CANADA IN THE LONG JUMP IN 2014. BRIAN ROSSEN SAYS HER EXPLOSIVENESS, A BIG ASSET AND QUITE TRA
Creighton volleyball adds Wisconsin outside hitter to its roster
Updated: 6:30 PM CST Jan 2, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Creighton volleyball added an outside hitter from the transfer portal.Trinity Shadd-Ceres has joined the Bluejays after helping Wisconsin to the Final Four last season.Shadd-Ceres played in nine matches with Wisconsin, totaling 12 kills, six digs, four assists, and two blocks.Eight of the Ontario, Canada, native’s kills came during the NCAA Tournament.The 5-foot-11 outside hitter is Creighton’s third high-profile transfer, joining Ayden Ames from Texas and Katie Dalton from Kansas.”Everyone we have talked to about Trinity says she is the best teammate and hardest worker, so she is going to fit right in here at Creighton,” said Creighton head coach Brian Rosen. “She may also be the best overall athlete in any sport to come through! Trinity is so explosive off the floor, has a great arm, and ability to play six rotations. With experience in the Final Four this season, she can handle the big moments. With Angie’s training, there is no limit to her potential and we are all so excited to get her in the gym this spring!” The Bluejays finished the 2025 season with a 28-6 record with their 14th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 12 consecutive Big East regular season title, sixth Big East Tournament title, and second straight Elite Eight.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
OMAHA, Neb. —
Creighton volleyball added an outside hitter from the transfer portal.
Trinity Shadd-Ceres has joined the Bluejays after helping Wisconsin to the Final Four last season.
Shadd-Ceres played in nine matches with Wisconsin, totaling 12 kills, six digs, four assists, and two blocks.
Eight of the Ontario, Canada, native’s kills came during the NCAA Tournament.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter is Creighton’s third high-profile transfer, joining Ayden Ames from Texas and Katie Dalton from Kansas.
“Everyone we have talked to about Trinity says she is the best teammate and hardest worker, so she is going to fit right in here at Creighton,” said Creighton head coach Brian Rosen. “She may also be the best overall athlete in any sport to come through! Trinity is so explosive off the floor, has a great arm, and ability to play six rotations. With experience in the Final Four this season, she can handle the big moments. With Angie’s training, there is no limit to her potential and we are all so excited to get her in the gym this spring!”
The Bluejays finished the 2025 season with a 28-6 record with their 14th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 12 consecutive Big East regular season title, sixth Big East Tournament title, and second straight Elite Eight.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
NORTHAMPTON — The Pioneer Valley Regional and Greenfield track and field teams faced off at Smith College in a Valley South matchup on Friday morning. The Green Wave boys delivered a 66-8 win over the Panthers. The Pioneer girls took a 46-41 win over Greenfield.
Pioneer’s Carter Berthiaume scored points for Pioneer and was first overall (5-8.0) in the high jump.
Mason Youmell grabbed a second place overall (8.33, PR) in the 55-hurdles for the Green Wave. Youmell took second overall (5-6.00) in the high jump as well. Youmell took the day off from the 600-meter event to participate in the relay. Shaving some seconds off his overall time in the 600-meter is a personal goal.
Mason Youmell of the Greenfield track and field team participates in a relay at Smith College, Friday in Northampton. Credit: RYAN AMES / Staff Photo
“I am really hoping to get 1:27 by the end of the season,” Youmell said. “That seems like a realistic goal. I’ve cut off seconds from all of my personal records. I’ve been doing better.”
In another personal best performance, Ryan Spofford placed second overall (2:57.35) in the 1000-meter.
Ryan Spofford of the Greenfield track and field team participates in the 1000-meter run at Smith College, Friday in Northampton. Credit: RYAN AMES / Staff Photo
For context, the overall winner (1:31.45) of the 600-meter event was Owen Platt of Amherst. Alex Scotera placed second overall (1:33.72) in the 600-meter for the Green Wave. The performance was a personal record for Scotera.
Dylan Breiwick placed fourth overall (3:05.23) in the 1000-meter for Greenfield. Breiwick also was fifth overall (5:07.87) in the mile for the Green Wave.
For the Pioneer girls, Harper Hake’s performances in distance events helped fuel the win over the Green Wave. In the mile, Hake scored and took seventh overall (6:29.79).
Harper Hake (left) of the Pioneer Valley Regional track and field team participates in the 600-meter run at Smith College, Friday in Northampton. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
“I like where I am right now,” Hake said. “I am truing to get a sub six in the mile. I want to get a better time in the two mile too.”
To improve her time in distance events, Hake relies on good nutrition and does runs that are longer than her events. Hake was 10th overall (2:02.32) in the 600-meter. The performance was a personal record for the freshman. In the 2-mile, Hake placed third overall (14:30).
Kyra Tamsin led the charge for the Green Wave in the girls’ events. In the 55-hurdles, Tamsin took first overall (10.48, PR) for Greenfield. Tamsin set another personal record in the 300-meter, placing eighth overall (48.62.)
“My 300 and my 55 hurdles were good,” Tamsin said. “I want my numbers to improve. But as of right now they aren’t bad.”
Lucianne Burnap established a personal record in the 55-hurdles, finishing sixth overall (11.46) for the Panthers. In the field events, Gabby Warriner-Cardin scored points and placed eighth-overall (21-08.50) in the shot put for the Panthers.
Burnap and Addison Chapin both finished tied for fifth (4-4.0) in the high jump for Pioneer.
In the long jump, Holly Babineau scored points and placed eighth-overall (13-09.75) for the Green Wave.
Boys track & field
Athol 27, Commerce 23 — The Bears downed the Raiders in Valley South competition. Elijah Etienne scored points and placed tied for seventh (32-10.50) in the shot put for the Bears.
John Blanchard took 14th overall (2:02.36) in the 600-meter event.
Frontier 41, Mohawk 35 — Ezra Rich’s first place performance in the shot put helped the Redhawks get past the Warriors in Valley North play.
Luke Howard placed second (2:45.76) in the 1000-meter for the Redhawks.
Tanner Biagini placed first overall in the 300-meter for Mohawk. Biagini also scored and placed ninth (6.94) in the 55-meter for the Warriors. Rex Kuoppala placed fourth overall (5:02.19) in the mile.
Peter Healey (11:14.57, third) and Carson Richardson (11:34.70, fourth) impressed in the 2-mile for the Warriors.
Mahar 51, Southwick 22 — The Senators ran past the Rams in Valley North competition.
Danny Quigley was eighth overall (39.18) in the 300-meter for the Senators. Ronnie Stone scored points and placed 15th overall (4-10.0) in the high jump.
Girls track & field
Athol 52, Commerce 1 — In Valley South competition, the Bears cruised past the Raiders. Emily Abram snagged a personal record in the shot put, finishing sixth overall (22-3.25) for Athol.
Mahar 40, Southwick 22 — Stellina Moore helped the Senators to a win over the Rams in Valley North play.
Moore finished tied for fourth overall (14-03.5) in the long jump and tied for third (4-8.0) in the high jump. Moore added a third place finish (9.98) in the 55-hurdles.
Madilyn Moore scored in the shot put for the Senators, finishing seventh (25 feet) overall.
Frontier 78, Mohawk 13 —The Redhawks defeated the Warriors in Valley North competition.
Louise Flagollet placed third in the 300-meter for the Redhawks. Louise Flagollet also took second overall (4-10.0) in the high jump. Phoebe Radner was seventh overall (1:58.44) in the 600-meter. Liv Christensen placed (14:19.49) in the 2-mile for Frontier. Emmanuelle Flagollet took second (9.55) in the 55-hurdles and fourth in the long jump (14-03.50).
Virginia Krezmien scored some points and placed sixth overall (3:40.32) in the 1000-meter for Mohawk. In the mile, Krezmien placed second overall (6:05.67).
BATON ROUGE – LSU Beach Volleyball coach Russell Brock has announced the addition of two transfers – Emily Hellmuth and Zayna Meyer – who will join the Tigers for the upcoming season.
Hellmuth and Meyer come to LSU as grad transfers. The Tigers return 11 players from last year’s team. These two transfers join LSU in addition to six freshmen.
“Really excited about our two additions for this spring,” Brock said. “They are both athletic players with good size and great skills and are excited about the transition to beach. Both, are decorated indoor players who have been seasoned leaders for their teams. Their work ethic, positive attitudes and excitement will be fantastic additions to our culture and our team this year. Couldn’t be more excited to add them to our family.”
Hellmuth comes to LSU after a great four-year career playing indoor volleyball at Pepperdine and Texas A&M University. During her time playing indoor, she was a lethal outside hitter with over 1,000 career kills. Three of her four seasons she recorded at least 300 kills and during a match in her final season, she recorded a career high .667 hitting percentage. As a senior last year, Hellmuth helped lead the Aggies to the NCAA National Championship Title with 72 digs, 45 blocks, 12 aces and eight assists.
“Emily has been tested as a passer and has great skills as a blocker and hitter. Her offensive ability will transition really well to the sand. She’s faced the biggest challenges under the brightest lights and has excelled in those moments.”
Meyer is coming to LSU following a four-year career playing indoor volleyball in which she finished her final season at UCLA with a total of 187 assists, 62 digs and 11 blocks. During the 2023 season, Meyer was named Big West Setter of the Year while playing indoor at Long Beach State and averaged 10 assists per set.
“Zayna is quick and springy. As one of the elite offensive setters in the country, she brings excellent control of the ball both as a setter and a hitter. Her ability to play above the net will also be a great asset defensively.”
OMAHA, Neb. — Wisconsin outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres has signed to join the Creighton Volleyball program later this month. Shadd-Ceres is Creighton’s third high-profile transfer this winter, joining Ayden Ames (Texas) and Katie Dalton (Kansas).
“Everyone we have talked to about Trinity says she is the best teammate and hardest worker, so she is going to fit right in here at Creighton,” said Creighton head coach Brian Rosen. “She may also be the best overall athlete in any sport to come through! Trinity is so explosive off the floor, has a great arm, and ability to play six rotations. With experience in the Final Four this season, she can handle the big moments. With Angie’s training, there is no limit to her potential and we are all so excited to get her in the gym this spring!”
Shadd-Ceres played in nine matches for Wisconsin’s Final Four team in 2025, finishing the season with 12 kills, six digs, four assists and two blocks. Eight of her 12 kills came during the NCAA Tournament, including four kills in the First Round vs. Eastern Illinois on Dec. 4th and three more in a Regional Final win at Texas on Dec. 14th.
That came after Shadd-Ceres played in four matches as a freshman in 2024, starting two. She finished her rookie campaign with 10 kills, seven digs and three blocks in four matches played. Among her teammates in 2024 was current Bluejay defensive specialist Saige Damrow.
The 5-foot-11 native of Ontario, Canada, was named the Senior Female Volleyball Athlete of the Year in 2023 and a member of Team Canada’s U19 Women’s National Team. She was also a track standout before enrolling at Wisconsin, as she was named Junior Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2022 and Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2023. She also partcipated in Canada’s Olympic Trials in the Long Jump in 2024.
Creighton finished the 2025 season with a 28-6 record, appearing in its 14th straight NCAA Tournament, winning its 12th consecutive BIG EAST regular-season title, earning sixth BIG EAST Tournament title in a row and reaching its second straight Elite Eight.
