
Research Report
Girls Who Play Change The Game
Meet the Everyday Athlete: women who played at least three years of sports growing up and are now working full-time. She brings the lessons from the court, pitch, ice, mat, track and more to support her in her career.
In partnership with e.l.f. Beauty, we’re proud to present one of the largest and broadest studies on this topic – sourcing perspectives from 9,500+ Everyday Athletes, pro athletes, board members, and women with little or no sports experience, across the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Learn how:
- Sports equip women for work
- Skills women learn in sport change how they move through their careers
- Lessons from sports help women dream big
- Sports experience benefits women just starting out in their careers
- The stats compare across four countries
Everyday Athletes, by the Numbers
69%
of Everyday Athletes who have worked at least five years say the lessons they learned in sports are more important than ever in today’s workplace
~90%
Nearly 90% of Everyday Athletes who have been promoted say a skill they learned in sports helped them move up
37%
Everyday Athletes are 37% more likely to aspire to senior leadership or board-level role
~25%
Everyday Athletes are nearly 25% more likely to have negotiated their salary
69%
of Everyday Athletes who have worked at least five years say the lessons they learned in sports are more important than ever in today’s workplace
~90%
Nearly 90% of Everyday Athletes who have been promoted say a skill they learned in sports helped them move up
37%
Everyday Athletes are 37% more likely to aspire to senior leadership or board-level role
~25%
Everyday Athletes are nearly 25% more likely to have negotiated their salary
How Sports Change the Game for Women at Work
The findings are clear and consistent: Everyday Athletes are more likely to become leaders, negotiate their salaries, and be promoted at work multiple times. And yes, they credit the skills from sports with helping them to succeed and advance professionally.
Download the Report

Go Deeper Into the Data
This report is part of our ongoing development of insights about women’s sports. Want to know more about how your brand can get in the research game?
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