It’s a ‘special’ time for women’s sports in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – From Volleyball Day in Nebraska to sold-out women’s basketball games, more eyes and attention are on female sports in Nebraska.

“It’s special,” said Lincoln Southeast Athletic Director Kara Graham. “It means a lot for where we’ve come and how far we’ve come and women’s sports.”

She said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has done a great job helping to get more women in sports.

“I think that what the university has done for us and their success at the women’s sports has helped, you know, inspire young people in the city of Lincoln and certainly across the state of Nebraska, that they want to play there someday,” Graham said. “They see that they could have that opportunity.”

PHOTOS: Over 90,000 Husker fans gather for Volleyball Day in Nebraska

On Feb. 7, the University of Nebraska will host the 38th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Hawks Championship Center. The community event will celebrate, inspire and elevate girls and women in sports.

Jessica Coody of the Huskers Radio Network said now is a “great time” to get involved with women’s sports.

Coody arrived at Nebraska after serving in many media roles at the University of Oklahoma. She said the love she’s seen for women’s sports from Husker fans is inspiring.

“You just don’t find the kind of support that you have here at Nebraska across the country for all the sports,” Coody said.

SEE ALSO: Fans can buy part of court used in Nebraska volleyball’s match in Memorial Stadium

The push to empower women’s sports has been spearheaded by many leaders within the university, like Athletic Director Trev Alberts.

“He is a competitor, obviously,” Coody said. “So he also wants to do whatever it takes to help them win. … There’s a lot of people that have done great work here at Nebraska that have certainly made Nebraska athletics, across the board, women’s sports, what it is today.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska AD Trev Alberts gets contract extension through 2031

Graham said it’s important to get more women involved in coaching and teaching.

She took on her role after serving as head basketball coach for the Knights for 12 years.

Graham said a job in administration was not her goal but has been an incredible opportunity.

“I went to school here, I coached here — this is home for me,” Graham said. “And so an opportunity to lead people here in a role that has been predominantly filled by men, I would say it’s not been a goal of mine at all, but an opportunity that that came to me. And I’ve loved every minute of it.”

She said a few students have inquired about serving in roles just like her.

“Of course, I encourage them to follow their own dreams,” Graham said. “But if they think teaching and coaching is for them in any way, shape or form, I’ll give them a nice little push in that direction because it’s been, it’s been the joy of my career and almost 25 years to work with young people.”

SEE ALSO: Lincoln bar brought in almost 10 times more business on Volleyball Day in Nebraska

Now more than ever, people are tuning in to watch female athletes compete.

“I think just getting the interest, the numbers that are there with people that are tuning in, that are watching, that care, that are showing up in attendance records that are watching on TV, I think for me, that’s probably what’s been the most jaw dropping for me,” Coody said.

She is thankful to have a platform that allows her to continue advocating and telling the stories of female athletes at Nebraska.

“I always say that everybody has a story,” Coody said.

So she wants fans “to hear what the student-athletes are like off the court, off the field, outside of their uniform.”