Sports – The Western Howl

Yang Hansen (Left) and Deni Avdija (Right) look on as Chauncey Billups speaks. | Photo from @trailblazers on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Oct. 22, the Portland Trail Blazers will tip off their season at 7 p.m. when Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to the Moda Center. Last season, the Blazers went 36-46, finishing 12th in the Western Conference. Without any further context, a 36-win season in the NBA is not considered successful by any means. However, it’s important to note that it was a significant improvement over the 21-61 record they put up in the 2023-24 season immediately after trading Damian Lillard. Lillard has since returned to the team, but will not return to the court until next season. The Blazers franchise was also recently sold to an ownership group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon for a reported $4 billion after previous owner Paul Allen’s estate made the decision to sell over the summer, marking the start of a new era.

Before the season begins, here’s a run-down of what happened in the offseason and what kind of team the Blazers are projected to be this season.

Key additions — The Blazers started the off-season by trading point guard Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics in a straight swap for Jrue Holiday, also a point guard. The trade was met with mixed reactions by fans. They felt trading for Holiday was a step backwards, due to him being older than Simons as well as being on a more long-term contract, making it more difficult for the team to free up cap space if needed.

When looking deeper into the move, it can make a bit more sense when one considers that Simons’ skillset had become a bit redundant within the guard rotation as a score-first, undersized guard that struggled on defense, the exact archetype of player that the NBA has begun moving past in recent years. Simons also wasn’t providing much to the future of the team and was preventing young guard Scoot Henderson from receiving rotational minutes and valuable experience. In addition, pairing him with Shaedon Sharpe in the backcourt was simply giving up too much on the defensive side of the court. Bringing in a player like Holiday will better complement Sharpe’s skillset when they’re on the floor together, while providing the young players on the team with a mentor who’s won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. The hope seems to be that Holiday can provide the same mentorship fans have seen Chris Paul provide in Oklahoma City, Phoenix and now San Antonio in recent seasons.

Aside from this move, the Blazers used the 16th pick of the NBA Draft to select Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1-inch center from China who has drawn early comparisons to three-time MVP and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić. While that’s a high bar to reach, it makes a bit of sense. Like Jokić, Hansen can pass at a very high level for a center and initiate offensive sets from the high post, which can open up cutting lanes to the basket for the rest of the team. This ability is something that would fit well with an athletic guard pairing like Henderson and Sharpe. While fans shouldn’t expect Hansen to be an elite contributor immediately, nor should they expect him to one day become as good as Jokić, the unique and versatile skill set he provides could definitely get him there, which is an exciting prospect for Blazers fans. Fans should just take the time to understand that Jokić is widely considered the best player in the world at the moment, and that it’s a heavy expectation to place on a 20-year-old player that has yet to play his first meaningful NBA minutes.

What to be excited for — If Yang Hansen isn’t already exciting enough, then look toward the development of players such as Henderson, Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. Camara has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the league, making the All-Defensive second team last season. Camara’s combination of athleticism and height makes him a valuable piece defensively, as he can guard almost anyone without being physically outmatched, giving the Blazers significant flexibility in their defensive game plans.

Second-year center Donovan Clingan averaged 1.6 blocks per game last season, putting him at ninth place among all players in the category. It’s even more impressive when considering that he spent most of the year not getting many minutes due to the presence of Deandre Ayton — who is no longer on the team — and had a bit of an adjustment period to the toll a long NBA season can take on a young player. When adjusting his statistics to a per-36-minute basis, his block numbers jump up to three per game, which would’ve put him in second place in the category last season, only behind Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Expect Clingan to take a step forward, as well as hopefully have a more developed offensive game and outside shooting ability to open up lanes for players driving to the basket. If Clingan can cement himself as an elite rim protector alongside the perimeter defense that Camara provides, the Blazers could easily become one of the best defensive units in the league.

Fans should also pay close attention to Henderson, who has been a bit inconsistent to start his career. In a way, this could be a bit of a make-or-break season for Henderson with the imminent return of Lillard next season. If he’s unable to show a step toward being the player Portland had hoped for when he was drafted in 2023, it’ll be interesting to see what decisions are made with the rotation next season and if Henderson will remain with the team. He’ll also be entering the final year of his rookie contract next season, which is where extension talks typically begin.

As for Sharpe and Avdija, look for both of them to take another step toward potentially becoming All-Stars. Sharpe has increased his scoring output each season since entering the league, and Avdija set a new career high in points per game last season after being acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards. With both players under the age of 25, there is still a lot of room for both of them to grow into All-Star caliber players. In Sharpe’s case, hopefully, viewers see him increase his aggression on the offensive end, where he’s best. He’s had a noted tendency of being a bit passive and not taking over a game like he’s capable of doing. With Simons no longer in the mix, perhaps that will empower him to take a more active approach regularly and allow him to unleash his full potential.

What to expect — So with all of this in mind, what can fans expect from the Blazers this season? With a team this young, it’s hard to really know. Development in the NBA is not always the upward curve fans would like it to be, but the Blazers seem to have established an energetic culture with a young core they can build with. A valid concern about the team would be the lack of three-point shooting — they went 26th/30 in 3pt% last year, according to NBA.com — and the fact that there weren’t any significant upgrades to the roster in that department.

The defense projects to get better with the expectation that Camara and Clingan improve, plus the addition of Jrue Holiday, but will the offense follow? The leader in made threes per game was Simons, who is now a Celtic, so in order for the Blazers to make the improvement, they’ll need to see better and more consistent shooting in order to open up the floor and allow players like Sharpe and Henderson to do what they do best, which is attack the basket.

Overall, this Blazers team has a lot going for it and a lot of good for fans to be excited about. However, there is also a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of the positives listed here are a bit hypothetical and dependent on players getting to the next level. Player development is rarely a direct climb up the mountain; there are usually inclines and declines along the way. To make a prediction, they’ll go 39-43 and will be right in the mix for the 10th seed in the Western Conference, which would earn them a spot in the play-in. The Western Conference is crowded, however, and the Blazers might just get frozen out of a spot again this season. As frustrating as that would be, it’s important that the franchise and its fans stay patient and remember: Lillard will be playing at the Moda Center again soon.

Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Aspinall vs. Gane

Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane face off in pre fight press conference. | Photo from @ufc on Instagram

Oct 22 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

The road to this year’s heavyweight title bout was certainly an interesting one. After Tom Aspinall established himself as an up-and-comer in the heavyweight division and secured the interim heavyweight championship title, Aspinall set his sights on Jon Jones, the all-time UFC leader in title fight wins. The fight was sure to be one of the biggest UFC events of 2025, with Jones at 28-1 facing off against Aspinall, whose average time to finish an opponent is at this time the shortest in the UFC, ending his opponents within two minutes and two seconds on average. There was a contract dispute, disagreements and just general red tape around the entire event. Aspinall essentially put his career on pause in hopes of getting his shot at Jones, spending months goading him into finally signing a fight deal so they could face off. But then in June of this year, Jones abruptly retired. Jones has since teased coming out of retirement, but still seems uninterested in the Aspinall fight for the time being.

So, with the news that Jones was no longer an option for Aspinall, a fight was eventually set up between him and Ciryl Gane for UFC 321, in Abu Dhabi this Saturday. Gane is 13-2 since joining the UFC in 2019. He last fought Alexander Volkov in December and won by split decision.

Currently, Aspinall is the favorite to win the fight, but don’t count Gane out. A challenge for Aspinall will be that he’s never fought in a title bout before, while Gane has. Not only is this important for the sake of experience on a large stage, but title bouts are five rounds of three minutes each as opposed to three rounds of three minutes each. This means Aspinall will have to come in with the best conditioning he’s ever had in preparation for a long fight with Gane if, in fact, Gane can avoid being knocked out at the hands of Aspinall like so many others have failed to do, he may have a chance at the upset. Gane has also only lost to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, two fighters who are considered among the best in the world. Aspinall does not have such matchups under his belt, and it’s worth wondering if Aspinall is as good as many believe or if he’s the beneficiary of easier competition.

Still, Aspinall should be the favorite in this bout, and while Gane may use his experience to make this interesting, one has to consider the quick finishing ability of Aspinall, making him dangerous at every moment of the fight. Aspinall, as always, is ready to finish the fight early. “This is Ciryl’s third title shot. We are going to try and get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good,” Aspinall said, referencing that Gane lost out on the title against Ngannou and Jones, and soon Aspinall will hope to add himself to that list as well. While the fight may not be a foregone conclusion, Aspinall is the favorite for a reason, and his only loss came against Curtis Blaydes when he injured his knee 15 seconds into the match. He then knocked Blaydes out within four minutes at UFC 304 in a rematch after his knee recovered.

Prediction: Aspinall KO in round two.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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The road home

Damian Lillard holds Trail Blazers jersey in a hallway. | From @damianlillard on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

On Sept. 27, 2023, Portland Trail Blazers point guard and franchise legend Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that broke the hearts of Blazers fans who had embraced Lillard since he arrived in 2012. Earlier that offseason, Lillard had requested a trade with hopes of having a better opportunity to compete for an NBA championship. The Bucks, who were two years removed from winning a title with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the team, seemed to give Lillard the best chance he’d ever had to do it.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned. In the first season, internal struggles between Bucks players and the coaching staff kept the team from reaching its high expectations. In his second season with Milwaukee, Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and had to miss the final month of the regular season before returning just in time for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, in the fourth game of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard fell to the ground and immediately reached for his leg. Further examinations would reveal that Lillard had torn his Achilles tendon, a notoriously hard injury to recover from, especially for a player who would soon be 35. The Bucks would go on to lose the series, falling short of expectations again. With pressure mounting to keep the team’s championship window open just a crack, the Bucks decided to waive Damian Lillard and free up cap space in order to add Pacers center Myles Turner.

From the outside looking in, it seemed as though Lillard’s career had hit rock bottom. He left Portland, the city that his family still called home and where he himself had spent most of his adult life, in search of the championship that had eluded him his entire career, only to come up short and be off the team two years later. Not to mention the long road he now had ahead of him to recover from his injury and begin playing again.

However, in what might’ve been his career’s darkest moment, something familiar found him again. The Portland Trail Blazers, who had spent the past two seasons trying to rebuild the roster after trading Lillard, offered him a three-year $42 million deal that would allow him to spend his rehab in Portland, alongside his children and an organization that he knew so well. Upon the news that Lillard was returning to Portland, Blazers fans who were heartbroken to see him leave just two years earlier and had watched the Blazers go through the growing pains of the post-Lillard era, were completely re-energized. During his introductory press conference, Lillard said, “It never felt right, not being home.” Last month, the organization held a rally in Pioneer Courthouse Square celebrating Lillard’s return, and it was obvious how much happier both Lillard and Blazers fans have been with him back in Portland. “Just being back in this city, you know, has brought a different type of joy back to my life,” Lillard said while addressing the crowd of thousands at Pioneer Square. While he won’t play until next season, Lillard’s return has injected excitement into a fanbase that surely cannot wait to welcome him back to the Moda Center as a member of the home team.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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LeBron retirement rumors

LeBron poses for NBA Media Day. | From @kingjames on Instagram

Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

Much has been said over the years about LeBron James and his historic longevity. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, there is a significant portion of NBA fans who either cannot recall a time he was not in the NBA or weren’t even born when he was drafted. However, he obviously cannot play forever, and every year the questions and speculation have continued to grow.

On Sept. 29, the Los Angeles Lakers held their session for NBA Media Day, a chance for players and coaches to come together in front of the media and field questions about the upcoming season.

Of course, the question on many media members’ minds was whether LeBron James made any decisions over the summer about when he plans to retire. “I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later,” he said. This aligns with recent statements he’s made on his future. Last summer, when asked about the possibility of him joining Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, like he did in Paris 2024, LeBron said, “No, I cannot see myself playing in Los Angeles,” but he continued, “I didn’t see myself playing in Paris 2024 either.”

In June, LeBron exercised his player option, keeping him under contract for the upcoming season. It is worth noting that after this season, he will become a free agent, and as of Oct. 8, 2025, it is anyone’s guess if he will sign another contract or choose to retire.

LeBron was also asked if he would wait to retire in order to play with his son, Bryce James, who is an incoming first-year guard for the University of Arizona and will be eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft. Fans may remember that LeBron had been quite vocal about wanting to play with his oldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., and was able to achieve that historic goal last season, becoming the first active father-son duo in NBA history. If he did stick around to play with Bryce James, it would be a testament to his already otherworldly longevity.

But when it comes to delaying his retirement in order to make it happen, LeBron James said, “No, I’m not, I don’t know what his timeline is. He’s his own young man now. He’s down in Tucson. We’ll see what happens this year, next year, but he has his own timeline. I got my timeline, and I don’t know if they quite match. But we’ll see.” Despite being well past the age of what’s considered the “prime” of an NBA career, LeBron James has maintained a high quality of play. Last season, he finished sixth in MVP voting, made the All-NBA second team and averaged 24.4 points per game.

Regardless of what LeBron James decides in the future, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans will have an exciting season ahead of them. It will be their first full season with Luka Dončić as a member of the team after a shocking deadline trade with the Dallas Mavericks brought the superstar to the franchise, creating arguably the most talented duo in the league between Dončić and James. The Lakers will start their season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Wolves strike six

Wolves women’s soccer team poses for a photo after winning against Northwest Nazarene and setting a new school record. | Photo by @wou_soccer on Instagram

Oct 15 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor

It’s an exciting time in Monmouth after the Western women’s soccer team took care of business Oct. 4 against Northwest Nazarene, setting a new program record of six wins in a row. During this time, the Wolves have big wins against then #1 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines and formerly #18 ranked Seattle Pacific respectively. Currently, the Wolves sit at #2 ranked in the GNAC and are looking to build on their momentum going forward. “Our team was really motivated by the fact that we didn’t perform as well as we’d like to and we knew last year we had a great defensive unit,” said head coach Kacey Bingham. “It was really strong, and we knew that was going to be returning and I think big improvements have come from our attack. We’re seeing multiple girls score and be threatening and I think that’s been a huge change from last year.”

Part of that change has been led by first-year forward Olivia Boger. Boger currently leads the team in goals scored, which speaks to her quick adjustment to a new level of competition and a high-quality team culture that allows new players to feel empowered to make immediate impacts. “It’s something that we actually talked a lot about last spring — the culture we wanted going into this year — and the girls spent a lot of time and energy creating a culture they wanted moving into this fall. I think part of that is making sure that we take care of the new players, and I think they made it a point to make the new players feel welcome and important and that they were going to be a big part of our success this year, so I think that stemmed from our captains,” said Coach Bingham. “And then Olivia came in really at a high level and I think she came in understanding, one, how to take care of the ball, how to dribble the ball and then she’s just clinical in the final third. She knows how to go one-v-one, she knows how to serve the ball, she knows how to finish and she’s just come in and stepped up to the challenge.”

One example of the Wolves’ many great leaders is senior team captain and defender Jada Foster. When asked how she’s improved as a leader since becoming a captain, Foster said, “I think the biggest thing for me has always been communication and just kind of stepping up. I know Kacey’s given me the opportunity to last fall and taking the winter and the spring to really just grow and just learn with my teammates and also just learn I’m going to make mistakes, but know that my team’s there for me, and I’m just going to push everybody, but also know that we’re family, and I love each and every one of them that works hard, and I know that we can do anything we put our minds to at the end of the day.”

Foster scored a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Central Washington University, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory. It included a score by Ally Beavers from a penalty kick in the 51st minute and an 86th-minute goal from Katya Tercek, assisted by both Beavers and Maya Courtenay. The win tied the then-record five-game winning streak, setting up the record-breaking win against Northwest Nazarene two days later.

As Coach Bingham mentioned, the defensive unit has also been strong, as they only allowed two goals through the duration of the streak. Senior goalkeeper Bella Lopez has recorded five clean sheets so far.

Bingham also mentioned the seniors on the team as a group that has stepped up big time in the 2025 season. “There was a lot of girls in this senior group that were trying to have bigger roles last year that have stepped into really big roles this year, and we’re really proud of that group and how hard that they’ve worked and the resilience that they’ve shown over their time at Western Oregon. They’re perfect examples of what it is to come to a program and give it all and to genuinely put your time and effort into improving as an individual, but also helping your team improve and I think that’s the culture we want to set here.”

Students may not even know they’re missing out on critical moments at Western with the team’s latest win streak — and, if they do know, are likely going to regret it. They play a fun style of soccer and radiate a contagious, positive energy that shines through to everyone in the stands. “I think it’s been a lot, but in a good way, because I think a lot of the girls that came in new didn’t expect it to be this way,” said Foster. “We’ve brought in this standard that there’s so much fun to college soccer, but also we just love to be here and play the sport we love. So I think that’s been like the biggest thing, especially freshmen coming in. I love how they’re just so new and just want to experience the fun things like that.” Their next home game will be against Simon Fraser Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. on the Turf Field. Something to know about the team for new fans this season, according to Foster, is, “We definitely bring that competitive energy. We’re never going to be the ones to just get hit and stay on the ground. We’re always very loud.”

“This team can make big plays,” said Bingham. “On offense and defense, they never back away from the challenge, and they turn difficult moments into looking easy sometimes. I think that’s fun, and it’s just an exciting group to watch. It’s a very competitive group. So no matter who’s on the field, they’re always going to bring something special.”

As of Oct. 14, the winning streak has come to a conclusion, but after the game against Simon Fraser, the Wolves will have five regular-season matches remaining, capping it off with a Senior Day celebration versus Montana State Billings Nov. 8. From there, they will look to qualify for the GNAC championships and put together a successful postseason run.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Dodgers take down the Padres

Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor

The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the San Diego Padres to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs Oct. 11.

The 2024 National League Division Series between the two California teams came to an electrifying end in Game 5, with the Dodgers securing a 2-0 victory and advancing to the National League Championship Series — NLCS. The game was defined by dominant pitching and crucial moments that made it an intense and thrilling match from start to finish.

Coming off a difficult Game 2, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings. Yamamoto bounced back impressively, allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out two. He kept San Diego’s lineup at bay, silencing stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís, who were crucial to the Padres’ success in earlier games.

The game remained tight, with both teams’ pitchers going at it. Padres ace Yu Darvish was equally impressive, keeping the Dodgers’ offense quiet for most of the game. He went six strong innings, allowing just two runs while striking out four. He even struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who went hitless in the game. Despite his efforts though, it was not enough to overcome what the Dodgers brought to the table.

The Dodgers managed to break through in the second inning when Kiké Hernández launched a solo home run off Darvish’s pitch, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. It was Hernández’s second home run of the series. Darvish took that home run personally however and managed to keep the Dodgers scoreless until the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Teoscar Hernández delivered the game’s final blow with a solo shot to left field, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage. This was his second homer of the series against the Padres, and it came at the perfect time.

Relief pitchers Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia shut down the Padres in the late innings, with Phillips striking out key hitters like Machado and Jurickson Profar. The Dodgers’ bullpen was nearly flawless, closing out the game and the series without allowing a run.

Unfortunately for the Padres, their offense, which had been explosive earlier in the series, went stagnant when it mattered the most, and the Dodgers punched their ticket to the NLCS. This Game 5 victory was a testament to the Dodgers’ depth and ability to perform under pressure. They now move one step closer to their World Series ambitions.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

The Western Howl

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Gender Disparity in Athletics: How Far Have We Come?

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor, Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

Gender disparities are common in the world of sports. Female athletes are generally broadcasted less, paid less and pitted against others disparaged in the weight and size category. This problem is international and does seep its way into Western — although Western is better about these disparities than other schools and professional sports.

One issue within the sports world is how limited professional sports teams have been for women. The first professional men’s sports league was Major League Baseball, founded in 1869, after the Civil War, with its first team being the Cincinnati Red Stockings — now the Boston Red Socks. The National Football League — NFL — followed suit in 1920. The United States eventually joined the Federation Internationale de Futbol and founded the National Basketball Association, known as FIFA and the NBA respectively, in 1930 and 1946.

Women’s sports, on the other hand, did not have the same starts or even advantages as their male counterparts did. For a period of time during the forties and fifties, there was the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was created over concerns about Major League Baseball’s viewership during World War II. After this period, women’s golf became popular, and is currently the longest-running women’s professional sport — the first Women’s Professional Golf Association Tour started in the 1950s.

In June of 1972, Title IX was passed, which prohibited discrimination based on sex or gender. From this point on, women began to get a leg up in, not only education, but also athletics and other federally funded programs. Professional Tennis also became very popular among female athletes at this time.

It was not without its faults, however. Following the passing of Title IX, women still faced misogyny in athletics, as well as the struggle to establish their leagues. The Women’s NBA, Women’s FIFA, Pro-Softball and Volleyball leagues were not founded until the nineties, with many struggling to stay afloat throughout their history.

Another issue in the professional sports world is that the women’s leagues are paid less than their male counterparts. For example, NBA players receive 50% of shared revenue from their teams and leagues, while WNBA players receive only 20%. In numbers, the average NBA player’s salary is $7.5 million a year. The average WNBA player’s salary? $116,000 a year. That’s a $7.3 million difference.

Further, discrimination is still strong against female athletes and their level of play and abilities. For collegiate softball, one of the most common sayings against the teams is, “450, dead center.” This refers to the differences in field size and pitching style in softball and how most men believe they could easily hit a home run off the softball pitchers.

Western’s sport disparities are minimal but still exist. Although Western seemingly handles any disparities well, they do not handle it perfectly.

One thing Western excels in is its treatment of male and female athletes. Throughout interviews, female athletes report being treated well, an equal part of the athletic population and happy to be involved with the sports.

“If there was inequity or inequality in treatment, I would know about it,” said Michael Gonzalez, the Student-Athlete Success Advisor. “Any problems, they come to me.”

Western also does a phenomenal job at broadcasting and advertising female sports — equally to male sports, if not more so. This is extremely important for funding, as advertising and broadcasting boost funding.

According to Randi Lydum, the executive director of intercollegiate athletics, funding is distributed based on schedule and number of athletes and coaches on the team. Those with a more demanding schedule will receive more funding, while those who may travel less or have fewer athletes receive less funding.

Scholarships are divided based on the NCA framework that gives the maximum of scholarships that Western can offer. “We try to make sure that the number of scholarships we’re giving… matches the percentage of student participation,” Lydum said.

The school tries to ensure that female-dominated and male-dominated sports receive the same amount of scholarships, percentage-wise. Lydum states that they take equity in funding and scholarships seriously. Lydum also states that there haven’t been any actual complaints about the amount of funding from athletes or coaches to her directly.

“…if there is a problem I want to get it figured out. Although Western does equality well, it is not done perfectly. An anonymous athlete states that “There should be changes in the budget according to which sports are more successful,” said Lydum.

Western’s 2023 Budget Reports state that football received 14,282 in general admin overhead, with baseball and softball getting 6,290. Football gets 165,000 in travel with baseball and softball receiving 85,000, which is the most out of all the other sports. Football exceeds all other sports in recruiting, receiving 12,240 with the other sports getting 1,700–5,100 at most.

It is easily seen how much of a discrepancy football funds receive in comparison to other sports. Why is that the case when football is easily not the top-performing program?

Football game outcomes are highly disappointing — losing eight of eleven games, with a winning percentage of .273. This is comparatively lower when compared to women’s soccer’s record of 8-5-6, with a winning percentage of .579, or even men’s soccer’s 11-3-3, .735.

This may be a gender issue, or this may be an issue of putting money towards ‘needed’ costs rather than wins.

Gender disparities have been found in athletics throughout history, dating back to the very beginning of these sports. It is extremely important to ensure gender equity in our athletics department to set an example for others, and although Western is more careful about equity than other colleges and professional sports, Western can continue to discuss equity.

Contact the authors at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu or howlsports@wou.edu

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility Public Records Privacy Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.

Blazers season preview

Aspinall vs. Gane

The road home

LeBron retirement rumors

Wolves strike six

Dodgers take down the Padres

Gender Disparity in Athletics: How Far Have We Come?

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