The Group Chat: We wanted a dad joke here...
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
A hot take: Girl Dads have the potential to be the cornerstone of women’s sports — they help shape the athletes and fans who power the space. Sports figures from Venus and Serena Williams to track & field Olympian Anna Hall to The GIST staff credit their fathers for fueling their fandom and supporting their careers.
- There’s even data to back up dads’ influence: Studies show that father figures hold far more sway over which teams a kid roots for than anyone else in their lives.
And it’s not just daughters that feel Girl Dads’ impact: They’re also important to the women’s sports ecosystem, which has seen massive spikes in viewership for middle-aged men in recent years. In turn, these fellas share sports experiences with the girls and women in their lives, often leading to newfound, genuine support for the women’s game.
The Girl Dads who are doing the most? Inspired by Kobe and Gianna Byrant’s legacy, here’s a list of famous sports dads who are nurturing their kids’ love of sports and shaping the landscape for the next generation.
🏀 Stephen Curry: Fatherhood is central to the image of this Golden State Warriors legend and dad of four (including the infamous Riley, now all grown up). But Curry goes way beyond supporting his own kids, mentoring WNBA stars like Sabrina Ionescu (pronounced yo-NESS-coo) and his godsister, Cameron Brink.
- He’s also an investor in women’s 3x3 basketball league Unrivaled and a passionate fan of Bay Area women’s sports teams.
🏳️⚧️ Dwyane Wade: There are layers to this NBA great’s Girl Dad status — he and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, are outspoken about raising a blended family of five children and about advocating for their daughter, Zaya, who is trans. His allyship for the LGBTQIA+ community, driven by his relationship with Zaya, has moved the needle towards acceptance for sports fans everywhere.
🏈 Peyton and Eli Manning: Peyton’s and Eli’s daughters often steal the show, from out-hosting their dads at the NFL Pro Bowl to hysterical mic’d up moments at New Jersey Devils games. But Peyton and Eli, two all-time great NFL quarterbacks, also have an impact in the other football — they’re both part-owners of NWSL teams.
🎾 Alexis Ohanian: Although Ohanian is a tech exec, not an athlete, his marriage to tennis GOAT Serena Williams earns him Sports Dad status by association. And he takes that role seriously, fiercely championing women in sports at every given opportunity, from investing in Chelsea FC and Angel City FC to establishing a pro women’s track & field league to voicing his support on TikTok.
