Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Image | Source: Dice City Sports

Sep 20, 2022; Las, Vegas, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22) and guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrate on stage after the Las Vegas Aces championship parade on the Las Vegas Strip. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Kate Grimes- Swimming

Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Kate started with the Sandpipers swim team in the valley swimming her way to two-time Olympian titles in 2020 and 2024. Kate has a silver medal in the 400m individual medley at Paris 2024, plus multiple World Championship medals in distance freestyle and medley events. One of America’s top young distance/open-water swimmers.

Michele Abbate- Racing Driver- Trans-Am Series

Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, UNLV alumni Michele Abbate is a racer and owner of her own company, GRR Enterprises and Trans-Am Fan Favorite Driver of the Year in 2020. She’s a multi-time SCCA road racing champion and holds records like the youngest female to podium in the GT-1 category at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, plus the first woman ever to win the Lindley Bothwell Driver of the Year Award (in its 68-year history).

Rae Burrell- Los Angeles Sparks

Born in 2000 in Las Vegas, NV, the 6’2″ guard/forward was drafted No. 9 overall by the Sparks in 2022 after starring at Tennessee. She’s played pro in the WNBA and overseas, she can score and has major versatility and space to become an elite player for the league. Her career-high is 18 points in a game and carries multiple double-digit games. Burrell has shown her versatility over the years and has featured in off-season leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited. 

Athletes that Influenced Vegas Generations

Chelsea Hopkins

Las Vegas native, San Diego State Alumni, Aces alumni

Sequoia Holmes

Las Vegas Aces native, UNLV Alumni, Aces alumni

Image | Source: Dice City Sports

Aug 20, 2010; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Sequoia Holmes (17) drives the ball against the Seattle Storm during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images

Notable Black Women joining the 2026 Olympics

Laila Edwards -Ice Hockey

Born in 2004, the University of Wisconsin defenseman is the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s national hockey team (debut 2023) and will be the first to compete at the Winter Olympics for Team USA in 2026. She’s a World Championship gold medalist (2025) and young star.

Erin Jackson– Speed Skating

Born in Florida, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist in the 500m (first Black woman to win individual Winter Olympic gold) is back for her third Games in 2026. She’s a multi-time World Cup champion, qualified in both 500m and 1000m, and named a Team USA flagbearer—reigning as a top sprinter despite health challenges.

Elayna Meyers– Bob sledding

Born in 1984 in California, the most decorated Black Winter Olympian (5 medals: 3 silver, 2 bronze across 4 Games). A 5-time Olympian entering 2026, she’s a top contender in women’s bobsled and monobob.

Kaysha Love– Skeleton

A rising star from Utah (UNLV alum), she transitioned from gymnastics/track to sliding sports. She’s a 2022 Olympian and world champ in monobob, competing in women’s events at 2026.