Women's Health Reporter Champions Respect for Female Athletes

Diana Taurasi had just won her fifth Olympic gold medal when reporters at the Paris Olympics started asking when she'd retire. Her response changed how one journalist sees her job.

"Only a woman would have 20 years of experience and it's an Achilles heel instead of something that is treasured," Taurasi told the room full of mostly older male reporters. She pointed out the irony: veteran journalists would feel disrespected if someone told them to quit based on their experience alone.

Amanda Lucci, director of special projects at Women's Health magazine, was reporting from her first Olympic Games. Sitting in the front row, she noticed something striking about the media spaces she navigated: they were dominated by old-guard men asking outdated questions.

The moment crystallized something important for Lucci. Women's sports are breaking viewership and revenue records, but the athletes still face disrespect on their way to the top. Great achievements deserve great storytelling from people who understand what's at stake.

Women's Health has always covered Team USA women athletes, but in Paris, the mission felt more urgent. The magazine's platform could help shift how people talk about and celebrate women in sports.

Why This Inspires

Lucci's experience shows how change happens in real time. Recognizing a problem is the first step. Using your platform to do something about it is the next. When journalists commit to telling better stories, athletes get the respect their achievements deserve.

The best part? Taurasi got the last word in the most powerful way possible. On the final day of the Paris Games, she won her sixth gold medal, making her the most decorated basketball player in Olympic history, regardless of gender.

Lucci is heading back to the Winter Olympics in Milan this February. She'll represent Women's Health again, armed with a clearer mission: tell the stories of the world's best athletes with the quality and respect they've earned.

The change in sports media won't happen overnight, but it starts with journalists who show up ready to do better.