Whoopi Goldberg Launches All Women’s Sports Network

Whoopi Goldberg Champions Women’s Sports with New Network

Whoopi Goldberg is making waves beyond the screen and stage, co-founding the All Women’s Sports Network. This groundbreaking platform aims to bring the excitement and talent of women’s athletics to a global audience. Goldberg, a longtime advocate for equal representation, shared her vision and passion for women’s sports on The Rich Eisen Show, detailing the journey to create a dedicated space for female athletes.

From One-Offs to Global Stars

Goldberg recalled the early days of women’s sports coverage, noting how stars like the Williams sisters were often seen as exceptions rather than the norm. “When I first started doing SportsCenter in the 90s,” she explained, “it was like, ‘Here comes the sister. Can she be any as good as Venus?'” She highlighted how many talented Black women in sports, like Althea Gibson, didn’t receive the recognition they deserved at the time. “We don’t talk about her. She was extraordinary,” Goldberg said of Gibson. She also mentioned the influence of Billie Jean King, stating, “She created basically women’s tennis the way that we currently know it as today.”

A Long Time Coming

The idea for the All Women’s Sports Network wasn’t new for Goldberg. She had pitched similar concepts to networks like ESPN years ago, only to be met with skepticism. “People would say things to me at all the networks. They would say things like, ‘Oh, well, you know, nobody wants to see women’s sports,’ but I did,” she revealed. This personal desire, coupled with her travels and observation of women’s sports worldwide, fueled her determination. The network now covers a vast array of sports, from wrestling and tennis to roller derby and sports many people have never heard of.

“For lots of women around the world, this is their way that they can be in a group of women doing stuff and not get in any hassle. These are ways of women coming forward and putting themselves forward to do different stuff.”

Celebrating the WNBA and Beyond

Goldberg expressed immense pride in the WNBA, especially as the league celebrates its 30th draft. She spoke about their persistent fight for better pay and recognition. “When you see these women play, they are worth their weight in gold,” she asserted. “They are doing the work that their male counterparts are doing. And they’re doing that in all of the sports.” The network is actively involved in showcasing these athletes, with original programming and live coverage from major sports organizations like FIA, WNBL, UEFA, and Athletes Unlimited.

A “Groovy” Network for the World

The All Women’s Sports Network, co-founded with the Jungo network, is now accessible globally. Goldberg described it as “kind of groovy,” delivering live coverage and original programming. She also touched upon the growing visibility of women’s sports, mentioning highlights on ESPN for WNBA, softball, and volleyball. Goldberg even expressed a desire for a deeper partnership with major sports networks like ESPN. “I’m saying to you, we should all be doing this together,” she urged. “Our point is, women are doing amazing things in sports and we should all be covering everything.” She humorously described her ambition as wanting to get “in this bed together” with ESPN, meaning a business partnership to expand coverage.

Goldberg’s Diverse Career

The conversation also delved into Goldberg’s illustrious career beyond sports broadcasting. She reminisced about her Oscar win for Ghost, recalling how Patrick Swayze actively fought for her casting. “He said, ‘I don’t know if I want to commit to this until we find out if she would do it because I think I should do it with her,'” Goldberg shared. She also spoke fondly of her role coaching the New York Knickerbockers in the film Eddie, enjoying the camaraderie with players like Rick Fox and Mark Jackson.

Looking ahead, Goldberg expressed a desire to star in a horror movie, believing her perceived niceness would make her the perfect unexpected villain. She also revealed a lifelong dream of being a race car driver, despite a terrifying experience riding with Mario Andretti. If she had pursued athletics, she would have chosen baseball, citing the Yankees as her team and the sport’s unique appeal.

The All Women’s Sports Network is described as the world’s fastest-growing and largest global TV network dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, available on over 1 billion devices in more than 65 countries. Meanwhile, Goldberg continues to be a prominent voice on daytime television as part of the award-winning show The View.

Source: Whoopi Goldberg opens up about co-founding All Women’s Sports Network 🙌 | The Rich Eisen Show (YouTube)