The University of Texas women’s basketball program sold out its season tickets for the first time in history, following a 2026 NCAA tournament run that ended in the semifinals against UCLA. That game drew the fifth-largest audience for an NCAA semifinal on record, according to ESPN, and the ticket demand followed.

The growth isn’t confined to the college arena in Austin. Pro Skills Basketball Austin expanded from two high school girls’ teams to eight teams spanning fourth through 10th grade in four years. The Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area reports girls’ sports participation climbing from 245 in 2023 to 725 in 2026, and this year the club launched a fully funded summer AAU basketball team at no cost to families.

For a town like Waxahachie, where Friday night football and the county fair are part of the rhythm of life, the story is a reminder that girls’ sports deserve the same stands and the same attention. Local leagues and school programs are where that interest starts, and the families signing kids up today are the crowds filling gyms tomorrow. Have you noticed more girls playing basketball in your neighborhood or at your school? Tell us what you’re seeing in the comments.