Data · Ohio × Sports

Women in Sports in Ohio

How women in sports fare in Ohio — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.

79.0%
Ohio overall earnings ratio (women/men)
Census ACS S2001
#39
of 51 jurisdictions for pay equity
Derived from ACS state ratios
21.0%
Unadjusted pay gap in Ohio
Census ACS
31.2%
Women in Ohio’s legislature

The state-adjusted picture

Women in sports nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in Ohio modifies the baseline by -5.7% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.

Ohio has never elected a woman US Senator.

National context

Women's sports is the fastest-growing category in professional athletics — but still a fraction of the media spend, prize money, and franchise valuation of men's. This page tracks the numbers on participation, pay, viewership, and the leagues closing the gap.

Full national data Women in Sports: Pay, Viewership, and Trends (2026)

National headline stats (sports)

3.5M+
US high school girls playing varsity sports (2024)
15%
Share of sports media coverage devoted to women's sports (Wasserman Collective 2024)
92%
Average WNBA base salary as % of equivalent NBA G-League salary
$2.1B
New WNBA media rights deal (11-year, 2025-36)

Other fields in Ohio

Sports in other states

Related pages

Frequently asked

What is the pay gap for women in sports in Ohio?

Ohio’s overall pay ratio is 79.0% — a 21.0% gap. The gap within sports follows the national pattern modified by Ohio’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.

How does Ohio rank on pay equity?

Ohio ranks #39 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.

How are women represented in Ohio politics?

31.2% of Ohio state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 2 women from Ohio serve in the 119th US Congress.

Where does the national sports data come from?

NFHS High School Sports Participation Survey; Wasserman Collective — The Collective Think Tank; Women's Sports Foundation