The White Sox held Women’s Equality Night on Tuesday, August 26 vs. Kansas City — a powerful celebration of progress, empowerment and the future of women in sports.
The evening shined a spotlight on the influence of women across Chicago, from honoring local female-owned businesses to showcasing inspiring community leaders and talented individuals on the field. With special recognitions and fan experiences, the game emphasized using the Sox platform to uplift women and continue growing the game for generations to come.
Pregame Entertainment: The evening began outside the ballpark at Gate 4, where fans were welcomed by Chicago native DJ and singer Hannah Heavin. Earlier in August, Heavin performed the National Anthem as the winner of the organization’s recent anthem contest. Her return reflected the night’s purpose — highlighting women using their talents to inspire others.
BMO Local Business Hub: Amplifying women’s voices and passions at Gate 5, the BMO Local Business Hub stood out as a signature element of the evening, welcoming female-owned businesses from across Chicago. Fans had the chance to connect with local entrepreneurs, learning about their work in areas ranging from mental health advocacy to innovative products and services.
Game Changers: Photographer Abra Richardson captured the evening’s festivities. Richardson discovered her passion for photojournalism while learning from her mentor John H. White, a photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner. Since then, she has gone on to photograph many high-level events including being one of the photographers at Chappell Roan’s historic Lollapalooza set where the performer drew a crowd of over 100,000 people.
National Anthem: The Southland College Prep Charter High School Girls Choir delivered a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” earning warm praise from fans in attendance.
Ceremonial First Pitch: To highlight the strength and impact of women in professional sports, Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins — a two-time WNBA All-Star, five-time All-Defensive Team honoree, and 2019 champion — took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Her presence underscored the evening’s connection to the Sky, who were also featured through a specialty ticket offer presented by the Village of Bedford Park, complete with a limited-edition Sky hat.
Hero of the Game: A powerful in-game recognition, U.S. Army Captain Kathleen Donofrio was honored during the third inning. The crowd rose for a standing ovation, paying tribute to her service and sacrifice — a reminder of the many ways women lead with courage both on and off the field.
Photo Op: All evening long, fans embraced the spirit of Women’s Equality Night with a special photo backdrop on the 100-level concourse. Designed by XO Balloon Co., a women-owned local business, the display gave guests a chance to create lasting memories while supporting female entrepreneurship.
To learn more about the organization’s efforts to advance gender equality and champion female empowerment, visit whitesox.com/socialchange.
White Sox Women’s Equality Night Celebrates Progress and Empowers the Next Generation was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.