LARAMIE – Wyoming will celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Wednesday during the women's basketball game against New Mexico at the Arena-Auditorium.
 
The Cowgirls have inspired generations over the decades with a tradition of winning and interacting with fans after every home game.
 
"As a young girl there were always (women) I looked up to and they were role models to me. It means a lot to see all the kids after our games that come by our bench for autographs," said senior guard Malene Pedersen, who leads the Mountain West in scoring. "It's just worth it when you see all those kids coming (to games), showing out and wanting pictures.
 
"We have the best fan base compared to other teams in our conference on the women's side. It makes it such a great experience and there is pride to play here because you can see how much it means to the whole state."
 
Athletes representing UW women's cross country, golf, rodeo, tennis and track and field teams, plus members of the university's women's hockey and softball club teams, will participate in activities with kids on the Arena-Auditorium concourse during Wednesday's game.
 
The cheer squad, in-game host, deejay, band director and television commentators will have "junior" associates shadowing them.
 
"It's so important when you have the opportunity to represent a group that has an impact, especially in our community," UW head coach Heather Ezell said. "For young people and little girls that are getting into sports or want to get into sports, they have the opportunity to look up to our athletes and see them doing what they dream of doing and knowing they have opportunities to see their dreams come true."
 
It has been a memorable year in women's sports at UW. Some of the recent highlights include:
 
Allyson Fertig was named the Mountain West women's basketball player of the year, and Emily Mellema was the conference's defensive player of the year last season. The Cowgirls finished with 22 wins and lost to San Diego State in triple overtime in the MW Tournament championship game.
 
Soccer standout Alyssa Glover led the MW in goals (11) and points (25) during the 2025 season to earn all-conference second team honors.
 
During the 2025 fall schedule, golfer Elle Higgins set the program record for individual low round (-5, 67) and lowest tournament score (-7, 209) at the Wolverine Invitational where the Cowgirls posted the lowest team score (-11, 853) in program history. Meghan Vogt (-5, 67) tied Higgins' record for lowest round in UW history at the University of Denver tournament.
 
Swimming phenom Macey Hansen won two MW titles and qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division I women's championships in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle as a freshman. Tara Joyce won a MW title and set a school record in the 200 freestyle and was a member of the 800 freestyle relay team that won the conference title and set the school record.
 
The Cowgirl tennis trio of Violetta Borodina, Anastasiia Kochelaevskaia and Dilnaz Mashabayeva earned all-MW honors in 2025. Kochelaevskaia was named the conference player of the week and Silver Bijlsma was named the freshman of the week after each went 5-1 during the first week of the spring 2026 slate.
 
Former UW long jumper and sprinter Sadie McMullen was named an alternate on the USA women's bobsled team at the upcoming Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy.
 
Sarah Holcomb and Paige Lauterwasser were all-conference selections after leading volleyball to a third-place finish in the MW.
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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