Jane McManus, sports columnist and adjunct professor at NYU's Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, spoke about her book to sport management and journalism students
Risa Isard, left, interviews Jane McManus during a book talk on March 25. (Nicole Dobrzanski/Neag School)
On March 25, students and faculty gathered in the Austin Building at UConn Storrs for a book talk with Jane McManus. Her book "The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports" details the progress and reluctance in women's sports and media.
Risa Isard, assistant professor in sport management at the Neag School of Education, moderated the discussion with McManus, posing engaging questions, sparking thoughtful conversation, and keeping the dialogue flowing. She summed up McManus' bio in one word: impressive.
McManus currently serves as an adjunct professor at NYU's Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport and is also the editor of "The Year's Best Sports Writing 2024." She previously worked at ESPN as a sports columnist and as one of the founding writers for espnW.
One thing McManus reflected on was that UConn is a utopia when it comes to women's sports. She explained that "it's the oasis in the desert. Of course, people can care about women's sports; look at what's happening in Connecticut."
In reality, women's sports still face significant disparities in funding, media coverage, and institutional support. Title IX, a federal law enacted in 1972, was designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in educational institutions, including their athletic programs, that receive federal funding.
McManus' book highlights how sponsorships, expanded broadcasts, and rising ratings debunk myths about disinterest in women's sports. She examines resistance to women's leagues, media coverage, and investment opportunities through interviews. She also addresses racial inclusivity, transgender participation, women's health, and the fight for equal pay.
"I think sometimes we talk about things as though they're inevitable and trajectories as though they're straight lines up," McManus said to students at the event. "And I think it's really important to acknowledge that there are waves and waves dissipate. So really guard the gains that are coming now for your generation when it comes to sports and a lot of other rights, particularly in this country."
McManus explores traditional coverage archetypes within this context, opening her book with the story of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an official participant. A widely recognized photograph from the event depicts Switzer's boyfriend intervening to "protect" her from the race director who attempted to physically remove Swizter from the course.
Both sport management and journalism students connected with McManus' narrative, gaining insight into how sports media shape the industry. The event sparked conversations about the evolving landscape of sports coverage, opening students' eyes to career opportunities in storytelling, marketing, athlete representation, and media strategy within the sports world.
[UConn is] the oasis in the desert. Of course, people can care about women's sports; look at what's happening in Connecticut. — Jane McManus
Laura Burton, professor and head of the Department of Educational Leadership, was initially contacted about hosting McManus to discuss the release of her book. She worked alongside Isard and assistant professor in residence Danielle DeRosa to organize the event.
"Jane McManus is one of the leading sports writers of our time," Burton said. "She is an authority on women's sports and has helped create media platforms to showcase all that is great about women's sports. She has also used those platforms to put a spotlight on issues and challenges girls and women face in sports. We were thrilled to have Jane share her work with students and faculty at UConn."
The Neag School's Sport Management Program is designed to blend classroom learning, research, and hands-on experience to prepare students for success in the sports industry. Its mission is to develop leaders and researchers who use sport as a force for positive social change, and this book talk provided the opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to hear first-hand from an expert in the field.
"Jane's talk was a really exciting opportunity for sport management students, and others across the University, to hear directly from a sport journalist and learn about the backstory of women's sport," Isard said. "This event came at the perfect time, with March Madness happening across the country during a time of great growth for women's sport. Jane's book helps tell the story of how we got here."
To learn more about UConn's Sport Management Program, visit sport.education.uconn.edu.
