Stanford won its third NCAA women’s rowing championship and swept the varsity four and second varsity eight grand finals. This performance wasn’t a standalone event—it added to Stanford’s standout success in their first conference championship as a part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
The ACC reported that Stanford set championship records in all five grand finals at their conference meet and became the first ACC team to sweep every event—achievements of both depth and dominance.
In an interview with The Row 2k Stanford head coach Derek Byrnes said, “We have a group of women who have been here and have developed technically, physically, emotionally, and they’ve also developed into phenomenal leaders.” He added, “We talk all the time on our team about ‘putting the We before the Me.’”
Yale’s Varsity eight also made waves this year when they pulled off a stunning upset to beat Stanford, crossing the finish line first in 6:06.138. This effort contributed to Yale’s runner-up team finish. Coach Will Porter said in an interview with Yale Daily News that “the biggest challenge of the NCAA —besides all the opponents—is physical. It requires peak fitness and mental toughness.”
Media Blind Spot
Despite these accomplishments, media coverage for both teams remained limited to niche and campus sources. As unfortunate as this is, it’s a disappointing norm for women’s sports. In fact, Wasserman Report research shows that women’s sports account for just 15% of total sports media coverage. While this number has grown in recent years, championships like Stanford's and success like Yale’s often remain overlooked. This sends a signal that women’s sports merit less visibility.
This inequity shapes who we see as heroes, who gets sponsored, who young athletes look up to, and who gets remembered. When champions like Stanford and stunning upsets like Yale’s go unrecognized, it reinforces the notion that women’s sports are less worthy of attention, investment, and celebration.
These athletes demonstrated excellence in every domain: training, leadership, resilience, and teamwork. When their voices aren’t heard, entire narratives of equity, representation, and inspiration go untold. This isn’t just about recognizing champions, it’s about changing the culture that keeps them invisible. Women rowers deserve the platform and spaces to share their accomplishments and the stories behind them.
