Best States for Girls' Sports 2026: Participation, Access & Opportunities

Discover the top U.S. states for girls' youth sports in 2026.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A new report analyzes participation rates, number of sports offered, gender equity, and pro women's sports presence to rank the best states for girls' sports opportunities. Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine lead the nation, while Nevada, West Virginia, and South Carolina lag behind.

Why it matters

Girls' sports participation is booming across the U.S, but opportunities can look wildly different depending on where you live. Some states offer tons of sports options, strong participation rates, and thriving athletic infrastructure, while others have fewer programs and limited access for young female athletes.

The details

To find the best places for girls' sports, the report analyzed participation levels and opportunity gaps across the country to create a Girls' Sports Opportunity Index. Minnesota ranks #1 overall thanks to the strongest all-around performance, combining elite girls' participation per capita with strong sport access and relatively strong gender parity. Michigan (#2) is the national leader in girls' sports variety, offering 60 different sports. On average, there are 21 girls' sports offered per state, with California offering the most (66) and West Virginia the least (9).

  • The report was published on February 23, 2026.

The players

Minnesota

Ranks #1 overall thanks to the strongest all-around performance in the dataset, combining elite girls' participation per capita with strong sport access and relatively strong gender parity.

Michigan

Ranks #2 and is the national leader in girls' sports variety, offering 60 different sports.

California

Offers the most girls' sports in the country with 66 different options.

West Virginia

Offers the least number of girls' sports in the country with only 9 different options.

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The takeaway

The best states for girls' sports aren't always the biggest states with the biggest budgets. Instead, they're the ones building the most consistent participation culture statewide where girls have the opportunity to play sports and receive all the benefits that come with them.