“I Belong in These Spaces Too”: Empowering Student-Athletes in Women’s Sports Through Leadership Development

College athletes who participate in women’s sports face unique challenges in leadership development due to systemic gender biases, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and limited access to structured leadership training. Despite their potential, many women in collegiate athletics do not receive the same leadership development opportunities as men in similar spaces. Research has shown that mentorship, experiential learning, and peer support are critical components of effective leadership programs, yet many college athletes who participate in women’s sports lack access to such initiatives. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of college athletes (n = 12) who participated in the EMPOWER Leadership Academy, a leadership development program designed for women student-athletes at an NCAA Division I institution in the Southeast. Semi-structured interviews revealed three overarching themes: connection, confidence, and professional development. Overall, the findings suggest that EMPOWER provided athletes in women’s collegiate sports with valuable leadership experiences, strengthened their self-efficacy, and helped prepare them for future professional opportunities. This study underscored the importance of gender-specific leadership development programs that serve female student-athletes.