Play Gap and New York City Women’s Soccer Come Together for First national Partnership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2024
Cleveland, Ohio – Play Gap, a nonprofit organization who champions gender equity and accessibility in sports for adult women, has partnered with New York City Women’s Soccer (NYCWSOC) to expand resources for women leaders in sports and raise awareness about opportunities available for adult women in athletics. The collaboration, which began with conversations in March 2024, has developed into a strategic effort to bridge women across sports and regions, offering them a chance to play, referee, coach, or volunteer. Elise Vue, co-founder of Play Gap, explained, “While we began our efforts in Northeast Ohio to centralize and normalize support for everyday women in sports, we quickly discovered the demand for this type of community existed nationwide.”
Founded in 2018, Play Gap started with informal meetings among leaders of five women’s sports teams in Cleveland, Ohio. By the end of 2023, the volunteer-run nonprofit had grown to include over 20 teams, leagues, and sport organizations across Ohio, representing more than 5,000 athletes.
Similarly, New York City Women’s Soccer was established by Brittany Cummins in 2023 to create a dedicated, safe space for women to play soccer at various competitive levels—addressing a significant gap in New York City, where such opportunities had not been available at scale and where investment had not been specifically focused on supporting women athletes.
“When we created NYCWSOC, our goal was to build more than just a league—we wanted a community where women could play, compete, and connect in ways that empower them both personally and professionally, in an environment where those with families felt supported,” Cummins explained. “One of our biggest challenges is securing permits for fields and ensuring accessible spaces to play, which is both a systemic and economic issue. We currently serve hundreds of athletes and aim to expand access for women to play in every borough. Partnering with Play Gap allows us to deepen our vision, providing more resources for women to stay active, step into leadership roles in sports, and/or simply find a sense of belonging. In addition, we aim to bring together all of New York City’s women’s sports organizations under a unified network with Play Gap, fostering collaboration and amplifying opportunities across the city. Together, we’re breaking down barriers to ensure every woman who wants to participate has a place on the field.”
Both organizations utilize sports as a vehicle to improve the overall wellness of women. “We are excited to bring our experience of successfully uniting and amplifying women’s recreational sports to the network that NYCWSOC has already cultivated to help current and aspiring women in sports in New York City find the opportunity that will best fit their lifestyle,” said Vue.
