The 135 Challenge Blog
Today’s coverage of women’s sports lacks depth and development. We’re missing the narrative. We’re missing the characters. We’re missing the whole story.
Sports coverage needs dynamic characters.
People who love sports love more than just the game. We follow athletes and teams because we can follow the storylines. We know and identify with the characters.
Tom Brady, an underrated underdog turned top dog.
LeBron James, the redeemed king.
Cristiano Ronaldo — hero or heel?
But most people don’t know the characters in women’s sports.
Media coverage of women’s sports is so slim and surface-level that unless you are already a superfan, you probably don’t know much about even the top women athletes in the world.
Without developing the characters and narrative, it’s almost impossible for the average sports fan to become invested in the stories, the characters, and the narrative of the athletes and their teams.
With the 135 Challenge, I’m trying to change that.
For the next 135 days, I’m spotlighting one important woman in sports every damn day while training for the Badwater 135 mile race.
Many of these women inspire me, and I believe that if you knew more of their stories, they’d inspire you too.
My goal is to tell you who these athletes are—their athletic accomplishments & character archetypes—so you follow their stories, long after my race is run.
March 7th - July 19th, 2021
135 Badass women & 135 days of training for the Badwater 135.
While training for this year’s Badwater 135 footrace, I’m spotlighting 135 women in sports.
You better recognize.
Kelaine Conochan - The Everywoman
Day 136/135. We’re in OVERTIME! Kelaine, our trusted scribe, is running the Badwater 135 right freaking now. It’s the culmination of months of training and years of playing every freaking sport. Let’s GO!
Megan Rapinoe - The Rebel
Day 134/135. Megan Rapinoe is a clutch player who makes the most of big moments. She’s a true rebel: a pink-haired, anthem-kneeling, Trump-rebuffing icon.
Maya Moore - The Caregiver
Day 133/135. On the basketball court, Maya Moore has won just about all there is to win. In the court of appeals, she’s only just starting her win streak.
Diana Taurasi - The Ruler
Day 132/135. Diana Taurasi doesn’t always play nice. But when you’re trying to win basketball games and be the best of all time… does you even have to?
Sue Bird - The Sage
Day 131/135. At 40, Sue Bird is the oldest player in the WNBA. But after winning a 2020 championship and making her 5th Olympic roster, it sure doesn’t seem that way. That experience makes her the best to ever do it.
Lisa Leslie - The Femme Fatale
Day 128/135. When the WNBA launched 25 years ago, Lisa Leslie was the face of the league—and not just because she was pretty. She was an All-Star, champion, and first to dunk.
Jonquel Jones - The Best Kept Secret
Day 126/135. Flying under the radar is nothing new for Jonquel Jones, who is quietly putting together an MVP season for the Connecticut Sun. The media may not notice, but real fans sure do.
Skylar Diggins-Smith - The Beauty & The Beast
Day 123/135. It’s hard to put a label on Team USA’s point guard, Skylar Diggins-Smith. She’s versatile on and off the court. So why not be everything: beauty, beast, and baller?
Tamika Catchings - The Hero
Day 113/135. This year, Tamika Catchings was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the same class as her childhood friend, Kobe Bryant. But that ain’t even the half of it. She’s a real hero.
Renee Montgomery - The Creator
Day 111/135. Renee Montgomery is a 2x WNBA champion and a champion of racial justice and voting rights. Despite sitting out the 2020 season, she’s the biggest winner of them all… because now she’s an owner of the Dream.
Doris Burke - The Voice
Day 108/135. Back in the day, Doris Burke was a baller herself. Right now, she’s the best voice in NBA broadcasting, breaking down X’s and O’s while breaking glass ceilings.
Sheryl Swoopes - The Shoes
Day 105/135. Sheryl Swoopes is one of the best players in WNBA history. While leading a dynasty with the Houston Comets, she also inspired the first signature shoe for a woman athlete, Air Swoopes. Who got next?
Brittney Griner - The Blessing & The Curse
Day 102/135. Brittney Griner is a powerhouse of the WNBA, whose presence at the rim—blocking shots AND dunking—absolutely changes the game. But that height and wingspan hasn’t always been easy.
Sabrina Ionescu - The Student Becomes the Teacher
Day 97/135. Sabrina Ionescu is a bucket. The all-time NCAA leader in triple doubles went ahead and became the youngest to ever get one in the WNBA. She was mentored by some of the greats, but now it’s her turn.
Azzi Fudd - The Prodigy
Day 94/135. Azzi Fudd is the most hyped college basketball prospect in a minute. After recovering from a torn ACL, this dynamic guard is heading to UConn to once again make the Huskies a national powerhouse.
Natasha Cloud - The Activist
Day 90/135. In 2020, Natasha Cloud led protests for Black Lives Matter and pressured D.C. officials to use the Mystics arena as an election site. But it’s nothing new. She’s been using her voice for her whole career.
Layshia Clarendon - The Leader
Day 82/135. Layshia Clarendon is not only a legendary hooper. She’s also a leader, whose advocacy for Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ inclusiveness, and gender equity are truly unmatched.
Becky Hammon - The Underdog
Day 79/135. When it comes to hooping, Becky Hammon has been proving her doubters wrong since her high school days. Now, as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, she’s still showing the world what she can do.
DeWanna Bonner - The Lover
Day 70/135. DeWanna Bonner is a 2x WNBA champ and a 3x WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. But will things get messy with her teammate and cross-league romantic relationships? We’ll find out this season.
Breanna Stewart - The Hero
Day 69/135. Breanna Stewart has racked up every award, trophy, and title imaginable in her basketball career. She’s also a vocal advocate for women, sexual assault survivors, and racial justice. Her heroics just don’t quit.