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You often hear that sports is a male-dominated industry, but these women in sports media are changing the game in more ways than you realize.

Aggressive, relentless, determined—these are terms we often associate with athletes. But they’re just as fitting for the women who defy stereotypes to bring these athletes into the spotlight.

From producers to photojournalists, from writers to social media creators, women have quickly claimed ownership of many spaces in sports media. The content we consume—whether on TV or TikTok—are products of their creativity, leadership, and storytelling.

This article aims to recognize these women, particularly the young creatives leading the charge in the new age of sports coverage. While trailblazers like UAAP Executive Producer Malou Neri and sports broadcaster Dyan Castillejo paved the way, today’s next generation is making sports media coverage their own. They’re not just participating in sports media—they’re reshaping it, driving innovation, and making sure their voices are heard.

Kate Reyes

Managing Editor, SPIN.PH

The only thing more distinctive than Kate Reyes’ tattoos is her knack for storytelling. Kate is the Managing Editor for SPIN.ph, where she covers sports and lifestyle, sharing stories from multiple playing fields. She also leads the lifestyle beat, focusing on brands, fitness, wellness, and fashion, while producing multimedia content.

Beyond reporting, Kate handles editorial oversight, content planning and staff supervision, collaborating closely with the Editor-in-Chief and Spin’s parent company, Summit Media. Outside of her SPIN work, she occasionally does courtside reporting for collegiate basketball and volleyball games.

Kate joined SPIN six years ago, straight out of college, and has climbed the ranks ever since. With a strong grasp of her craft, Kate has found her place in the sports media arena. “Since sports is male-dominated, I have to find ways to make myself comfortable in an environment where it’s not ‘usual’ to see women,” she shared. “I think I did a good job on that.”

Kate’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

“You have a place here, and you can perform as well as anyone else. It’s never an issue of gender, but rather the relevance of the work you do.”

Ceej Tantengco-Malolos

Founder, Go Hard Girls

Ceej Tantengco-Malolos is the founder of Go Hard Girls, a platform that amplifies the stories of Filipina athletes to inspire women across industries. What began as a podcast in 2019 has evolved into a company that offers community events, workshops, and merchandise.

“I think of myself as both an impact journalist and entrepreneur,” shared Ceej. “The work doesn’t stop at writing the story or publishing an episode; we must build communities of support around our athletes.”

Over the years, Go Hard Girls has received international recognition thanks to its many notable projects. Some of which are the Go Hard Girls Grants, which support storytellers covering Filipina athletes, and Game Plan 2025, a women’s vision-setting workshop. In March 2025, they will launch the Pinay Power Series, which will feature live podcast events with women athletes, starting with Olympic Medalist Aira Villegas.

The women’s empowerment movement has reached new heights, but Ceej recalls how tough it was to get to where we are today. “Back then, I was starting out in this male-dominated industry, and all around me people kept saying the only way to grow women’s sports was to objectify female athletes and focus on their looks,” she shared. It wasn’t easy, but she remained true to her vision and has played a key role in reshaping the way female athletes are discussed and perceived today.

Ceej’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

“As you grow your career, it’s natural to think of climbing the ladder. But while you do this, also remind yourself to think of going deeper — that is, reflecting on what your purpose is. What difference would you like to make?“

Cheryl Saw

Founder, Swing for the Fences

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the most brutal sports out there, and few cover it as well as Cheryl Saw. She’s the founder of MMA page Swing For The Fences and the admin of several online MMA communities. Through her dedication to the sport, Cheryl seems to have single-handedly kept local MMA fans engaged and updated with the latest MMA news and events.

“When I started years ago, my goal was to keep the MMA community updated here in the Philippines,” she shared. Today, her content and coverage of both international and local MMA keeps the local fight community engaged. But the MMA online space has its share of trolls. “I experienced online harassment during the first few years,” she shared. Cheryl would get hateful, sexist comments from online trolls, but she didn’t let that deter her from doing what she loved. “I’ve muted them, both figuratively and literally, and I can blissfully ignore their hateful comments.” Today, she’s become an authority in the combat sports space, and she has a whole MMA community ready to back her up if necessary.

Cheryl’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

“Master your craft. Learn how to utilize social media to build your personal brand and connect with audiences. And more importantly, don’t give up on your passion. Your hard work will pay off.”

Danine Cruz

Social Media Lead – Youth and Women’s Basketball, FIBA

Yes, one of the social media leads of the globe’s biggest basketball organization is a Filipina. Her name is Danine Cruz, and if you’ve ever enjoyed a video from a FIBA social media account, then you probably have her to thank.

“I’m part of the team that looks after the communications and content of FIBA as a global brand, specifically on social media,” Danine said. “This includes covering games, crafting communication strategies, conceptualizing visuals, building relationships with the teams and national federations. I have a focus on youth basketball and women’s basketball.”

Danine clearly has some big shoes to fill, but they’re shoes that any sports fan would dream of stepping into. From working with legends like Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony, to traveling to Europe for weeks on end, Danine’s work has no shortage of surreal moments.

Admittedly, Danine has struggled with professional insecurity, feeling that she’s undeserving of the roles and responsibilities she’s been given. “I’m just some random girl from the province who happens to be a basketball fan born in a basketball nation,” she shared. But Danine’s output speaks for itself: Her work was vital to FIBA’s massive success and social media engagement during the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila. And her exceptional work has helped her garner greater opportunities, as FIBA has entrusted her with the launch of the 2027 World Cup.

Through it all, Danine takes pride in the fact that she’s accomplished all these without sacrificing who she is. Her fun personality has endeared her to the athletes and executives she works with, and she’s convinced that media women can truly make a massive impact in a global setting.

Danine’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

I never saw being a woman in this space as a handicap. I lean into it and try to make it my superpower as much as I can. I like working with guys kasi yung mga bagay na di nila kayang gawin, kaya ko gawin, and then vice versa. Di ko kaya mag serious analyze ng isang basketball play and make a post about it (not saying na women can’t, it’s just that ako di ko kaya). Pero kaya kong kulitin yung player for a funny video. It’s all about complementing your teammates and finding what niche you can specialize in. Women have a different insight on things kasi; lean into it and capitalize on it.

Janella Alba

Content Creator, Women’s Baller

Janella Alba has long been an advocate of women’s basketball, and she expresses her support through her page, Women’s Baller. “I create content that uplifts and promotes women’s basketball at all levels, from intense tournaments to casual runs,” she shared. “My goal is to bring visibility, support, and appreciation to the community, ensuring that women’s basketball gets the recognition it deserves.”

Women’s Baller has collaborated with Liga ng Kababaihan, and Janella has become an inspiration for young female hoopers. Creating content and collaboration can be considered a full-time job, but it isn’t even her biggest contribution to the community. “I’m also a professional referee in the MPBL,” she shared. And she admits that balancing Women’s Baller and refereeing has been tough.

“Officiating requires intense focus and discipline, while content creation and event management demand creativity and strategic planning,” she explains. “Juggling both roles, along with promoting women’s basketball at all levels, can be overwhelming. But my passion for the game keeps me motivated.”

Her efforts have also garnered attention from organizations like Titan and NBA Philippines. And in 2024, Gatorade featured her in an ad, showcasing her as a professional referee and a prominent figure in the community.

Janella’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

Stay consistent, be fearless, and create the content you want to see. Women’s sports deserve more visibility, and your voice matters in amplifying their stories. Build genuine connections within the community, stay true to your passion, and never let doubts stop you from making an impact.

Isabel Perdigon

Regional Social Media and Marketing Coordinator, East Asia Super League (EASL)

You don’t always see a 5-foot-something young woman tell a 7-foot giant to strike a pose for a viral video, but that’s all in a day’s work for Isabel Perdigon. “Part of my job [for EASL] is to feature visual stories and behind-the-scenes content of the games and athletes.” In other words, she uses her knack for storytelling and content creation to churn out social media gold.

One of her favorite projects so far: Spearheading the social media marketing of PBA Guest Team, The Bay Area Dragons. She worked with PBA and NBA legends to promote the team during their run for the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup title. And this helped turn the match-up into one of the most memorable finals in recent history. Isabel continues to work with EASL teams and athletes, traveling around Asia to do so.

Work-aside, Isabel is a die-hard of basketball and the Lakers. She’s one of the few Pinays who actually voices her basketball opinions on social media. This takes a lot of guts, given how passionate Pinoys are about basketball (and how emboldened they become behind a keyboard and a burner account). In fact, she’s received hateful comments simply because she’s a woman with a sports opinion.

“I believe there is still a lingering sense of doubt and disrespect toward women, especially in sports,” Isabel said. “While I may not play physical basketball, I have dedicated myself to studying and understanding the game. My biggest challenge is finding the courage to continuously prove—to both the people around me and those who doubt me—that I belong in this industry.”

Given the work she’s put in and the impact she’s made in the community, there’s no denying Isabel’s place in the industry.

Isabel’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

Get yourself out there. Be confident, be cringe if you have to, let them know who you are and what you know about the game and the rest will follow.

Rio Deluvio

Photojournalist, The Manila Times

If you’ve ever been part of a media scrum or a photographer’s pit, you’d know that surviving that can be a sport in itself. Jockeying for position or trying to get the best angle to capture the perfect shot requires a lot of persistence, patience, and passion. Fortunately for Rio Deluvio, she has all three.

Armed with a camera and a never-say-die attitude, Rio has taken some of the most iconic photographs in sports. She travels the country and the globe, capturing the highs and lows of our local athletes in her own unique style. With that, she’s received many awards for her work, including recognition from events like the PBA and NCAA. Additionally, she ranked 5th in Asia in the AIPS Sports Media Awards for the sports photography category in both 2022 and 2023. She was also a finalist in the World Sports Photography Awards in 2024.

“Being in a traditionally male-dominated field, earning recognition as a female sports photographer wasn’t always easy,” she shared. “But through passion and persistence, I’ve carved my space and gained respect in the industry.”

Rio’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

Own your space and stand your ground. In a field where you might not always be seen as an equal, let your work speak for itself. Be relentless, be present, and never let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong—because you do.

Lui Morales

Multimedia Reporter, One Sports

In today’s sports media game, you often have to be a multi-hyphenate to survive. Meaning you have to be a producer-writer-video editor-social media manager, all at the same time. And that’s the daily grind for multimedia reporter Lui Morales. “I regularly cover sporting events to produce multimedia content–from articles, social media, and video content–across One Sports’ assets,” shared Lui. “A lot of it has to do with doing legwork during coverage and pursuing interesting story lines with interviews.”

Lui has been working professionally for five years with some of the biggest names in sports. They’ve done TV writing for NBA Philippines‘ “1 of 1”, magazine writing for WSLAM Philippines No. 01 & 02, and podcast writing for The Filipino F1 Podcast and Go Hard Girls.

It’s clear that Lui loves to write, but it poses one problem: Low pay. “The challenge is that sports writers don’t earn enough to support their families and careers,” Lui shared. “Which means we usually have to juggle multiple jobs.” In light of this, Lui has adapted, taking the multimedia route to stay competitive in the sports media scene.

Lui’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

Believe in yourself and own your space, you deserve to be here.

Yani Mayo

Media Producer and Talent, Freelance

If versatility were a sport, then Yani Mayo would be the MVP. One minute, she’s doing on-cam work as a courtside reporter. The next minute, she’s writing and producing shows for Cignal TV. “I’ve been in TV production the longest, then I transitioned to pre-produced sports shows,” Yani shared.

Yani’s on-cam and off-cam projects have been varied. She’s been a social media correspondent for NBA Philippines, a segment producer for the UAAP, and a video producer for the DAYO23 Tournament by Jordan. She’s also given a talk for Nike on sports media, worked on original shows for Pilipinas Live under Cignal (Rebound, Shaun Time, The Bounce, and more), and anchored for volleyball in the UAAP and PVL. She’s also trained under the Women in Sports and News program by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for commentary.

Clearly, opportunities for women in this industry are abundant. Nonetheless, Yani points out that the bar for women in sports media is set very high. “There’s still much to ‘prove’ to our male counterparts who, evidently, are more in positions of power,” Yani shared. “But as long as we do great work, we will continue to take up space. What I noticed is women have to keep doing ‘great’ work to keep a seat in sports media,” she said. “The women that I’ve met in sports media are all amazing and hard working. All of them give more than enough and exhibit exemplary work.”

“[The challenges today for women in sports media] are not as prominent as the women that came before, who paved the way for us,” Yani pointed out. “I am forever grateful for the batch of women who created space for us.”

Yani’s advice to aspiring #WomenInSportsMedia:

Real talk would be to network and to have a good work ethic. Sure, there will be auditions or applications, but doors open more (from what I’ve experienced) if you surround yourself with people who can introduce you to opportunities, because they believe in your abilities.