Women's volleyball steps into the light: Wrigley Field and a lesson for Vietnam

When I heard that American college women's volleyball would be played for the first time at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, I couldn't help but recall the days when I first picked up a camera because I didn't want my daughter to grow up asking: "Why is there no one like me on the court?" That was 2026, when I launched the YouTube channel "Binh Duong Sports Her" to tell stories about the Binh Duong women's football team. The first video got only 300 views, but I didn't stop. And today, witnessing an event like the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week, I understand that every small effort matters if we believe in the value of women in sports. This event, running from September 1 to 6, brings together all 34 women's volleyball teams from the two top NCAA conferences, the Big Ten and SEC. A total of 27 matches will take place across 10 different venues nationwide, from Nashville and Ann Arbor to Chicago. The highlight is the Sunday doubleheader at Wrigley Field – the first time in history volleyball will be played at this legendary baseball stadium. The first match features No. 3 Kentucky against No. 13 Penn State at 7 p.m. ET, followed by No. 1 Nebraska against Missouri at 9 p.m. ET, both broadcast live on FOX. This is not a championship tournament but rather a regular-season showcase. But to me, this is the historic moment I dreamed of witnessing since sitting in the stands clapping in the dark. The court does not ask about gender; it only asks if you dare to stand up. And these young women are standing up, on a stage like never before. What impresses me most is the serious investment. Allstate is the title sponsor in a two-year deal, including in-venue branding and match-day activations at every site. This shows that brands are beginning to recognize the commercial value of women's volleyball – something we in Vietnam are still struggling to figure out. I have witnessed female football players in Binh Duong having to sell lottery tickets to pursue their passion, and I wonder: when will Vietnamese sponsors see the potential in these women? This event also reveals an important reality: American college women's volleyball has a strong ecosystem. From youth development, recruitment, to media and commerce. Nebraska, Kentucky, Penn State – these names are not just teams but symbols of perseverance and long-term strategy. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, we are still fighting stereotypes that women playing sports is "unfeminine," that women's volleyball has no audience. But I have witnessed Vietnamese women's volleyball matches with packed stands, cheers no less than any men's match. The problem is not a lack of spectators but a lack of investment to bring these stories closer to the public. I remember the "Female Players Tell Stories" livestream series I did with Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi during the COVID-19 pandemic. When all tournaments froze, we still organized 12 talk sessions, inviting 19 unemployed players. Each session averaged 1,500 viewers, and we raised 53 million VND for the "No One Left Behind on the Court" fund. This proves that the community does not lack attention; it lacks stories that touch emotions. And the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week is exactly such a story – a story of recognition, of female athletes being given a stage worthy of their talent. But I also want to be realistic. This event, though grand, is still just a friendly week. It does not decide the national championship, nor does it directly affect conference standings. Its real value lies in creating a space for women's volleyball to be seen as a top-tier sport, worth investing in and following. And that is what Vietnamese women's volleyball needs to learn – not the scale or money, but how to create moments that make the public stop and look. I used to sit in the stands clapping alone; now I sit at the commentary desk so others don't have to clap alone. I have witnessed slow but steady change in Vietnam – from practices with no spectators to nationally televised matches. But we still have a long way to go. When I see American teams playing at Wrigley Field, I can't help but dream of a day when Vietnamese women also play on worthy courts, with audiences and sponsors who truly believe in them. Equality does not mean everyone finishes the same; it means everyone has a fair starting line. And this event is proof that when given the opportunity, women will shine. I hope Vietnamese sports administrators will look at this and ask themselves: have we done enough? Do we believe in our female athletes? Because if they believe, those women will work miracles – not just for themselves, but for an entire future generation.