Minnesota Leads The Nation In Girls’ Sports Opportunities

If you’re a young woman growing up in Minnesota right now and you love playing sports, you are living in a pretty special place at the perfect time.

According to a brand-new 2026 Girls’ Sports Opportunity Index from Action Network, Minnesota ranks #1 in the entire country when it comes to opportunities for girls in sports. Not top five. Not the top three. Number one.

That probably doesn’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention.

MINNESOTA HAS EARNED ITS SPOT AT NUMBER ONE

Minnesota didn’t just sneak into the top spot either. The state earned it with a combination of participation, access, and visibility that’s hard to match anywhere else in the U.S.

Let’s start with the numbers.

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FIND YOUR SPORTS PASSION IN MINNESOTA

More than 101,000 girls are currently participating in high school sports across Minnesota, and there are 25 different sanctioned girls’ sports available statewide. That kind of variety matters. It means girls who live in our state aren’t boxed into just a few options. Our young women can find their sport, their passion, and their place of belonging.

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Even more impressive? Minnesota has one of the highest participation rates per capita in the country. In other words, it’s not just that opportunities exist. Girls in Minnesota are actively participating!

THE MINNESOTA CULTURE

From youth leagues to high school competition, there’s an expectation here that girls play sports. It’s encouraged. It’s supported. It’s celebrated. Whether it’s early morning hockey practices, packed volleyball gyms, or spring track meets in unpredictable weather, girls in Minnesota show up, and so do their communities.

THE MOST POPULAR FEMALE SPORTS IN MINNESOTA

The most popular girls’ sports right now include the following:

• Track & Field
• Volleyball
• Softball

SPORT OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND AT A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL FOR MINNESOTA WOMEN

The opportunities don’t stop at high school. One of the biggest advantages Minnesota has over many other states is visibility at the professional level. Young athletes here can actually see what the next step looks like.

With teams like the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx and the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost, there’s a clear and powerful message being sent. Your love of sports doesn’t have to end after high school or even college. Young women in Minnesota can keep going, with dreams of pursuing a professional career in their favorite sport.

That kind of representation matters more than ever. It turns dreams into something tangible. It gives young athletes role models who look like them, who came from places like them, and who prove that there’s a future in the game.

THE TOP RANKED STATES FOR WOMEN IN SPORTS

When you compare Minnesota to other top-ranked states like Michigan, Maine, or Connecticut, they all offer strong opportunities. But Minnesota stands out because it combines access, participation, and a visible pathway forward in a way that feels possible.

It’s not just about producing elite athletes, though Minnesota certainly does that. It’s about building an environment where girls feel like they belong in sports from the very beginning and never feel like they have to leave, or feel like they don't have a future in sports.

So yeah! If you’re a young woman in Minnesota who loves to compete, to move, to be part of a team, you're in the right place, and it feels like we’re just getting started.