Mother’s Day: See Mommy Run

More and more, elite female athletes are taking on a challenge greater than sports. They’re returning to the competitive world of sports while juggling motherhood.

Soccer moms have led the charge. The U.S. Women’s National Team has consistently featured mothers on its roster since 1994, when Joy Fawcett became the first “Soccer Mom” to give birth and continue playing at the highest levels of international soccer. Carla Overbeck and Danielle Fotopoulos also had kids while on the U.S. team, and more recently, three moms have played for the USA in defenders Kate Markgraf (mother of Keegan), Christie Rampone (mother of Riley) and Tina Frimpong (mother of MacKenzie).

Though retired from competitive play, Mia Hamm joined the Soccer Moms Club when she and husband Dodgers player Nomar Garciaparra welcomed twin daughters in 2007. Three years ago, Brandi Chastain became mom to little Connor and two years ago Julie Foudy, former captain of the US Women’s soccer team, had a baby girl named Isabel. Former captain Kristine Lilly recently had baby Sydney and is now playing in the WPS with the Boston Breakers.

Obviously, competitive women aren’t waiting until their athletic careers are over to start families. And while the physical and emotional challenges of motherhood can be difficult, most athlete moms wouldn’t have it any other way.

WNBA player Lisa Leslie sat out a season with the Los Angeles Sparks to give birth to a daughter but she returned to the pro team last year and had a great season.  She recently announed that this will be her last year playing professional hoops. Leslie’s teammate, MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker is currently pregnant (check out this video of her talking about impending motherhood) and plans to rejoin the team mid-season. Other WNBA moms share their favorite Mother’s Day memories on WNBA.com.

Pitcher Jennie Finch has a son named Ace with husband Casey Daigle and she competed with the Women’s National Softball Team at the Beijing Olympics last summer.

When the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Finland to win the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, forward Jenny Potter skated around the rink in celebration with her 5-year-old daughter Madison in her arms. Potter’s daughter was a fixture at the rink at an early age. A week after Madison was born in January 2001, Jenny was skating again. Three months later, she was back playing for the U.S. women’s hockey team in the world championships.

What’s even more impressive is that Jenny did it all again. Just 83 days after having her second child, Potter helped the 2007 U.S. Women’s National Team to a 9-0 victory over Kazakhstan in the opening game of the 2007 IIIHF Women’s World Championship.

Tennis player Lindsay Davenport had an amazing comeback after giving birth to her son Jagger. Just three months after the birth of her first child, Davenport became an instant and almost shocking success winning a number of high profile tournaments. She’s now pregnant with her second child.

Other images from the world of women’s sports clearly show the tide has turned. Legendary Czech cross county skier Katerina Neumannova collapsed on her knees at the finish line after winning gold in the 30-kilometre race at the 2006 Turin Olympics, her poles askew as she hugged her two-year-old daughter, Lucie.

Former Ironman world champion Lori Bowden placed second at Ironman Austria, just 10 months after giving birth to her son Tyson. And pro cyclist Sue Palmar-Komar, a 2002 Commonwealth Games silver medallist,  at age 41, had a sibling for her seven-year-old daughter Trinity. And who can forget long distance runner Paula Radcliffe who won the New York Marathon months after giving birth to daugher Isla.

Most of these working moms admit they can’t do it alone. And while their spouses and families pitch in, they are also assisted by their leagues and teams. Potter said USA Hockey provides helpful financial assistance during Olympic years. And before the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) folded, the league mandated that home teams must provide child care for the mothers on visiting teams.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) takes things to a whole new level. Since 1993, the LPGA has operated the LPGA Child Development Center, which travels to more than 25 tournaments per year. Bardine May, the Center’s director, said the LPGA was motivated to provide child care so that its athletes didn’t have to choose between playing the game and having a family.

There are many different kinds of mothers in this world. There are professionals and homemakers. Some are fashionable, some conservative, some are modern and some are cool. Fortunately some are competitive athletes as well.

Be sure to tell YOUR mom how much you appreciate her this Mother’s Day.

WPS fans: Mom’s the word this weekend

The WPS is gearing up to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend.

Saint Louis and Los Angeles are both marking the occasion with special ticket deals. The Athletica are giving ‘moms’ a free gift, even though they play on Saturday, while in California the Sol are offering post-match family photos with players.

Sol Guarantee: Attend the Los Angeles Sol’s May 10 home game against the Boston Breakers at Home Depot Center and if the team wins you’ll get a free ticket to the club’s June 3 home game against the Chicago Red Stars.

Sol General Manager Charlie Naimo explains:

“We are certainly not guaranteeing a victory on May 10,” he said. “Instead, we are potentially rewarding those who have decided to share their Mother’s Day with us.”

Until last week, this seemed like a pretty good bet: the Sol were undefeated and had yet to concede a goal. Now,  the May 10 win against the Breakers  isn’t looking quite so certain.

Last weekend, in a battle of perhaps the two best strikers in the league, Kelly Smith scored the fastest goal in WPS history for Boston in the second minute to lead the Breakers to their 2-1 win over the Sol. It was the first loss for the Sol this season. Can LA come back to beat Boston this weekend?  Come to the Home Depot Center to find out!

Going the extra mile for Mother’s Day are the Chicago Red Stars. Moms who turn up at Toyota Park this Sunday will not only get in free, but once inside they will be pampered with free massages, flowers and ‘chances to win great prizes’.

Red Stars general manager Marcia McDermott explains: ‘The Red Stars recognize that moms are the MVP of the family. Along with our partners, we’re pleased to have this opportunity to treat mothers as the VIPs that they are.’

English coach Emma Hayes,  directing WPS’s only unbeaten team, needs plenty of support and hopefully the moms can provide it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms!!

Mother’s Day Specials
LA Sol: 1-213-763-2683  or  www.LosAngelesSol.com

St. Louis Athletica 1-888-STL-GOAL or  www.saintlouisathletica.com

Chicago Redstars  1-866-WPS-2009 or www.chicagoredstars.com

Win a pink putter for your mom for Mother’s Day

Do you love to golf? Or – do you have a mom who’s a golfer?

Tell why you, or your mom, deserves a new putter for Mother’s Day and you could win one of two pink putters (retail value $149 each) courtesy of Sweet Spot Golf and Women Talk Sports.

To enter, all you have to do is:

Be a mom or have a mom

Include your name, date of birth (to prove you’re over 18) and contact info

Tell us why you, or you mom, deserve a new putter

Sweet, huh?

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