When people say someone “throws like a girl,” they don’t usually mean it as a compliment. Mo’ne Davis is changing what it means to throw like a girl one pitch at a time. The pint-sized superstar is breaking barriers on and off the field.
The Philadelphia native got her start when the director of an athletic program saw her playing football with her brothers and noticed she could throw a perfect spiral. He invited Davis to watch a basketball practice, but never one to watch from the sidelines, Davis insisted on participating instead.
In 2014, Davis became the first black girl to play in the Little League World Series. She made history again when she became the first girl in Little League World Series history to pitch a shutout. After her impressive performance, Davis broke another barrier by becoming the first little leaguer to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Her wins on the field have also helped changed the perception of young women in sports. Girl athletes are getting more attention for their successes and their participation in sports is being seen as more commonplace. “I never thought at the age of 13 I’d be a role model,” Davis told ESPN. “I always wanted to be a role model, but being a baseball role model is really cool.”
While Davis may be known for her athletic prowess in baseball, it isn’t even the only sport she plays. She has future career ambitions to play basketball for University of Connecticut and one day join the WNBA. We call that a slam dunk!
