The Hidden Challenges of Girls Playing Male-Dominated Sports

From The SLIDE Podcast - Youth Baseball & Softball Podcast by Coach Aaron

July 17, 2026 · 40 min · Season 5 · Episode 20

About this episode

Ashanthy Marcano discusses the challenges faced by girls in male-dominated sports, particularly baseball, and her journey to the USA women’s baseball team.

Most people do not realize how rare it is for a girl to reach the elite level in baseball. Ashanthy Marcano changed that story at just 17. She earned a spot on the USA women’s baseball team and is now ready to compete on the international stage. Ashanthy grew up in a baseball family, so the game has always been part of her life. She started young, played with her brothers, and kept going as the competition got tougher. Along the way, she faced doubt, pressure, and a sport that still treats girls like the exception. In this episode, Ashanthy opens up about the challenges of playing baseball as a girl. She talks about the coaches, the critics, and the moments that tested her confidence. However, she never let those voices define her. Instead, she kept working, kept improving, and kept proving people wrong. You will hear how Ashanthy: Built confidence through baseball and family support Handled stereotypes and coaching bias Used MLB Develops events to grow her game Earned her place on the USA women’s baseball team Dreams of playing in the WPBL and beyond If you enjoyed this episode, follow The SLIDE Podcast on your favorite podcast app. Share it with a coach, parent, or player who…

People in this episode

Host: Coach Aaron

Guest: Ashanthy Marcano

Topics covered

girls in sports
baseball
youth sports
confidence building
gender stereotypes
coaching bias

Keywords

girls baseball
youth baseball
sports challenges
confidence
coaching bias
MLB Develops
USA baseball

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USA women’s baseball team, MLB Develops