SANTA ROSA, CA- Friday night at Cardinal Newman was about far more than the final score.
Before tipoff, the Cardinal Newman girls basketball program welcomed Analy High School to join them in celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day, honoring the impact, growth, and leadership created through girls' athletics. The evening was made even more special as it also marked Senior Night for the Cardinals.
Both teams took the court united, wearing special warm-up shirts that read "Girls who play sports become women who lead." The shirts and the celebration were organized by Cardinal Newman head coach Monica Mertle, who wanted the night to reflect the bigger picture of women supporting women in sports.
"I think it's wonderful when women support women," Mertle said. "That's ultimately what today was about — celebrating women in sports, celebrating the opportunities that we have, and bringing acknowledgment to the continued growth. We still need to continue to grow and continue to provide more opportunities. But at the end of the day, it's women supporting women."
Rather than focusing on rivalry, the moment highlighted the shared experience of being student-athletes — teammates, competitors, and future leaders — all benefiting from the opportunities sports provide. Players from both schools gathered at center court for a photo that captured the spirit of the evening: pride, unity, and empowerment.
"I think that was the special thing about being able to share that moment with Analy," Mertle added.
Once the ball was tipped, Cardinal Newman honored its seniors in the best way possible — with a dominant performance on the court. The Cardinals earned a 69–16 victory, and fittingly, seniors Kate Blanchard and Valor Queen were recognized as Players of the Game, putting an exclamation point on a memorable night.
National Girls & Women in Sports Day serves as a reminder of how far women's athletics has come, and nights like Friday show how those values continue to be passed on at the high school level. Through leadership, collaboration, and intentional moments like this, Cardinal Newman continues to build a program rooted not just in competition, but in character.
It was a night that celebrated achievement, unity, and the women these athletes are becoming — one that will be remembered long after the final buzzer.
