Sports have been a constant throughout cultures all over the world. Whether it’s through playing, watching, or coaching, it can be argued that everyone has had a connection to sports at some point in their lifetime. Part of this connection stems from knowing the players’ personal lives. Therefore, we believe it is crucial to highlight the role of how male players’ significant others have changed the game. WAGs, or, Wives and Girlfriends, have had recent surges of fame in the past few years, specifically in the National Football League. But this fame hasn’t just created a new desire to marry a professional athlete; their impacts have changed both sports media and the inclusivity of sports,which can be seen at Old Saybrook High School.
This season, the New England Patriots have created a new dynasty, with second year quarterback Drake Maye at the helm. Maye and his teammates, along with new head coach and former Patriot Mike Vrabel, lifted the Patriots to a regular season record of 14-3 and a Super Bowl appearance. The media and viewers all over the country have found a new love for Maye. But, he isn’t the only name in the household gaining recognition. Maye’s middle school sweetheart, Ann Michael Maye, has gained extreme popularity through social media. Her fame erupted when she started a new series called “Bakemas” where she baked a new treat every day leading up to Christmas. This series and her baking talents left fans berserk, leaving comments and quickly exploding her following. In a video from December 7th, a Tiktok viewer commented, “I’m not a Patriots fan but Ann Michael Maye is my first lady too.” Comments like these may seem silly, but they show the impact that she has had on the football community. She is bringing teams together and putting any rivalries aside. Mrs. Holecz, a Special-Education teacher at OSHS agreed and said, “Even though I am a die-hard Giants fan and strongly dislike the Patriots, I do enjoy Ann Micheal Maye and her content and have made some of her Bakemas treats.”
Ann Michael, along with other WAGs, have also increased interest in football from communities that may not have watched otherwise. Brandon Flores, a sophomore and basketball player at the OSHS, says, “She (Ann Micheal) seems like a very good person and I was rooting for the Patriots in the Super Bowl because of her.” In another light, Taylor Swift, fiance of Travis Kelce of Kansas City Chiefs and popular artist, received extreme criticism from many male viewers while the viewership of women in the 18‑49 age range jumped by 63 percent during games where Swift was expected to appear, according to CU Independent. Although Ann Michael and Taylor Swift may increase viewership in different ways, both of their appearances have contributed to a growing football fan base.
Another football WAG, Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, has created her own fame through creating custom jackets for WAGs through her new sports apparel brand, Off Season. She started making these custom jackets just for herself to style her husband’s gear in a fashionable way. But soon, her creative styling took off on social media, and she began creating jackets for fellow WAGs, as well as some notable celebrities. Camille Freestone wrote in a Vogue feature, “Most notably, Taylor Swift wore a custom red puffer jacket emblazoned with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s number, 87”. The article also mentioned Simone Biles, wife of Green Bay Packer Jonathan Owens, as she was one of the first to rock Juszczyk’s jackets. Juszczyk’s work shows how women can be involved in men’s professional sports in their own way.
From baking, to singing, to designing, to gymnastics, WAGs make an impact in their own respective fields all while bringing new viewership to the National Football League. These women have made their names not just as wives or girlfriends, but as creative women with powerful ideas to share with the world.
