Charleston Open: The game that Levels the Field to show young girls what they can be

Every year the Charleston Open brings more than high-level tennis to our community; it brings representation and visibility.  

For the numerous young women in the stands, this tournament might be the first time they see women competing at the highest level. For these girls, the athletes performing this week provide so much more than entertainment. They provide examples of strength, courage, power, and leadership. When these girls attend, they’re not just watching a match; they’re witnessing what’s possible.  

And that matters more than we often realize.  

Representation in sports is about more than just fairness or equality; it’s about belief. The women on the court show what’s possible when a person leads, competes, and develops the discipline and confidence to overcome obstacles. This representation doesn’t just show girls what’s possible for others; it expands their understanding of who they can grow to be. It gives them permission to imagine themselves in those same spaces, chasing those same goals.  

During National Women’s History Month, environments like this feel especially important. As we celebrate the women who have broken barriers, redefined expectations, and created opportunities where none existed before, we also have a responsibility to ask: what comes next? And who gets to follow in their footsteps?  

Because inspiration alone isn’t always enough.  

Research shows that by age 14, girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys. At the same time, many communities still offer fewer teams and fewer opportunities for girls to play, creating a gap that only widens over time.  

For every girl who leaves the Charleston Open feeling energized and inspired, there are still barriers that can stand in the way: limited access to programs, financial constraints, or simply not having a place to play. The gap between seeing and becoming is where so many girls are lost.  

That’s where our community has an opportunity to step in.  

At Leveling the Fields, we see firsthand what happens when that gap is closed. When girls are given the chance to participate in sports, the impact reaches far beyond the field or court. Confidence grows. Leadership develops. A sense of belonging forms. When girls participate in sports, sports become a vehicle not just for play but for personal transformation.  

Events like the Charleston Open remind us what the end of that journey can look like. They show us the pinnacle. But as a community, our role is to support the beginning.  

On April 16th from 4-8 p.m., Leveling the Fields will gather at Paradiso Charleston in North Charleston to celebrate the launch of the Grounds Crew, a new monthly giving program designed to sustain this work year-round. The evening will include live music, great food, and raffle prizes, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to come together around a shared belief: that every girl deserves the chance to play. 

Because witnessing women in sports is powerful, but when that witnessing is supported by opportunity, that’s what changes lives. 

As the final points are played and the crowds eventually fade, the impact of the Charleston Open doesn’t have to end. It can continue in local gyms, on school fields, and in communities where girls are given the chance not just to watch the game but to step into it.  

And that is how the next generation of athletes begins. 

Leveling the Fields is a Charleston‑based nonprofit dedicated to empowering young girls by breaking down barriers to sports participation and building confidence, leadership, and teamwork through inclusive after‑school and community programs.