No one in the sports world had heard of the 2014 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year until August.
According to Associated Press, that’s when 13-year-old Mo’ne Davis became an instant celebrity as she took the mound in the 2014 Little League World Series and mowed down batter after batter, giving “throw like a girl” a whole new meaning.
Davis was the first girl to win a Little League World Series game, and her performance dazzled fans young and old. Her steely gaze and demeanor on the mound were intimidating, while off-the-field, she shined in interviews. She told admirers that if they thought she was good at baseball, they should see her play hoops. Only in 8th grade, Davis already plays for her school’s high school varsity basketball team.
Davis appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has her jersey displayed in baseball’s Hall of Fame, and was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids.
She met the Obamas at the White House, starred in a Spike Lee-directed Chevrolet car commercial (the NCAA said it wouldn’t hurt her eligibility), marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade along with her Taney Dragons teammates, and presented Pharrell Williams with Soul Train’s Song Of The Year award.
The talented three-sport star also plays soccer and an honor student from South Philadelphia handled all the attention with poise, modesty, and maturity.
Davis said after learning of her latest honor,
“A lot of adults around me help out, taught me to be respectful, to be calm during everything, and not let anything get to you.”
A vote by U.S. editors and news directors selected Davis as The Associated Press 2014 Female Athlete of the Year. The youngest winner in history, Davis beat out Mt. St. Joseph Universiy (Cincinnati, OH) freshman Lauren Hill (who played her first college basketball game while battling terminal brain cancer) and three-time winner Serena Williams. The selection was announced on Monday.
Davis aspires to play for the University of Connecticut and reach the WNBA. She plays midfielder on her soccer team and hopes to play three sports in high school, though she’s not sure about baseball.
Davis knows she has become a role model.
Her message to everyone, especially girls:
“Always follow your dreams; if there’s something people tell you that you can’t do it, go for it!”
