Malala Yousafzai launches sports initiative to empower women, girls
25 Jun 2025

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has launched a new initiative called Recess, aimed at empowering women and girls through sports.

The project was announced during her appearance at the Billie Jean King Power of Women's Sport Summit in London on Tuesday.

"We were looking for an opportunity where we could bring in our expertise, our platform to benefit women's sports in general, just because of the lack of investments, lack of opportunities," she told CNN Sports.

Focus on women's professional sports in established, emerging markets
Initiative details

The Recess initiative is a multi-faceted approach that focuses on women's professional sports in both established and emerging markets. It also aims to increase the number of girls participating in sports worldwide.

Yousafzai's husband, Asser Malik, emphasized the need for a different approach for women's sports to grow everywhere.

"And obviously, Recess's approach is to treat them like a proper business and go in and prove that it's a great business case so that more capital comes in."

NWSL, WNBA identified as leagues to invest in
Investment focus

Yousafzai and Malik have identified the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as two leagues they are looking to invest in.

This decision is based on the "huge potential" for growth in these leagues and their ability to help test the economics and mission side of their work.

The initiative is being supported by advisors like Billie Jean King and her wife-tennis legend Ilana Kloss, who believe in women's sports as a business opportunity.

'Sports have a huge impact without actually saying much'
Personal perspective

Yousafzai, a cricket enthusiast, also plays golf and believes that sports can serve as a powerful tool for change.

She highlighted the influence of athletes on increasing viewership in the WNBA.

"They have a huge impact without actually saying much," said Yousafzai. "It's empowering girls. It's sending a powerful message to women, to all of us, that the sky's the limit."