If you are asking what sports girls generally like to play or watch, there is no single answer. Girls have different interests, abilities, goals, and personalities, so the best sport for one girl may be completely different from the best sport for another.
However, participation data can show which sports are especially popular among girls in the United States. In the latest National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) data for 2025-26, outdoor track and field was the most participated-in girls high school sport, followed by volleyball, soccer, basketball, and fast-pitch softball. Volleyball passed 500,000 participants for the first time, while girls’ flag football and wrestling continued to grow rapidly.
That does not mean every girl likes those sports. Participation numbers measure opportunities and involvement, not personal preference. But they provide a useful picture of the sports that attract large numbers of girls.
What Sports Are Most Popular With Girls?
Some of the most popular girls’ sports in American high schools include:
- Track and field
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Fast-pitch softball
- Tennis
- Cross country
- Swimming and diving
- Competitive spirit
- Lacrosse
- Flag football
- Wrestling
According to the NFHS 2025-26 participation survey, girls’ track and field had 509,070 participation entries, making it the most popular girls’ high school sport. Volleyball ranked second with 502,056, followed by soccer with 400,841, basketball with 362,382, and fast-pitch softball with 335,117.
These numbers show that girls participate in a remarkably wide variety of sports. They also show that traditional assumptions about which sports girls “should” enjoy do not reflect the modern high school sports landscape.
Why Do Girls Like Volleyball?
Volleyball is one of the most popular sports among girls in the United States, and its participation has continued to grow.
One reason volleyball can appeal to girls is that it combines individual skills with teamwork. Players have specific responsibilities, but success depends on communication and cooperation across the entire court.
The sport also offers several different ways to contribute. A player might specialize as a setter, hitter, libero, defensive specialist, or middle blocker. That variety can help athletes find a role that matches their strengths.
Volleyball can also provide a strong social environment. Practices, tournaments, travel teams, and school competitions give players opportunities to develop friendships and become part of a team.
The latest NFHS figures show just how significant volleyball has become: more than 500,000 girls participated at the high school level in 2025-26.
Why Do Girls Like Soccer?
Soccer is another major choice for girls, from youth leagues through high school and college.
The sport appeals to athletes who enjoy continuous movement, teamwork, strategy, and competition. Unlike some sports where players have frequent breaks, soccer requires athletes to remain involved throughout long stretches of a game.
Soccer can also be played in many different environments, including recreational leagues, school teams, clubs, and elite programs. That gives players different levels of competition depending on their goals.
In the 2025-26 NFHS survey, girls’ soccer recorded more than 400,000 participation entries nationwide, placing it among the most popular girls’ high school sports.
Why Do Girls Like Basketball?
Basketball remains one of the biggest girls’ sports in America.
Some girls enjoy basketball because it combines speed, athleticism, individual skill, and team strategy. Players can develop skills such as shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, and defending while also learning how to work within a larger game plan.
Basketball can be particularly appealing to athletes who enjoy a fast pace and frequent involvement. A player can influence the game on offense, defense, and transition rather than waiting for a particular moment to participate.
NFHS data recorded 362,382 girls’ basketball participants in 2025-26, an increase of more than 6,000 from the previous year.
Why Do Girls Like Track and Field?
Track and field is especially interesting because it is not just one type of athletic experience.
Some athletes enjoy sprinting. Others prefer distance running, hurdles, jumping, or throwing events. This means girls with very different physical strengths can find an event that suits them.
Track can also appeal to athletes who like measurable progress. Improving a time, distance, or height provides a clear way to see development.
In the latest NFHS survey, outdoor track and field remained the No. 1 girls’ high school sport by participation.
Why Do Girls Like Softball?
Fast-pitch softball is another major girls’ sport in the United States.
Softball can appeal to athletes who enjoy the combination of individual responsibility and teamwork. Pitchers and batters have individual battles, while fielding and base running require coordinated team play.
The sport also develops skills such as throwing, hitting, catching, reaction speed, decision-making, and communication.
More than 335,000 girls participated in high school fast-pitch softball in 2025-26, according to the NFHS.
What About Tennis, Swimming, and Cross Country?
Not every girl wants a traditional team sport.
Tennis can be attractive to girls who prefer a sport where individual performance has a major role. It can also be played in singles or doubles, providing different competitive experiences.
Swimming appeals to athletes who enjoy individual events but also want the team atmosphere of a school or club program. Swimmers can compete in different strokes and distances, making specialization possible.
Cross country is another option for girls who enjoy running and personal challenges. While runners compete as individuals, team scores create an important group component.
All three remain significant girls’ sports in American high schools. The latest NFHS data places tennis, cross country, and swimming and diving among the top 10 girls’ sports by participation.
Are Girls Starting to Like Flag Football and Wrestling?
Yes. Two of the most notable recent developments in girls’ sports are the growth of flag football and wrestling.
Girls’ flag football participation increased from 68,847 to 102,360 in 2025-26, a 48.7% increase in one year. The sport entered the NFHS top 10 girls’ sports for participation, while the number of schools reporting girls’ flag football increased substantially.
Girls’ wrestling has also expanded dramatically. Participation reached 88,771 in 2025-26, up 19.9% from the previous year. The NFHS reported that all states now have some girls’ wrestling participation, while 40 state associations were conducting state championships.
This growth is important because it demonstrates that girls’ sports preferences are not fixed. As schools create opportunities in more sports, more girls may discover activities they enjoy.
Do Girls Prefer Team Sports or Individual Sports?
There is no universal preference.
Some girls love team sports because they enjoy friendships, communication, shared goals, and the excitement of competing with teammates. Volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, and lacrosse are examples.
Other girls prefer individual sports because they enjoy personal challenges and having greater control over their performance. Tennis, swimming, track and field, golf, and some combat sports can provide that experience.
Many sports actually combine both approaches. Track athletes compete individually but score points for their teams. Swimmers have individual races but also compete in relays. Tennis players can compete in singles and doubles.
The important question is not whether girls generally prefer one category. It is which environment makes a particular athlete feel motivated and comfortable.
What Makes a Sport Appealing to Girls?
Research on girls’ sports participation suggests that enjoyment involves much more than the sport itself.
Girls may be more likely to stay involved when they have access to opportunities, supportive adults, positive teammates, and a sense of belonging. The Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2026 Sport Report found that 54% of girls who had never played organized sports said they wanted to, highlighting that lack of participation does not necessarily mean lack of interest.
The Women’s Sports Foundation also identifies factors such as cost, unequal access, social pressures, and lack of support as barriers that can make it harder for girls to participate.
That means a girl might love soccer but stop playing because her team is too expensive or unavailable. Another might enjoy swimming but have limited access to a pool. Someone else might discover wrestling or flag football simply because her school recently introduced the program.
Does a Girl’s Personality Affect Which Sport She Likes?
It can, although personality does not determine what sport someone will enjoy.
A girl who loves teamwork may enjoy volleyball, soccer, basketball, or softball. Someone who likes individual challenges might prefer tennis, swimming, running, golf, or gymnastics.
An athlete who enjoys physical contact might be interested in wrestling or other combat sports. Someone who loves speed might gravitate toward sprinting, cycling, swimming, or soccer.
But these are tendencies, not rules. Girls should not be pushed toward or away from a sport because of stereotypes about personality, body type, or gender.
How Should a Girl Choose a Sport?
The best approach is to try several activities rather than assuming one sport will be the right choice.
Consider these questions:
- Do you enjoy team competition? If so, try sports such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, or softball.
- Do you prefer individual competition? Tennis, swimming, running, golf, and some track events may be good options.
- Do you enjoy fast-paced games? Basketball, soccer, volleyball, and flag football can provide that experience.
- Do you like measurable personal goals? Track, swimming, and cross country make progress relatively easy to measure.
- Do you enjoy physical competition? Wrestling and other combat sports may be worth exploring.
- Do you want a social environment? Team sports can provide frequent opportunities to build friendships.
- What opportunities are available locally? Access matters. A great sport is not useful if there is no convenient program or safe place to practice.
Most importantly, enjoyment matters. A girl does not need to choose the sport with the highest participation numbers. She should choose an activity that makes her want to keep playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports do girls like the most?
In U.S. high schools, some of the most popular girls’ sports by participation are track and field, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and fast-pitch softball. The latest NFHS data also shows strong participation in tennis, cross country, swimming, competitive spirit, lacrosse, flag football, and wrestling.
Do girls like football?
Yes. Girls’ participation in football-related programs is growing, particularly in flag football. Girls’ flag football reached 102,360 participation entries in the 2025-26 NFHS survey, making it one of the fastest-growing girls’ sports.
Do girls like wrestling?
Yes. Girls’ wrestling is growing quickly in U.S. high schools. NFHS recorded 88,771 participants in 2025-26, up nearly 20% from the previous year.
What is the most popular girls’ high school sport?
Based on the latest NFHS participation data, outdoor track and field is the most popular girls’ high school sport by participation, with volleyball very close behind.
Do all girls like the same sports?
No. Girls have widely different interests. Participation statistics show which sports are common, but they cannot tell you what every individual girl likes.
What is the best sport for a girl?
There is no universally best sport. The right choice depends on the girl’s interests, goals, abilities, access to programs, and the environment in which she feels comfortable.
The Bottom Line
When people ask what do sports girls like, the most accurate answer is that girls like many different sports.
In the United States, track and field, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and softball have some of the largest girls’ participation numbers. At the same time, tennis, swimming, cross country, lacrosse, flag football, wrestling, golf, and other sports attract thousands of girls.
The most important trend is not that girls prefer one particular sport. It is that girls are participating across a broader range of sports and that emerging opportunities are bringing new athletes into competition. The latest NFHS survey recorded more than 3.65 million girls’ high school sports participation entries in 2025-26, another record for girls’ participation.
Ultimately, the sport a girl likes best is the one that gives her a reason to keep showing up. Enjoyment, supportive teammates, good coaching, meaningful competition, and access to opportunities can matter just as much as the sport itself.