Sooke, British Columbia – March 22 – West Coast Wonder Women+ (WCWW+), an all-female+ international amateur boxing card, returns for the 4th edition on May 19 to 21, 2023, in Sooke, BC, Canada. The tournament, which is only one of five all-female+ boxing cards worldwide, is set to host over 100 athletes from around the globe. Over three days, the Sooke Community Hall will host a diverse group of athletes ranging from returning champions to rookies participating in their first competitive bout.
WCWW+’s mission is to redefine the historical and social perceptions of boxing and to create opportunities for women+ in a male-dominated sport. The boxing card promotes diversity, inclusion and resilience, bringing together athletes of all ages, nationalities and weight classes. Among the athletes competing will be female+ and non-binary fighters. The event looks forward to a future where they will be able to host Canada’s first competitive transgender bout.
WCWW+ was founded in 2018 by Ellen Connor, president of the non-profit Sooke Boxing Club and an experienced NCCP Certified Level 1 Boxing Canada coach. As a full-time Federal Correctional Manager, Ellen established WCWW+ after experiencing the challenge of finding opportunities for competitive bouts for female fighters. Her hope is that by raising awareness and support for the WCWW+ boxing card, women+ worldwide will compete in Sooke and generate more opportunities for amateur female+ fighters.
WCWW+ Founder, Ellen Connor said, “We’re extremely excited about this year’s boxing card, and the fact that we can continue to grow participation year after year is very pleasing. After three years of being impacted by the pandemic, we’re again able to provide a platform for amateur female+ athletes from around the globe to compete and pursue their passion.”
WCWW+ is supported by over 15 local partners, including Route 14 Restaurant, Village Food Markets, Zone Radio 91.3fm and The Athlete Centre. WCWW+ is a proud recipient of Canadian Women & Sport’s Spotlight Grant, which is part of the Community Sport for All initiative. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
Canadian Women & Sport’s CEO, Allison Sandmeyer-Graves commented, “WCWW+ is part of a dynamic group of organizations and leaders who are transforming the sport experiences of women, girls and gender-diverse individuals across Canada. We are honoured to support initiatives like the WCWW+ and thank Ellen’s and the team’s dedication and commitment to equity.”
WCWW+ is held in the coastal town of Sooke, joining San Francisco, USA; Dublin, Ireland; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and Borås, Sweden, as the only cities in the world to host annual international all-female boxing cards.
WCWW+ is searching for more like-minded brand partners and sponsors to support this year’s athletes and add value to the attendee experience. One-day tickets and weekend passes for children and adults are available at the door and online at https://westcoastwonderwomen.net/tickets/
Contact
Media and Sponsorship Inquiries: Lucas Schmidt | +1 778-791-8756 | lucasschmidtcomms@gmail.com
General and Sporting Inquiries: Ellen Connor | +1 250-634-4941 | sookeboxing@gmail.com
Canadian Women & Sport Inquiries: info@womenandsport.ca
About West Coast Wonder Women+ (WCWW+)
West Coast Wonder Women+ (WCWW+) is an all-female international boxing card held in Sooke, British Columbia, Canada. As one of the five all-female boxing cards in the world, WCWW+ provides an opportunity and platform for empowerment to women athletes of all ages.
WCWW+’s mission is to redefine the historical and social perceptions of boxing and create a pathway for women to succeed in a male-dominated sport. This year’s card takes place from May 19 to 23 and will include over 100 fighters from across the globe, including athletes making their debut to national champions defending their titles.
2023 is the 4th edition of the WCWW+ boxing card. Learn more at westcoastwonderwomen.net or @westcoastwonderwomenplus on Instagram.
About Ellen Connors
Ellen Connors is an experienced boxing coach and the founder of the West Coast Wonder Women+ boxing card. Ellen established WCWW+ after seeing the need to provide a platform for women in the male-dominated sport of boxing. Ellen strives to provide an opportunity for women of all ages and the LGBTQ2S+ community to participate in the sport they love. Ellen also founded Sooke Boxing in 2016, a not-for-profit boxing club providing opportunities for athletes across Vancouver Island. She is an NCCP Certified Level 1 Boxing Canada coach.
About Canadian Women & Sport
Canadian Women and Sport is dedicated to creating an equitable and inclusive sport and physical activity system that empowers girls and women—within sport and through sport. With the support of the Government of Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative, the Spotlight Grant was created with the goal of shining a light on girls, women, and gender-diverse individuals who typically don’t get the access, support, or funding they need to fully participate in sport and physical activity.
La subvention Focus du Femmes et Sport au Canada fait partie de l’initiative Le sport communautaire pour tous. Ce projet a pu être mis sur pied en partie grâce au soutien du gouvernement du Canada.
