Representing Latinas in Collegiate Sports

Savannah Magadan, senior on the Beach's softball team ready to bat at a conference game against UCSD. Photo Credit: Diego Devia

Despite there being a large population of Latinx students at Long Beach State, very few become student-athletes and continue to play their sport at the collegiate level.

The overall percentage of NCAA Division I athletes in the U.S. who identify as Latinx is only 6%, according to the NCAA demographics database. That percentage is higher at CSULB, where 15%, around 60 out of 400 student-athletes, identify as Latinx.

The teams with the most Latinx athletes at CSULB are women's soccer and softball, both with over half of their respective rosters being of Latinx descent. As women’s sports become more prevalent in mainstream media, it is important to highlight those locally who are representing their culture on the field.

Savannah Magadan, a senior on the softball team, is one of the CSULB students representing the small percentage of Latinx athletes at The Beach and in the industry.

“As a proud Mexican American athlete, I'm honored to represent not only my heritage but also the many young Hispanic athletes who dream of one day competing at the collegiate level,” Magadan said.

“My experience here at CSULB has been challenging but amazing. I have built relationships, made lifelong friends, learned many life lessons and represented my family proudly.”

Magadan’s family was there for her every step of the way and has never stopped being her biggest cheerleaders, supporting her on the field and in the classroom.

“My dad was always there to practice with me, helping me grow in my sport. He was honest, tough and constantly pushed me to be the best version of myself,” Magadan said. “My mom was incredibly supportive and caring. She was dedicated to helping me reach my goals and always encouraged me to chase my dreams.”

For Magadan, sports are beautiful because she believes anyone can achieve their goals regardless of their background. Magadan’s family made sacrifices for her softball dream, with her parents reiterating the importance of family, hard work, humility and gratitude.

Along with encouragement from her family, Magadan looked up to women in softball who came before her. She admired the college softball teams she watched as a young athlete, inspired by those who looked like her.

This motivated her to pursue her dream of playing softball at the collegiate level. Now, Magadan hopes she can become an inspiration to the young girls who watch Long Beach State’s softball games.

Since becoming a college athlete, Magadan has played in 63 games for Long Beach State, playing as the starting catcher at 16 of those games while continuing her studies as a business finance major.

As women’s sports continue to grow in popularity, Savannah Magadan is happy to represent her community on the field.