Sports Illustrated for Women

Sports Illustrated for Women was a bimonthly American sports magazine published by Time Inc. for women aged approximately 18 to 34 who had a strong interest in sports. Rather than treating women primarily as spectators or presenting sports through a general lifestyle lens, the publication positioned itself around the sports women played, followed, and experienced. Its coverage ranged across basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, ice hockey, figure skating, training, adventure travel, and other athletic activities. The editorial promise emphasized real athletes and their own stories, with reporting intended to provide practical and engaging coverage of women's sports. The title developed through a series of test publications before becoming a continuing magazine. Two test issues appeared in 1997 under the title Sports Illustrated Women/Sport, followed by four special issues in 1999 using the Sports Illustrated Women name. The product was then reshaped ahead of its March 2000 launch as Sports Illustrated for Women. Cleary Simpson served as group publisher and Sandy Bailey was the founding editor in chief during the launch period. Paula Romano joined as publisher in January 2000 and participated in redefining the magazine before the regular edition began. The launch plan called for six issues annually, supported by an associated website at siforwomen.com, and the initial circulation base was estimated at about 300,000. In 2001, the magazine was renamed Sports Illustrated Women, commonly shortened to SI Women, and underwent an editorial and visual repositioning. Susan Casey, previously associated with Outside, succeeded Sandy Bailey as editor in chief. Research used by the publication suggested that women were more likely than men to approach sports as participants as well as fans. In response, SI Women broadened its subject matter to include the activities of active contemporary women, including training and adventure travel, alongside conventional sports coverage. The publishing plan also expanded to as many as ten issues per year. By 2002, the circulation base had reportedly grown to approximately 400,000, and the magazine received a National Magazine Award nomination for General Excellence. Despite signs of audience and advertising growth, the title was discontinued during a difficult advertising market. On October 14, 2002, SI Women announced that its December 2002 issue would be its final edition. Time Inc. president Ann S. Moore explained that the magazine required substantial further investment to achieve its potential and that the prevailing investment climate did not support that commitment. The publication therefore ended after 20 issues, spanning the March 2000 launch through November 2002 according to the title's published history. Sports Illustrated for Women remains a notable short-lived attempt by a major American sports-media publisher to build a dedicated national magazine around women's sports and active participation.

Sports Illustrated for Women emerged from Time Inc.'s effort to create a sports publication specifically for women. The concept was tested before the regular magazine appeared. Two issues were published in 1997 under the experimental title Sports Illustrated Women/Sport. Four additional special issues followed in 1999 under the Sports Illustrated Women name. These tests allowed the publisher to explore the audience, editorial mix, and commercial potential of a women's sports title connected to the established Sports Illustrated brand. The continuing magazine launched with its March 2000 issue as Sports Illustrated for Women. Cleary Simpson was group publisher and Sandy Bailey was editor in chief during the initial development and launch. Paula Romano joined as publisher in January 2000 and helped redefine the product before its regular publication began. The magazine was planned as a bimonthly, or six-issue-per-year, title and was accompanied by a website at siforwomen.com. Its intended audience consisted of women between roughly 18 and 34 with a strong passion for sports. The initial circulation base was estimated at 300,000, while the newsstand price was reported as $3.50. The editorial concept focused on women's sports from both the spectator's and participant's perspectives. Coverage included major team and individual sports such as basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, ice hockey, and figure skating. The magazine also featured athletes and personal stories, presenting women as competitors and active participants rather than merely as consumers of sports culture. This distinction became more important as the publication refined its strategy. In 2001, the title was renamed Sports Illustrated Women and became widely known as SI Women. The change accompanied a major makeover after Susan Casey, formerly associated with Outside, replaced Sandy Bailey as editor in chief. Research cited by the magazine indicated that women often related to sports as participants more than men did. SI Women consequently broadened its editorial range to include training, adventure travel, and other activities associated with an active lifestyle, while retaining coverage of established sports. The publishing plan expanded toward ten issues annually. The title's advertising pages reportedly rose by 26.51 percent from 2000 to 2001, and reported advertising revenue increased from $5,499,509 to $9,529,281 over the same period. These financial figures are historical trade-statistics data rather than evidence of sustained profitability. By 2002, the circulation base had reportedly reached 400,000. The magazine also received a National Magazine Award nomination for General Excellence, suggesting that it had gained editorial recognition despite its short life. However, the broader advertising market weakened. On October 14, 2002, SI Women announced that the December issue would be its last. Time Inc. president Ann S. Moore said the magazine needed significant additional investment to reach its potential, but the prevailing investment climate did not support that expenditure. The publication ended after 20 issues, with its run extending from March 2000 through November 2002 in the title's historical account. Its brief existence reflected both the commercial challenge of launching a specialized women's sports magazine and the growing recognition that women's athletic participation warranted dedicated media coverage.

• 2002

  National Magazine Award nomination

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  SI Women received a nomination for General Excellence from the National Magazine Awards.

• 2002

  Publication discontinued

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  The publisher announced in October that the December issue would be the final issue, ending the title after 20 issues.

• 2001

  Renamed SI Women

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine adopted the Sports Illustrated Women name and broadened its editorial focus toward active participation, training, and adventure travel.

• 2000

  Regular magazine launches

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  The March issue launched the continuing Sports Illustrated for Women magazine, planned for six issues per year and supported by a website.

• 1999

  Special issues published

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Four special issues were released under the Sports Illustrated Women name before the regular magazine launch.

• 1997

  Initial test publications

  [1]Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Two test issues appeared under the title Sports Illustrated Women/Sport as the publisher explored a dedicated women's sports magazine.

A dedicated women's sports publication combining coverage of competitive sports with participant-oriented training, activity, and adventure content.

• Sports magazine · 2000

  Sports Illustrated for Women

  The principal magazine edition launched in March 2000. It covered women's participation in and interest in a broad range of sports, including basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, ice hockey, and figure skating. It combined athlete profiles and sports reporting with content intended for active readers. The regular product was planned as a bimonthly publication and ran for 20 issues before discontinuation.

• Sports magazine · 2001

  Sports Illustrated Women

  The renamed and repositioned version of the magazine introduced in 2001. Often shortened to SI Women, it placed greater emphasis on the activities pursued by contemporary active women, adding training and adventure travel to its sports coverage. The revised title was intended to make the publication more participant-oriented while preserving its connection to Sports Illustrated.

• Digital companion · 2000

  Siforwomen.com

  A website associated with the March 2000 magazine launch. The available reference material identifies the site as a companion to the print publication but does not provide enough detail to describe its specific features or later operating history.

• 2002

  Decision to discontinue the magazineStrategy

  Background

  Although the magazine had reportedly reached a circulation base of approximately 400,000 and received a National Magazine Award nomination, the advertising market had deteriorated.

  Action taken

  Time Inc. announced on October 14 that the December 2002 issue would be the final issue.

  Aftermath

  The title ended after 20 issues. Ann S. Moore said that reaching the magazine's potential would have required significant investment that the investment climate could not support.

  Source

• 2001

  SI Women makeover and editorial repositioningGeneration change

  Background

  Research cited by the publication indicated that women were especially interested in sports as participants, not only as fans.

  Action taken

  The magazine changed its name to Sports Illustrated Women, brought in Susan Casey as editor in chief, broadened its coverage to training and adventure travel, and planned to increase frequency toward ten issues per year.

  Aftermath

  Reported advertising pages grew 26.51 percent from 2000 to 2001, while reported advertising revenue rose from $5,499,509 to $9,529,281.

  Advertising revenue. 5499509 → 9529281 (2000 to 2001)

  Source

• 2000

  Launch of the continuing magazineProduct launch

  Background

  Time Inc. had tested the concept through pilot and special issues and sought to establish a dedicated sports title for women aged approximately 18 to 34.

  Action taken

  The publisher launched Sports Illustrated for Women in March 2000 as a planned six-issues-per-year magazine with a companion website.

  Aftermath

  The launch established an estimated circulation base of 300,000 and began the title's regular 20-issue run.

  Source

1. 1Sports Illustrated for Womenen.wikipedia.org