Though strides are made in women’s sports by individual women every single day across the nation, there are certain strides that need to be made at a higher level by organizations that actually put on some of the higher profile sporting events during the year.

That’s why we were excited to hear the news that the Pac-10 will be combining its men's and women's basketball tournament for the first time in 2011, when the semifinal and title games are played at the Staples Center.

The conference announced Thursday that the first two rounds of the women's event will be at Galen Center on the Southern California campus before shifting to Staples for the final two days. All four rounds of the men's tournament will again be played at Staples.

This will be the first time in the 10-year history of the women's tournament that it will be played at an NBA venue.

"For the women, it's an excellent venue to showcase their talent," said USC women's coach Michael Cooper, who previously coached the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks in the arena.

Exposing your children to women’s sports is a very easy way to demonstrate to him or her that both girls and boys can play sports, and play them well. Visit SheHeroes and check out our interview with Paralympic Gold Medal Skier, Adrienne Rivera.

And remember, for every men’s sporting event you take your kids to this year remember to balance it out by taking them to one women’s sporting event as well!