Female athletes do not get the respect they deserve. They aren't broadcast on major television networks, they aren't celebrated with parades, & they aren't paid much (if anything). A Google search for "female athletes" will bring you to countless articles judging women for how their bodies look without any consideration of the powerful things their bodies can do. We, the editors & writers for the Tough Women website, decided to change that narrative. Here, we have profiled female athletes in Chicago who excel in aggressive sports. And besides being inspiring athletes, they're also experts in fields as diverse as biochemistry and social work. We hope you enjoy these women's stories, & share them with your friends, mothers, sisters, and daughters to inspire them to be tough!