Kylie Kelce has spent her life around sports, from watching Jason dominate the trenches in Philly to raising three daughters who might one day blaze their own trails. But despite all the progress women have made in sports, there are moments that still hit different—moments that remind you just how much representation matters.
Women in sports have been crushing it, but how long until they get the limelight they deserve? We’ve seen history-makers like Becky Hammon coach in the NBA, Sarah Thomas officiate in the NFL, and Kim Ng run an MLB team. Yet, gatekeepers still cling to outdated ideas about who should be coaching. Gatekeepers still treat women in leadership roles across men’s sports like an alien species from Star Wars. But now, the NHL has shattered another barrier by hiring its first-ever female coach. When Kylie Kelce heard the news, she grabbed the mic and choked up.
For the first time ever, the NHL has a woman behind the bench. Jessica Campbell has officially made history. As the league’s first female coach, she made her debut as an assistant for the Seattle Kraken during their season opener against the St. Louis Blues. Sure, the Kraken lost 3-2, but the real win? Watching Campbell break barriers and prove women belong in every corner of sports.
History made.
: @espn & @ESPNPlus https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm pic.twitter.com/j4KiMD8izZ
— NHL (@NHL) October 8, 2024
Looking at Campbell’s journey—she was a Canadian national team star. She helped win the 4 Nations Cup in 2014 and snagged silver at the 2015 Women’s World Championship. After retiring, she jumped into coaching, starting in Canada’s youth leagues before moving to Sweden and Germany. In 2021, she became an assistant for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers and coached the German men’s national team, the first woman to do so. Eventually, she joined the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds before officially becoming part of the Kraken’s NHL staff in July 2024. She made her debut on October 8, 2024, against St. Louis.
Campbell’s next journey is about inspiring young women in hockey and proving a woman can hold the same authority as any man. Kylie put the impact into words: “The thing that gets me choked up about that coach is that you have these little girls now going to her games and putting up these signs that are like, ‘I’m going to be you one day.’” From there, the podcast talk took a deeper dive into what this moment truly means for the future of women in sports.
Kylie Kelce on NHL hiring its first-ever female coach
In an episode of Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, Kylie and Kate Hudson shared their thoughts on this coaching milestone. They discussed how young girls will finally see someone who looks like them in a leadership role at the highest level. Kylie, full of appreciation, said, “She’s kind and really caring, so she’s the type of person you can root for.” Kate added, “Oh my God, yes, she’s worked so hard!” They agreed this was just the beginning for the next generation of girls.
During the talk, Kylie got emotional about seeing young girls at games holding signs that read, “I’m going to be you one day.” Kate responded with how overwhelmed she was seeing it, saying, “I can’t even stand it.” Kylie pointed out there’s still work to be done. “One coach is amazing, but now we need more,” she urged, calling on teams to push further. She emphasized, “For girls who love sports, this is one of those moments where you go, Yes, there’s a place for us.” Kate totally agreed, adding, “I know so many women who are like an encyclopedia of sports.”
There’s space for women in all areas of sports.
S/o @SeattleKraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell! pic.twitter.com/j8WiuezwRB
— Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce (@nglwithkylie) March 6, 2025
Kylie has always been vocal about her passion for sports and female empowerment. “I’ve talked about it on the podcast before. We’re in a generational shift—not just appreciating women playing sports, but also embracing them within the sports world.” She added, “Now we’re like, Yeah, she’s a boss.”
This moment will shape the future. Girls will now see something they’ve never seen before—a path, a possibility. But the fight for true gender equality in sports isn’t over. We need more hiring, investment, and belief in women’s leadership. As Kylie Kelce and every sports-loving woman would say, “This is just the beginning.”
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