Children and teenagers playing sports overall has increased even as participation among boys has dropped off, according to an annual study released Wednesday.

Participation for girls was at its highest levels since at least 2012 in part due to the phenomenal rise of University of Iowa-turned-Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark leading youth to want to play basketball, according to the study from the Aspen Institute.

The group said the National Survey of Children’s Health, administered through the U.S. Census Bureau, found that 53.8% of young people ages 6-17 played sports in 2022.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, which tracks youth participation by sport, found in 2023 that there was a 6% increase in young people who regularly participated in a team sport, which it said was the highest rate (39.8%) since 2015.

The SFIA data, however, found only 41% of boys participated regularly in sports in 2023, a decrease from 10 years earlier when half of all boys took part.

Thirty-four percent of girls ages 6-12 participated and 38% of girls ages 13-17 took part in sports in 2023, a higher level than in any recent year dating to at least 2012.

Tom Cove, SFIA senior adviser and former president/CEO, said the change was significant and “it’s a mystery to me why.”

Cove speculated that making teams has become harder and that when boys miss the cut, they stop playing. Girls, he said, are not getting cut as often as boys are.

“My sense is youth sports have become a self-fulfilling prophecy around travel and competition, and there aren’t enough places to play when you get cut,” Cove said.

Black children are playing sports less than they once did, while Hispanic participation is increasing. SFIA data shows that 35% of Black youth ages 6-17 regularly participated in sports during 2023, down from 45% in 2013, when Black children played at a higher rate than white peers. White, Hispanic and Asian American children all played sports more frequently in 2023 than Black youth.

The study said the increases among girls can be attributed in part to Clark’s performance on the court.

“Her deep shooting range inspires younger players and may change the women’s game much the way NBA star Stephen Curry changed the men’s game more than a decade ago,” the study said.

$1B investment in women’s soccer >> UEFA pledged Wednesday to steer 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) toward all levels of women’s soccer over the next six years as part of a comprehensive strategy to grow the game in Europe.

UEFA’s goal is to make “football the most-played team sport for women and girls in every European country,” as well as doubling the number of fully professional national leagues to six and raising the number of professional players from 3,000 to 5,000.

Tennis

Upset in Paris >> Alexei Popyrin upset fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday in a tense match with many ups and downs.

The 25-year-old Australian player, who won his first Masters 1000 title in Montreal this summer, had lost his three previous matches against his Russian rival.

Medvedev trailed 4-1 in the deciding set but broke back to force a tiebreaker in which Popyrin played more aggressively. Medvedev double-faulted to give Popyrin a match point and the Australian converted it at the net.

It was Medvedev’s third straight opening-round loss in Paris. He has not won a title this season.

Also, third-seeded Alexander Zverev saved a set point en route to a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. Jack Draper eliminated fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.

Eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov stayed in the race for the ATP Finals after rallying past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5.

Dimitrov, who saved all three break points he faced, is in 10th place in the race to earn a spot at next month’s ATP Finals, the year-end tournament gathering the top eight players of the season. Dimitrov could qualify if the reaches the final in Paris.

MLS Cup Playoffs

NY 1, COL 0 >> Felipe Carballo scored his first goal with New York in the 25th minute and the Red Bulls beat the Columbus Crew 1-0 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the best-of-three series.

MIN 0, RSL 0 (shootout) >> Jefferson Diaz scored the decisive goal in a 5-4 shootout after Minnesota and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless draw in regulation, and United beat RSL in the first game of a best-of-three series on Tuesday night.

The MLS Cup playoffs resume Friday. Both Minnesota and Nwew York can clinch spots in their respective conference semifinals with their next wins.