Learning What ‘Team’ Really Means: It’s great watching our female athletes play, but team sports also teach women invaluable truths.

Most women are good at friendships, but how many have teammates who don’t just sympathize, but help us achieve success? A friend might say, "I don’t want to start a business with you because it might hurt our relationship.” A teammate says, "Of course I’ll do it with you: we share the same vision and passion, so we’ll be successful.”

They know how to compete. Nonathletes tend to avoid competition and believe friends shouldn’t compete, according to a survey in my book "Embracing Victory.” Athletes don’t see competition as divisive; they use it to connect. They play hard in practice, knowing their best efforts help teammates improve. They shake hands with opponents, grateful for the challenge.

They know how to forgive themselves. When girls start playing sports, they say "I’m sorry" a lot. But eventually they stop apologizing and focus on their next achievement. How appealing to those of us who torture ourselves with self-recriminations!

They know that women are strong, successful and free. With their high-fives, hugs and aggressive, competitive play, female team athletes represent who many of us want to be, or want our daughters to be. By pursuing victory in a context of friendship, support, respect and celebration, team-sport athletes are redefining what it means to be an athlete, and what it means to be female. No wonder we love them. They show us our future: female bonding, and female excellence, at its best.