Emma Hruby
Oct 21, 2022
The University of Wisconsin athletic department is investigating a recent leak of private photos and video of its women’s volleyball players.
While the athletic department did not offer up any details of the leaked material in its statement, it did say that the pictures and video were not intended to be made public. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of the photos obtained by the outlet appears to have been taken after the team won the Big Ten title last November, showing members of the team with their sports bras lifted.
Similarly, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that the photos were taken from inside the team’s locker room.
Statement from UW Athletics pic.twitter.com/M2lK2OYg8a
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) October 19, 2022
“UWPD is not investigating the volleyball student-athletes for wrongdoing in this matter,” the statement said. “Our top priority is supporting our student-athletes and we are providing them with the appropriate services and resources.”
They called the leak a “significant and wrongful invasion” of the athletes’ privacy, with University of Wisconsin police investigating multiple crimes, “including potential violations of university policies and criminal statutes.”
According to the university, the athletes contacted the police upon becoming aware of the leak.
On Thursday, University of Wisconsin police spokesman Mac Lovicott confirmed the investigation.
Wisconsin won its first national title last year, and is currently ranked fifth in the country with a 13-3 record (7-1 Big Ten). The Badgers are set to play Michigan State on Friday.
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Emma Hruby
Jun 10, 2024
The women’s basketball roster for the Paris Olympics has reportedly been decided, with star WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark left off the 12-player roster.
Three first-time Olympians are slated to join the team: the Sun's Alyssa Thomas, the Mercury's Kahleah Copper, and the Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu. Meanwhile Clark, Brionna Jones, and Aliyah Boston are reportedly on the short-list for an injury replacement should any of the rostered players not make it to Paris, according to The Athletic.
Chelsea Gray and Brittney Griner, who were both named to the team, are currently in the process of returning from injury.
"I'm excited for the girls that are on the team," Clark told reporters Sunday. "I know it's the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way — me being on the team or me not being on the team. I'm going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it will be fun to watch them.
"Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives me something to work for — it's a dream... Hopefully when four years comes back around, I can be there."
The reported Olympic lineup leans heavily on its veterans, with Diana Taurasi preparing for hersixth Olympic Games— a new all-time international basketball record. In fact, not a single player under the age of 26 was listed, a noteworthy departure from previous years.
In every Olympic roster dating back to 1976, at least two players under the age of 25 made it onto the US women's basketball team. Nancy Lieberman, the youngest player to ever compete for the US Olympic basketball team, was just 18 when she joined the 1976 Summer Games. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson were both rostered at 24 years old.
Clark said USA Basketball officials called to tell her the news before it reached the press, the same approach they used for all other Olympic hopefuls. But according to Fever head coach Christie Sides, what some might see as a snub could also act as the catalyst for improved performance in the future.
"The thing she said was, 'Hey coach, they woke a monster,' which I thought was awesome," Sides said.
Clark also expressed excitement about the potential to get some much-needed rest during the Olympic break.
"Absolutely, it's going to be really nice," Clark said. "I've loved competing every single second. But it's going to be a great month for my body to get rest, get healthy and just get a little time away from basketball and the craziness of everything that's been going on. And just find some peace and quiet for myself.
"But then additionally, it's a great opportunity for us to work and get better. A great opportunity for myself to get in the weight room. To work on the court, at things that I want to get better at that I maybe didn't have time [to] going from college to the pro season."
Emma Hruby
Jun 10, 2024
The NWSL made a big return from the international break, setting a new attendance record.
The Chicago Red Stars welcomed 35,038 fans to Saturday's one-off game at iconic Wrigley Field. It beat the previous high of 34,130 set by Seattle during Megan Rapinoe's final home game in 2023.
It was just the second time the Red Stars played inside city limits, with the team normally based at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview, a Chicago suburb. But with new ownership, the team is looking at possibly moving closer to the city — and Saturday’s game proved the appetite is there.
"We'll get the support that we need if we have a stadium in the city, and this is just the beginning," said Red Stars forward Penelope Hocking after the game.
Chicago’s attendance boosted the weekend’s overall numbers, as it was also the first time in NWSL history that league-wide attendance exceeded 100,000 in a single weekend.
But on the field, Chicago lost 2-1 to Bay FC, putting them in sixth place. Kansas City, Orlando, Washington, Portland, and Gotham all saw positive results this weekend, establishing a five-point divide between them and the rest of the pack.
Both the Current and Pride remain unbeaten, although Orlando’s winning streak has come to an end following a 1-1 draw with San Diego.
Ahead of the coming weekend’s matchups, Portland will be hoping that an appeal on Sophia Smith’s second yellow card is successful, otherwise they will be without the Golden Boot leader against Seattle.
Emma Hruby
Jun 10, 2024
The Soccer Tournament has it’s women’s final set, with the US Women and NC Courage set to face off for the $1 million winner-takes-all prize.
Sponsored by the NWSL's North Carolina Courage and led by NWSL and USWNT veteran Jessica McDonald, the NC Courage qualified for the semifinal as runner-up in Group B. They beat Streetball FC Canada, winners of Group A, 2-0 in the first semifinal.
Madison Wolfbauer scored both goals in that game, helping send the Courage to the final.
US Women, led by Heather O’Reilly and coached by USWNT legend Mia Hamm, beat Tampa Bay Sun FC in the second semifinal 4-0. They finished second in Group A, moving ahead of Angel City 7 on goal differential.
Both teams will now compete for the $1 million prize at 8:30 PM ET, with the TST championship match airing live on ESPN+.
Emma Hruby
Jun 10, 2024
Iga Swiatek continues to dominate the French Open, winning a third-straight title on Saturday.
The world No. 1 defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1 in straight sets, with Paolini playing in her first-ever Grand Slam final.
"To play [Swiatek] here is something different," Paolini said. "She's already won four titles at 23-years-old — these numbers are not normal. I've never played someone with this intensity before in my life."
Swiatek is just the third woman to win three straight titles at the Paris major, alongside Monica Seles and Justine Henin. It’s also her fourth title at the tournament in five years, as well as her fifth major overall.
She’s 5-0 when reaching the final of a major tournament, dropping just 17 games since her second-round scare against Naomi Osaka last week. And her win streak at the French Open now spans 21 matches, dating back to 2021.
"I got broken at the beginning, so it wasn't maybe perfect, but I think the level was pretty high," Swiatek said after the match. "It wasn't so easy as the score says."
Elsewhere, new singles World No. 2 Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam doubles title on Sunday, playing alongside Katerina Siniakova at Roland Garros. It’s her second major tournament title after winning the US Open in singles in 2023.
