Kate Yanchulis
Oct 25, 2022
The No. 5 Wisconsin women’s volleyball team will face off against No. 1 Nebraska on Wednesday in the midst of an eight-game winning streak — and an ongoing photo leak investigation.
The University of Wisconsin police department is investigating a leak of private photos and videos of Badgers women’s volleyball players, which were then shared on the internet, the athletic department announced on Oct. 19.
One of the photos appears to have been taken after the team won the Big Ten title last November and shows members of the team posing with their sports bras lifted, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
The athletic department called the leak a “significant and wrongful invasion” of the athletes’ privacy.
Despite the turmoil of the leak and the investigation, the Badgers keep winning. They swept Michigan State at home Friday and beat Michigan 3-1 on the road Sunday, improving to 15-3 overall and 9-1 in Big Ten play.
Still here. 😤 pic.twitter.com/A8a3bTwyMh
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 24, 2022
Wisconsin outside hitter Sarah Franklin, who transferred from Michigan State in the offseason, stepped up against her former team. She recorded eight kills and four blocks in the win over the Spartans.
Against Michigan, middle blocker Devyn Robinson led the team with 17 kills. The Wolverines took the first set, but the Badgers won the next three to come away with the win.
“After set one, I felt like we just needed to stay calm and loose and it felt tense in the huddle, but we just had to realize that we have to take a deep breath and get back to our game,” Robinson said after the match.
Next up: a national championship rematch against top-ranked Nebraska (18-1, 10-0) in front of a sold-out crowd at UW Field House at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. The match will air on Big Ten Network.
The Badgers bested the Cornhuskers in five sets to take their first NCAA title in program history last December. They’ll look to hand the Cornhuskers their first Big Ten loss of the season and extend their winning streak to nine matches.
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Claire Watkins
Aug 2, 2024
USA Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles furthered herOlympics legacyon Thursday, taking gold in the individual all-around final for the second time in her storied career.
Brazil's Rebeca Andradewonher second-straightOlympic silver, while Biles's USA gymnastics teammate and Tokyo all-around gold medalistSuni Leetook bronze.
Lee is the first Olympic all-around gold medalist to medal in the same event twice in a row since since Romanian gymnastics icon Nadia Comaneci in 1980.
Biles makes triumphant comeback in Paris
Three years afterthe twistiesthreatened to end her career, Biles managed to put her Olympic stamp on what is likely the greatest women's gymnastics career of all time and a true comeback storyfor the ages.
Biles is the only US gymnast to win twoOlympic individual all-around golds, as well as the first women's gymnast to take gold in two non-consecutive Olympic Games (2016, 2024).
She is now the most decorated US gymnastof all time with six gold medals, one silver, and two bronze — not to mention the opportunity to add to her haul inapparatus finalslater this week.
USA Gymnastics finds a formidable competitor in Andrade
Biles has not lost an all-around competition she's competed in since 2013, but her friendly rivalry with Andrade dialed up the heat on Thursday.
Biles landed her signatureYurchenko Double Pikevault in her first rotation — the only woman able to do so — but her lead waned after a slipup on uneven bars. But with Andrade leading after two rotations, Biles hit clean routines on balance beam and floor, pulling back in frontwith a close 1.199 winning margin.
"I don't want to compete with Rebeca no more.I'm tired," Biles said with a laugh in her post-eventpress conference. "She's way too close. I've never had an athlete that close, so it definitely put me on my toes and it brought out the best athlete in myself."
Claire Watkins
Aug 2, 2024
After a number of days of pool play,USA Basketball's 5×5and 3×3 teams find themselves on very different trajectories at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA 5×5 is rolling, notching two wins in two games including a 87-74 win over medal contendersBelgium. But the 3×3 team hasstruggled early, beginning pool play 0-3 before rattling off three straight wins to earn a 3-3 record.
Chemistry remains key for both US basketball teams
Both teams are still trying to find their Olympic footing, with each squad having had very little practice time as a unit before shipping off to France.
The 3×3 team has been further affected by injury, with LA Sparks rookie Cam Brink tearing herACLin June and Atlanta's Rhyne Howard sidelined with an ankle injury for a number of weeks leading up to the Olympics. Tasked with defending theTokyo gold medal, the team's relative inexperience with 3×3 and lack of cohesion has shown, as the US fell to Germany, Azerbaijan, and Australia before grabbing their first win.
While the US 5×5 squadare also still building chemistry,they have performed well ahead of the pack againstJapanand Belgium.
They've already qualified for the quarterfinal round with one game left in pool play, led by the dynamic offense of Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. Stewart led all scorers against Belgium with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Wilson added 23 points and 13 rebounds of her own.
What's next for Team USA basketball at the Olympics?
Team USA closes out 5×5 pool play against Germany this weekend, with eyes firmly on the prize as they look to continue an epic Olympicwinning streakthat dates back to 1992.
Despite the early losses, Team USA's 3×3 squad is bouncing back, going 2-0 on the day after a walk-off shot from behind the arc secured the overtime win over Canada.
Where to watch USA Basketball games at the Olympics
Team USA 3×3 tips off against France in their final pool play game at 1:05 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage onNBC networks.
Team USA 5×5 will face Germany at 11 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage onNBC networks.
Claire Watkins
Aug 2, 2024
The USWNT will kick off their knockoutjourneyat the Paris Olympics on Saturday,taking on Japan in a crucial quarterfinal matchup.
The US capped off the group stage atop Group B withthree wins in three games, while Japan finished as runners-up in Group C with two wins and a loss.
Soccer quarterfinals mean do or die at Olympics
Soccer's quarterfinal round highlights the idiosyncrasies of the Olympics, wherein the winner of a single game is guaranteed to play for a medal — while the loser goes home empty-handed.
The US has historicallyfound successin the quarterfinals, having only dropped the match once in 2016's shocking penalty exit to Sweden.
Should the US beat Japan,they'll play the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal between Germany and Canada. Spain will also play Colombia on Saturday, while France takes on aMarta-less Brazilto round out the single-day quarterfinals.
USWNT vs. Japan Olympic quarterfinal preview
The last time Japan reached the Olympic medal rounds was in 2012, taking silver after falling to the US in the gold medal match.
This year, Japan lost to Spain in their Olympic opener before mounting a comeback against Brazil and finishing strong against Nigeria to close the group stage out 2-0-1.
The USWNT most recently faced Japan at the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, walking away with a2-1 victoryoff a 77th-minute Lindsey Horan penalty kick after conceding an early goal.
Japan favors aquick counter-attacking style, and the US will want to limit turnovers in the midfield to stay in control.
Emma Hayes's starting XI remains in question
USWNT bossEmma Hayeswill be forcedto make at least onechange to herstarting XI on Saturday, as defensive midfielder Sam Coffey is set to serve a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
Unlike an injury replacement,IOC rulesprohibit the USWNT from filling Coffey's gameday roster spot with an alternate, with only 17 players suiting up on Saturday instead of the full 18.
Availability for Tierna Davidson and Jaedyn Shawis also up in the air due to ongoing injuries. Davidson (knee contusion) sat out the Wednesday group stage finale vs. Australia, while Shaw (leg) has yet to take the pitch in France.
How to watch USWNT vs. Japan at the Olympics
The USWNT will take the Olympic pitch against Japan at 9 AM ET on Saturday, with live coverage onNBC networks.
Meredith Heil
Aug 2, 2024
Emerging girls high school basketball league Overtime Select has signed an unprecedented eight sponsors for its inaugural season, the organization announced Thursday.
Tipping off August 3rd, the eight-team league will feature 64 of the country's best high school basketball players, with the majority falling within their class's top 25 — the largest number of top-ranked players competing at one time.
The sponsorship numbers indicate an increased investment in women’s sports across the board. League partners now include Adidas, Army Reserve National Guard, JPMorganChase, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc., "The Real Cost," Gatorade, Nissan, and State Farm.
"For years, Overtime has celebrated the achievements of young athletes with our loyal following," said Overtime VP and head of brand partnerships Jack Jenkins in a statement. "Overtime Select is the result of our multiyear effort to stand up a best-in-class platform for the future of women's basketball. Our inaugural league partners share our passion for authenticity and empowerment, each motivated to lift the league's players to new heights and reach millions of hungry fans."
Top college basketball recruits headline league roster
Rostered players include high school standouts Hailee Swain, Kaleena Smith, Aaliyah Chavez, GG Banks, Jenica Lewis, Jazzy Davidson, Jerzy Robinson, and twins Mya and Mia Pauldo. Many of the league's recruits have also played internationally on the U17 National Team. A full list of participants — including team captains — is available on the Overtime Select website.
Beyond training and tournament play, Atlanta-based Overtime Select also aims to set young players up for success as leaders on and off the court. This initiative includes a day-long NIL Summit designed to provide the future NCAA stars with the tools needed to maximize their NIL earnings potential once they enter college, as well as Chase-led educational workshops detailing financial literacy for both players and their families.
The eight sponsor companies will also assist Overtime in producing activations and custom content targeted at engaging the league’s 100 million+ social media followers.
"We are proud of our sponsorship of Overtime and the way it is developing the next generation of athletes," says Kristyn Cook, State Farm’s chief agency of sales and marketing. "Overtime Select is elevating women's basketball, and State Farm is honored to be one of the brands continuing the push forward into the next era of women's sports."
How to watch Overtime Select girls basketball league
Overtime Select starts play on August 3rd, with league games scheduled through August 8th. An NCAAW and WNBA Takeover featuring some of the biggest names in women’s basketball is scheduled for the weekend of August 16th. Tournament-style finals and a championship game cap things off at OTE Arena on the weekend of September 14th.
Tickets are currently available for purchase online.
