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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Emma Hruby
Jul 2, 2024
The WSL summer transfer window is heating up, with a number of big names on the move.
One of the biggest stars on the market is Dutch international Vivianne Miedema. The storied striker's contract with Arsenal — her team of seven years — expired on Sunday, with the Gunners choosing back in May not to offer the WSL’s leading scorer a new deal.
At the time, former England star Ellen White called the decision "shocking that [Arsenal] haven't shown her the love to want to keep her at the club… she's still got records to break. It's just outrageous."
Manchester City is reportedly in the market to land Miedema, who doesn’t appear to be leaving the WSL despite prior interest from outside of the UK.
Meanwhile, 2023 World Cup Golden Glove winner Mary Earps officially left Manchester United for a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the club announced on Monday.
And in other speculative news, five-time Champions League winner Lucy Bronze is reportedly set to sign with WSL side Chelsea, departing Barcelona after two seasons with the decorated Spanish team. The potential move follows ex-Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez's departure for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, while Chelsea brought on former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor following Emma Hayes’s departure.
JWS Staff
Jul 2, 2024
Canada announced its official Olympic women’s national team(CanWNT)on Monday, becoming the fourth team in the 12-squad tournament to lock in their 18-player lineup ahead ofWednesday’s deadline.
The only country to make the last three Olympic podiums, all but four players named to the reigning Olympic gold medalists' roster have previous Olympic experience. Portland Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming will lead this year's team as captain.
Last summer was a disappointing one for Canada, punctuated by a record-early World Cup exit. In what amounted to a tumultuous year, head coach Bev Priestman's squad also faced off-pitch labor disputes as well as all-time leading international goal scorer Christine Sinclair’s retirement from international soccer.
"I believe we have a squad that blends experience and youth, is positionally balanced, and possesses incredible athleticism and football talent," coach Bev Priestman said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Brazil became the latest national soccer team to release its 18-player Olympic roster.
The lineup features several familiar faces, including NWSL stars Tarciane (Houston Dash), Rafaelle (Orlando Pride), Adriana (Orlando Pride), Kerolin (NC Courage), and Marta (Orlando Pride). Angelina (Orlando Pride) and Lauren (KC Current) will travel with the team as alternates.
— Seleção Feminina de Futebol (@SelecaoFeminina) July 2, 2024Prazer, @JogosOlimpicos! Estamos prontas. Chegou a hora. Mais um capítulo da nossa história sendo escrito.
Com vocês, o elenco de atletas que irão representar com muito orgulho a #SeleçãoFeminina! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YS3RPhLDyR
All eyes were on new head coach Arthur Elias's much-anticipated roster, with global soccer legend Marta announcing her impending retirement from international play in late April. The tournament marks the 38-year-old's sixth Olympics, and will likely be her final international outing.
Should she find the back of the net in Paris, Marta will become the first player — male or female — to score in six-consecutive Summer Games. She's currently the all-time leading goal scorer for both club and country, registering 35 career goals for the Orlando Pride alongside 199 for Brazil.
Half of Brazil's lineup also appeared in last year's World Cup under previous head coach Pia Sundhage. However, noteworthy striker Debinha, who plays for the NWSL's unbeaten Kansas City Current, did not make the Olympic cut.
Emma Hruby
Jul 2, 2024
World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka is out of Wimbledon, withdrawing due to a shoulder injury sustained in Berlin.
Sabalenka also recently pulled out of the Olympics, citing injury concerns with the change of surface.
"I tried everything to get myself ready but unfortunately my shoulder is not cooperating," Sabalenka said on Instagram. "I pushed myself to the limit in practice today to try my best, but my team explained that playing would only make things much worse.
"This tournament means so much to me and I promise I'll be back stronger than ever next year."
Since winning the Australian Open to kick off the season, Sabalenka has struggled with a back injury. She also dealt with illness at the French Open, falling in the quarterfinals to 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.
Sabalenka has been replaced in the draw by Mira's older sister Erika Andreeva, who lost in qualifiers last week.
Emma Hruby
Jul 1, 2024
Chicago forward Angel Reese continues to make WNBA history, setting a new league record for consecutive double-doubles this past weekend.
Reese had her 10th-straight double-double against Commissioner's Cup champs Minnesota, finishing with 10 points and 16 rebounds in the 70-62 loss. The streak one-ups the previous record set by then-LA Sparks star Candace Parker in 2015.
"She's gonna continue to do what she does, that's who she is, she's always gonna come out and play hard and confident and give you everything that she has," Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said of Reese’s performance on Sunday, which included going 4-of-16 from the floor. "She's the hardest person on herself, so proud of what she's doing and what she'll continue to do."
With three more double-doubles, Reese could break the longest streak in W history, also currently held by Parker, who put up 12 straight between 2009 and 2010. The only other player in Chicago history to put up more than seven consecutive double-doubles is Sylvia Fowles, who had two runs of eight in 2011 and 2012.
This marked the third time in the last four games that Reese registered at least 15 rebounds. She currently leads the league with 11.4 per game.
