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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Dee Lab
Sep 12, 2024
Earlier this week, ESPN released the resultsof ananonymous studysurveying all 14 NWSL general managers, providing key insights into the growing league.
While nearly all respondents agreed that depth of competition sets the NWSL apart on a global level, they hold differing opinions about the league’s inner workings.
NWSL budgets and entry draft elimination are key concerns
Budgetary practices were a common concern of GMs across the board, while the loss of the entry draft — ushered in by the league'snew CBA— presented similar issues.
Some GMs pointed out that many teams aren't yet profitable enough to justify current costs, while others pushed for more spending in order to drawtop players awayfrom leagues that don't impose a hard salary cap, like the UK'sWSL.
Similarly, because the US lacks any trueprofessional developmentinfrastructure, GMs worry that dropping the college draft will divertyoung US talentoverseas, ultimately softening the NWSL’s competitive edge.
Some GMs claim NWSL player protections have "gone too far"
When asked about recent cultural reforms in the wake of sexual misconduct and abuseallegations, multiple GMs claimed that efforts to protect players have"gone too far,"spreading fear and confusion among staff.
Yesterday, retired NWSL star Ali Krieger took to ESPN'sFutbol Wto respond, saying she didn't "have a lot of sympathy for those few GMs that might be a little bit more disgruntled on this topic."
"You have to, in those positions of power, be respectful and do your job and do it well," she continued. "You shouldn’t have any worry about what you say, how you say it, what you do, how you do it, if you’re just doing the right thing and you’re being respectful and you’re doing your job appropriately."
Dee Lab
Sep 12, 2024
This weekend's NWSL headliner is by farFriday's highly anticipatedrematchbetween Orlando and Kansas City. Fresh off of clinching aplayoff berth, the still-undefeated Pride will host a third-place KC squad hungry to hand Orlando their first loss of the season.
The Current have a particular axe to grind: When the pair first met on July 6th, Orlandosnapped KC's own 17-matchunbeaten run— one that dated back to 2023.
Current to lean on NWSL leading goal-scorer Chawinga
Seemingly on the rebound, Kansas City followed three straightlosseswith a 1-0 win over 13th-place Utah last weekend.
To contend with Pride sharpshooterBarbra Banda, however, the Current will rely onNWSL top-scorerTemwa Chawinga, who's now just four goals shy of breaking the league'sGolden Boot record.
Bay FC on the rise in NWSL standings
While KC and Orlandostrive to maintain their grip on theNWSL standings, newcomerBay FCis climbing the table with impressive pace.
The 2024expansion clubstarted the season at 2-0-6, but a slate of wins against higher-table teams has rocketed them to seventh place — thanks in no small part to recent additionAbby Dahlkemper, who helped San Diegobecome the first expansion team to make theplayoffsin their 2022 inaugural season.
However, the San Jose side's end-of-season schedule is a gauntlet, with five of seven remaining games against top-table clubs, including tomorrow's attempt to break the fifth-place Courage’s 18-match homeunbeaten streakin North Carolina.
NWSL sets new single-season attendance record
Breakout talent and cutthroat clashes have led the NWSL to a new single-seasonattendance record, surpassing a total of 1.5 million fans last weekend. And with seven matchdays left, the league is on track to break the 2 million mark by the end of the regular season.
Claire Watkins
Sep 11, 2024
The 2024 Solheim Cup tees off on Friday,with US golf stars looking to topple three-time defending champsEuropein the team tournament's19th iteration.
Alternating between European and US host courses each edition, teams compete in three days of match play, collecting one point for every win and a half-point for every tie. The US needs a total of 14.5 points to take this year's Cup outright, while Europe needs just 14 to retain it.
Team USA spans 12 of the sport's top-ranked and most decorated athletes, includingNelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Ally Ewing,Lilia Vu,Rose Zhang, and the soon-to-retireLexi Thompson.
US golfers on a mission to reclaim Solheim Cup dominance
Team Europehas held the Cup since 2019, but the margins have been razor thin. The2023 eventactually ended in a 14-14 tie, but as reigning champions, Europe retained the title in what the team considers their eighth victory over the US.
While the US holds the advantage over Europe in overallSolheim Cupwins, they haven't raised the trophy in seven years.And unlike other competitions with continuously swellingprize purses, only international bragging rights are on the line here.
Neither team has ever won four consecutive titles, and the US will aim to keep Europe from claiming that historic victory on home soil in Gainesville, Virginia, this weekend.
Star US golfer Nelly Korda sees Solheim Cup as "unfinished business"
All eyes are now onTeam USA's Korda,who's coming off a banner2024after winning six different LPGA Tour events, including her second major.
"Whenever you get to wear the red, white, and blue and stars and stripes, there's a different meaning to it," the world No. 1 golfer told theBBCearlier this week. "You're playing not just for yourself, but for your captains, for your teammates, and your country, and there's just nothing like it. We have got some unfinished business."
How to watch the 2024 Solheim Cup women's golf tournament
The Solheim Cup starts Friday, September 13th, at 7:05 AM, withlive coverageacross NBC, the Golf Channel, and Peaco*ck.
JWS Staff
Sep 10, 2024
In this week's episode of The Late Sub, Claire takes a moment to talk about the final few days of Alex Morgan’s professional career, how the soccer world has changed since Morgan’s debut, and how the star herself spoke about what’s next.
Then, she discusses what Angel Reese’s season-ending injury means for the WNBA playoff race, salutes the US Open, reflects on the 2024 Paralympic Games, and more.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
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