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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Claire Watkins
Jul 31, 2024
Simone Bilesand her US women's gymnasticsteam — dubbed the "Golden Girls" — took Olympic gold in Tuesday's team all-around final, leading after every rotation to finish adominant 5.80 pointsahead of second place.
With high difficultly levels and only one fall, the US's "redemption tour"passed its first major Olympic test of 2024, earning Team USA their third team gold over the last four Games.
Italy took silver, marking their firstwomen's teammedal in almost a century, while bronze medalists Brazil earned their first-ever medal in women's gymnastics.
Veterans fuel USA gymnastics' Olympic comeback
Though their Olympic pedigreescan't be denied, Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles's collective comeback is now the stuff of legend.
Biles stuck her performances on all four apparatuses, putting to rest any doubts aftera case of the twistiescaused her to withdraw from the team and individual all-around in Tokyo. Meanwhile, reigning Olympic all-around championLeehad to overcome rare kidney disease to make her Olympic return, putting in confident routines on three apparatuses in yesterday's final.
In her long-awaited triumph, Chiles earned her first Olympic gold after taking silver in the team event in Tokyo.
Consistency key to US gold medal
Team USA showed their depthdespite losingkey contributorsto injury at last month's Trials, prioritizingstuck routines in an overall steady showing. Biles performed a less taxing Cheng vault as compared to her famedYurchenko double pikeon the team's first rotation, though the historic vault could make a return in the individual all-around competition.
Jordan Chiles suffered the team's only fall — during her mount on balance beam — but shined on floor in the team's last rotation.
Next, all eyes turn to Thursday's individual all-around final, where Biles, Lee, and Brazil's Rebeca Andrade are the gymnasts to watch in the quest for gold.
Meredith Heil
Jul 31, 2024
The USWNT closes out their group stage this afternoon, taking on Australia at 1 PM ET and grasping the opportunity to finish atop their Olympic group for the first time since 2016.
The US punches their ticket to the quarterfinals outright with a win or a tie, while a loss that maintains the team's goal differential advantage could also send them through.
Canada's spying scandal makes its Olympic mark
Somewhat ironically, seeding for the knockout stages depends on a decision that was made off — rather than on — the field.
The CAS dismissed Canada's appeal to reduce their six-point deduction as punishment for the team's drone cheating scandal this morning, forcing Canada — a 2-0 team with +2 goal differential despite having zero points on the board — into a must-win Group A showdown with Colombia to keep their Olympic hopes alive.
With Australia pushing to advance after Sunday'sthrilling 6-5 win over Zambia, Canada's tricky situation makes them especially vulnerable.
Should Canada beat Colombia and Australia lose to the US, the Matildas could fail to advance out of Group B in third place due to goal differential.
Injuries continue to impact USWNT's Olympic lineup
For a US teamalready qualified for the knockouts, today's game will likely feature a good amount of player rotation without the team risking their competitive edge.
Defender Tierna Davidson will miss today's match after suffering a knee contusion against Germany on Sunday, while forward Jaedyn Shaw remains out with a leg injury. The USWNT announced earlier today that alternate Emily Sams will replace Davidson on Emma Hayes's gameday roster, while star NWSL rookie Croix Bethune will continue to sub in for Shaw.
Should the USWNT land in firstafter today's match, they'll play the second-place finisher of Group C — likely Brazil or Japan.
A second-place finish would line them up against the runner-up of Group A: Colombia, Canada, or France. While very unlikely, a third-place finish would see the US face off against the winner of Group A or C.
Where to watch the USWNT vs. Australia game
The USWNT will take the Olympic pitch against Australia at 1 PM ET this afternoon, with live coverage onNBC networks.
JWS Staff
Jul 31, 2024
Welcome to The Gold Standard, hosted by WNBA and Team USA basketball legend Lisa Leslie and NWSL and USWNT great Kelley O'Hara.
On today's episode, four-time Olympic medalist Summer Sanders joins us from Paris to talk all things swimming. Our hosts also recap the gymnastics team final, Kelley's love for Olympic Rugby Sevens, the USWNT's win over Germany, Team USA's dominant victory over Japan, Coco Gauff's controversial Singles exit, and much more.
Watch along for expert insight from gold medalists, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and pure enjoyment of the Summer Games.
Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.
Dee Lab
Jul 30, 2024
With arguably the most dramatic finish at the Paris Olympics so far, Team USA made the rugby sevens podium for the first time in history by upsetting Australia 14-12 in Tuesday’s bronze medal match.
Following the Olympic debut of the women's game in 2016, the US had never finished higher than fifth place before Tuesday afternoon. They entered the day knowing they’d already secured at least fourth place after clinching a semifinal berth, where they fell to eventual back-to-back gold medalists New Zealand.
Stunning finish clinches Team USA's bronze
The underdog Women's Eagles Sevens faced Rio gold medalists Australia in the bronze medal match, going toe-to-toe to end the first half tied 7-7. After going down 12-7 with what looked like a game-winning try from Australian Maddison Levi, the US blasted a chaotic comeback in the last play of the game.
With 15 seconds left on the clock, Team USA’s Alex "Spiff" Sedrick pulled off an incredible 85-meter run to score a game-tying try as time expired. The try — alongside the two-point conversion attempt it earned — counted despite the clock running out because rugby, like American football, does not end a game mid-play.
Sedrick whipped in the subsequent conversion, ticking the final score up to 14-12 and securing her 2024 squad's place in the Olympic history books.
"It was crazy because I was like no way this is happening. [She’s] been an MVP for me this whole season," teammate and social media star Ilona Maher said of Sedrick after the match.
Medal marks turning point for USA rugby
Not only did today's game marked the first time any US rugby team has medaled in the Rugby Sevens event, it was also the first time the US has medaled in any Olympic rugby event since 1924.
But the historic hardware isn’t the only thing the US will bring home from Paris. The exposure — both from winning a medal and from an influx of support courtesy of celebrities and droves of newly minted fans — has rugby sevens grabbing the kind of attention that can boost a sport’s growth.
Investment in the sport was near-immediate. Mere hours after the US bagged bronze, trailblazing women's sports owner Michele Kang announced her $4 million donation to the team to grow the sport and support its players and staff in the leadup to the 2028 LA Olympics.
USA rugby sevens player Ariana Ramsey summed up the moment post-game: "We did a lot for our program just now. We are gonna bring out so many more fans now that we are actually winning. People are gonna want to see what rugby is about and learn more about our game."
