Women's Sports

USA CRICKET ANNOUNCES EASTERN/CENTRAL SQUADS FOR WOMEN’S SENIOR AND UNDER-19 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 21, 2021 by Tara S

The Women & Girls Selection Committee has selected a squad of 14 players to represent the Eastern/Central Conference in the National Championship.
A Women’s U19 squad of 14 players also selected to represent Eastern/Central Conference in historic first ever USA Cricket Women’s Under 19 National Championship.
Both squads have been selected after the conclusion of the Eastern Women & Girls Regional Tournament, held in Morrisville, NC.

USA Cricket is pleased to announce the squads to represent the Eastern/Central Conference for both the Women’s Senior National Championships, and the Women’s U19 National Championships, following the conclusion of the Eastern leg of the Regionals which was played over the July 4th weekend in Morrisville, North Carolina.

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Golden Nuggets With Bhaavya Manikonda- IHSA State Girls Badminton Champion

June 17, 2021 by Tara S

Our Sports Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Blaszynski, had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Girls Badminton State Champion, Bhaavya Manikonda! Read all about how Bhaavya started playing badminton, all the hard work she put into becoming a state champion, and how her father inspired her to keep playing!

How many years have you played for your team?

I played varsity badminton all throughout high school (freshman to senior year). I was also first in the lineup every year. I am currently ranked number 2 nationally in singles and 3 in doubles. I won the IHSA badminton state for singles in 2019 and 2021 as well.

Why did you start playing badminton?

My dad always wanted to put me in a sport for three reasons: learning discipline, learn the importance of fitness and athletics and having fun. There was a badminton club near the house we moved into in 2012 so he signed me up and I have played and grown ever since.

What is your favorite badminton memory?

My favorite memory while playing would be when I was warming up to play singles finals at the Pan American Junior Tournament in Moncton, Canada. The previous year I played in the same tournament in Brazil and I lost the first round so it was satisfying to see hard work and perseverance be worth it. The entire year before this day I made sure to stay motivated with the three reasons my dad had in mind and having that purpose helped me stay grounded towards my goal and it was cool to see everything pay off.

What is a life lesson you learned from playing badminton?

I learned that experience comes from more than just winning. If you want to be successful, failure is bound to be a stepping stone. Badminton is a fun recreation sport but it can also be a beautiful competitive sport and sticking with it and embracing the challenges it brings is key.

How did badminton impact your student-athlete life?

Badminton definitely had an impact on my academic life when I first started high school because I had not yet learned how to balance both. I was able to fix this problem by setting up schedules and to do lists for even little time periods of my day because even though I might not stick to them completely, I can refocus even after getting off track. I also would be in the moment when in school and doing homework and then also would have my mind completely up present when playing badminton so I am not thinking about other aspects of my life. Badminton did create moments of stress for me because of how it constructed my time for everything else but I now have the lifelong skill of time management and self composure.

What are 3 words you can think of that describe badminton?

I would describe badminton as uplifting, dynamic, and gritty.

Do you continue to play badminton once your season is over?

I do still play now and am currently attending a camp to train for nationals that are happening at the end of June (June 2021). After this tournament, I will be going to college in the fall so I will stop training as regularity and will play for fun and fitness and not as competitively.

How has participating in badminton camp helped you?

Badminton camp not only improved my physical and mental endurance but also gave me a place to be around other people who are willing to put in work and appreciate badminton as a sport. The friends I have made are forever and they have taught me so much and given me some of my favorite memories.

ODICCI ALEXANDER SIGNS WITH USSSA PRIDE

June 15, 2021 by Tara S

Odicci Alexander is going to the pros.

The former JMU pitcher and breakout WCWS star has been drafted to the USSSA Pride.

It makes her the third former Duke to sign with the team, including Jailyn Ford and Megan Good.

Alexander helped lead the Dukes to their first Women’s College World Series appearance in program history, throwing 1,229 total pitches throughout the tournament. She amassed an 18-3 record in the circle with a 1.71 ERA, 204 strikeouts and was named to the all-tournament team.

It’s not like this is the first year Alexander has been great at what she does. She was the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. In 2018 and 2019 she was the CAA Player of the Year, and this year was named Pitcher of the Year.

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From Rio in 2016 to Tokyo in 2021: For PV Sindhu, it’s All About Change

June 10, 2021 by Tara S

Vinayakk Mohanarangan

Sindhu’s second trip to the Olympic Games is going to be a vastly different to the one she embarked on as a starry-eyed youngster.

To say that the world is a different place in 2021 than it was in 2016, would be an understatement. The past year has turned our daily lives upside down and it is going to be no different for athletes heading to the Olympic Games, a year later than they had hoped and trained for.

And so it will be for Indian badminton star PV Sindhu. At 25 (26, by the time the Games begin) Sindhu is going to be spearheading India’s quest to complete a hat-trick of Games with at least a medal in the sport that has flourished since the turn of the century. Silver medallist at Rio 2016, and the reigning World Champion (albeit that feels like from a different era), Sindhu will be — make no mistake — an athlete that countless fans pin their hopes on once again.

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Philippine Saso Steals Show With Playoff Win at Olympic

June 8, 2021 by Tara S

76th U.S. Women’s Open Home

What Happened

The Olympic Club struck again. Just as in the five U.S. Opens contested on the club’s Lake Course, the first U.S. Women’s Open Championship played over this iconic Bay Area layout wasn’t kind to the favored final-round frontrunner.

Olympic’s list of past victims includes Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Jim Furyk and Payne Stewart, and Lexi Thompson can now be added to the remarkable list of players who have come up short in championship bids here.

Thompson, the 54-hole leader, was five strokes ahead of her closest pursuers on a beautiful early June Sunday with 10 holes remaining, only to play the final eight in 5 over par, including consecutive bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 that left the 26-year-old Floridian with a final-round 75, one agonizing stroke shy of the playoff between Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka at 4-under 280.

It took three holes to decide the outcome. Saso converted a 12-foot birdie putt on the first sudden-death playoff hole (No. 9) after both players made back-to-back pars in the two-hole aggregate playoff. At 19 years, 11 months, 17 days old, Saso joined World Golf Hall of Fame member and seven-time major winner Inbee Park as the youngest champion in U.S. Women’s Open history – to the day. She also becomes the first player from the Philippines to engrave her name on the Harton S. Semple Trophy. Princess Mary Superal (2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior) is the only other player from the Philippines to claim a USGA title.

“I don’t know what’s happening in the Philippines right now, but I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me,” said Saso, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour of Japan. “I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.”

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AGSA Softball Camp

June 8, 2021 by Tara S

The American Gold Sports Alliance is hosting our first Summer Softball Camp July 12th-15th! Learn new skills and drills while having fun with current and former collegiate softball players! Softball camps are camps created with one purpose: Making you a better softball player. With a player-to-coach ratio of 5 to 1, there’s always someone to help you. Never played softball before? Not a problem! Been playing for years? That’s great too! No matter the skill level your athlete be challenged every day through drills, scrimmage games, and training sessions focused on your position. Campers will learn from the best coaches, work with teammates that are just as passionate about the game as they are, and have fun while doing it! Our coaches are all USA Softball Certified and are excited to work with your athlete!

Learn More: https://agsa.org/softball-camp-july-2021/

DATE: July 12th-15th

TIME: 9:00am-1:00pm

LOCATION: Ackerman Park, Field #5, Glen Ellyn, IL

PRICE: $29 per day or $99 for all four days

AGE: 6-10 years

SKILL LEVEL: Beginner-Novice

Learn More: https://agsa.org/softball-camp-july-2021/#AmericanGoldSports #AGSAGold #Softball

Driving Equity Grant Program Expands Women’s Golf Coverage

June 3, 2021 by Tara S

By Julia Pine, USGA

76th U.S. Women’s Open Home

The USGA has launched the Driving Equity Grant Program to invite media outlets to expand their coverage of women’s golf by offering financial support to help alleviate any associated costs.

Ahead of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open last December, the USGA launched “Women Worth Watching” as a long-term commitment to use its championships and platforms to celebrate female athletes and role models while promoting equality and diversity in sports. After driving awareness to the disparity in women’s sports coverage in Year One, the Driving Equity Grant Program is the organization’s next actionable solution to shrink the equality gap in golf.

“Today, women’s sports, including golf, are stuck in a recurring cycle where media outlets don’t always receive significant return on investment when they cover events that lack household names. Simultaneously, it is nearly impossible for a sport to build household names without consistent and rich storytelling from the media,” said Craig Annis, the USGA’s chief brand officer. “As the governing body of golf, we feel a deep responsibility to be a leader in breaking that cycle in our sport, and we believe the Driving Equity Grant Program is an important next step in that progress. This is not a problem that will be solved overnight; however, if the entire industry works together and shines a brighter light on women in the game, we have an opportunity to change the future of golf.”

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Athlete of the Month Kaitlyn Papp to Play in Round 1 of the U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club

June 2, 2021 by Tara S

The U.S. Women’s Open kicks off on Thursday at Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. Here are the first-round tee times (all times ET):

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Women’s Golf Places Three on WGCA All-America Teams

June 1, 2021 by Tara S

Kaitlyn Papp and Agathe Laisne collected second-team honors while Sara Kouskova received honorable mentions.

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Women’s Golf placed three student-athletes on the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-America teams, which were unveiled this week. Agathe Laisne and Kaitlyn Papp earned second-team accolades, while Sara Kouskova received honorable mention. It was the first career honor for Kouskova, the second for Laisne and fourth for Papp from the WGCA.

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