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Introducing the Vulcan Pickleball Line in Support of the AGSA!

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We at the American Gold Sports Alliance (AGSA) are proud to announce that we have added the Vulcan Pickleball line of equipment to our raffle and giveaway opportunities, complementing our growing  fundraising efforts in support of the AGSA 501(c)(3) nonprofit sports foundation mission. Vulcan is renowned for its top-tier quality, innovative designs, and organizational support of girls and women athletes, making it a perfect fit for AGSA.

What This Means:

  • Vulcan Paddles: Explore a diverse range of paddles that cater to various playing styles, from precision control to powerful hits.
  • Pickleballs: Durable and consistent balls, designed to meet the needs of competitive play.
  • Accessories: Everything from grips to bags, ensuring you’re fully equipped on and off the court.

Supporting AGSA: By choosing Vulcan, you’re not just enhancing your game—you’re also supporting the AGSA’s mission to promote sportsmanship, integrity, and athletic excellence across all levels of play. A portion of proceeds from every Vulcan product sold will go towards AGSA programs, helping to develop and support athletes across the nation. Also, all raffles and giveaways will be in support of AGSA.

Visit us at AGSA.org or our AGSA Raffles Page to discover the full Vulcan line and join us in supporting a great cause. Elevate your game and make a difference today!

Washington Spirit Owner Michele Kang Makes Historic $30 Million Investment to U.S. Soccer

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By MCS Staff | MoCoShow

U.S. Soccer announced a historic gift today for its women’s and girls’ soccer programs from businesswoman, team owner, and women’s sports advocate Michele Kang. Kang has pledged to give U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, $30 million dollars over the next five years which is the largest philanthropic investment in U.S. Soccer’s women’s and girls’ programs and the most generous donation ever made to U.S. Soccer by a woman, according to a Washington Spirit press release.

The investment from Kang will scale competitive opportunities for youth players, expand and improve talent identification, and fuel professional development for female players, coaches, and referees. The Washington Spirit shared that “This gift builds upon Ms. Kang’s historic investments in women’s sports. As the founder and CEO of Kynisca, the first multi-team global organization dedicated to women’s soccer, she owns the Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and London City Lionesses. Kang is also an investor in Just Women’s Sports and IDA Sports and has donated to the USA women’s rugby sevens team. This gift furthers the momentum created with Arthur M. Blank’s significant lead donation toward U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center, which will bear his name.

“Michele Kang’s gift will transform soccer for women and girls in the United States,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “It will impact generations of women and girls in our game, including players, coaches, and referees. I know firsthand the power soccer can have in someone’s life and thanks to Michele, we will be able to provide more support and opportunities for women and girls.”

“Women’s sports have been undervalued and overlooked for far too long,” said Kang. “I am committed to raising the standard of excellence in women’s soccer — both on and off the pitch — by delivering the resources female athletes need to reach their full potential and surround them with the professional support they deserve. I hope this investment serves as ‘seed capital’ and spurs other donors to follow suit.”

The gift will help U.S. Soccer scale its talent identification tools, talent, and camps, providing more opportunities to more players. Kang’s investment will help U.S. Soccer ensure everyone has an opportunity to be seen and no player slips through the cracks. It will allow U.S. Soccer to double the number of National Team camps it currently runs, equating to six camps per age group for Youth National Teams. Ms. Kang’s gift will specifically fund camps for women and girls.  It will also help build out U.S. Soccer’s digital talent identification platform, bringing 12 times the number of players into the Youth National Team pipeline, giving access to 100,000 female players.

The generous gift will also provide more professional development opportunities, including education and mentorship, to an additional 70,000 female coaches and referees, doubling the number of female coaches and referees in the game. “I believe a gift like this will change the trajectory of the sport,” said U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes. “We’re in a pivotal moment for soccer in the U.S. and this will help us support more female players, coaches and referees in the game.”

Big Ten Teams Climb the NCAA Basketball Ranks

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Dee Lab | Just Women’s Sports

One week into the 2024/25 season and the Big Ten is already leading the college basketball charge, with multiple teams tallying upsets to boost their spots in Monday’s AP Top 25 update.

The biggest leap belonged to Maryland, who climbed seven spots to No. 11 after defeating now-No. 16 Duke 85-80 on Sunday. With four double-digit scorers, the Terrapins’ team effort was led by junior guard Kaylene Smikle’s 23 points.

Maryland’s Big Ten compatriots, No. 23 Illinois and No. 25 Oregon, broke into Monday’s standings after respective wins against then-No. 19 Florida State on Thursday and then-No. 12 Baylor on Sunday.

Led by former UNC standout Deja Kelly’s 20 points, the Ducks staved off a late Baylor surge to secure the 76-74 win, snapping a 13-game losing streak to ranked opponents in the process.

Outside the Big Ten, Stanford also made their 2024/25 poll debut, coming in at No. 24. The Cardinal took their omission from the preseason poll — the first in 25 years with Stanford — as a challenge, defeating their first three season opponents last week by an average of 41 points.

South Carolina guard Te'Hina Paopao dribbles the ball upcourt in an NCAA college basketball game.
Senior guard Te’Hina Paopao’s 23 points led No. 1 South Carolina over No. 13 NC State on Sunday. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

South Carolina maintains stranglehold on No. 1

The preseason top eight teams held their ground this week behind defending champs No. 1 South Carolina, who extended their division-record active unbeaten streak to 40 games with Sunday’s 71-57 win over now-No. 13 NC State.

With junior forward Chloe Kitts, who led the Gamecocks with a double-double in their season opener, ruled out due to an academic issue, South Carolina guards Te-Hina Paopao and MiLaysia Fulwiley stepped up in a big way, sinking 23 and 18 points, respectively.

Texas guard Bryanna Preston celebrates a shot in an NCAA college basketball game.
The SEC added top teams No. 4 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma from the Big 12 to boost their 2024/25 roster. (Scott Wachter/Imagn Images)

SEC is still NCAA’s top basketball conference

While still early days, it does appear that conference realignment and a robust transfer portal has once again emboldened the NCAA’s biggest players. 

New Big Ten members No. 3 USC, No. 5 UCLA, and No. 24 Oregon join veterans No. 11 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 21 Nebraska, and No. 23 Illinois in this week’s rankings, tying the SEC with the most teams in the poll at seven.

Even so, the SEC remains the conference to beat, with not just No. 1 South Carolina setting the sport’s standard, but three other Top-10 teams. Conference veteran No. 7 LSU and last season’s Big 12 stalwarts No. 4 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma round out the SEC’s grip on the top of the rankings, with No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 20 Kentucky, and No. 22 Alabama also featuring in the poll.

AP Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Poll

1. South Carolina
2. UConn
3. Southern California
4. Texas
5. UCLA
6. Notre Dame
7. LSU
8. Iowa State
9. Oklahoma
10. Kansas State
11. Maryland
12. Ohio State
13. North Carolina State
14. North Carolina
15. West Virginia
16. Duke
17. Baylor
18. Louisville
19. Ole Miss
20. Kentucky
21. Nebraska
22. Alabama
23. Illinois
24. Stanford
25. Oregon

Gauff Wins 2024 WTA Finals Tournament

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Dee Lab | Just Women’s Sports

World No. 3 tennis star Coco Gauff won the 2024 WTA Finals on Saturday, becoming the youngest US player to take the tournament since Serena Williams in 2001.

Gauff’s championship came by way of a grueling three-hour 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) final match win over reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

The 20-year-old’s road to the $4.8 million purse — the largest in women’s tennis history — included just her second-ever win over No. 2 Iga Świątek in the group round and a semifinal victory over No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

A winning end to a rollercoaster season
When asked about her 2024 season, Gauff told reporters, “There’s been a lot of ups and downs. At moments, it felt great. At other moments, it felt awful. Basically, a typical year on tour.”

Her low point was a disappointing attempt to defend her 2023 US Open title. Gauff stumbled out of the US Grand Slam in the fourth round this fall.

That performance led Gauff to an apparently productive coaching change. She left coach Brad Gilbert, adding Matt Daly to her team to work with Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel.

Since then, Gauff has gone 13-2, ultimately adding the China Open and WTA Finals titles to her June French Open doubles trophy.

After silencing doubters with Saturday’s victory, Gauff took to social media, writing “lol safe to say I beat the bad season allegations.”

New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski lift their 2024 WTA Finals doubles trophy.
Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski paired up to make WTA Finals history. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images for WTA)
A double dose of WTA Finals history
Just before Gauff took the court, Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe were crowned the season’s doubles champions.

Dabrowski and Routliffe avenged their Wimbledon final loss by defeating US player Taylor Townsend and her Czech partner Kateřina Siniaková 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday. They are now the first athletes from Canada and New Zealand to win the WTA Finals doubles title.

Coco Gauff stuns Iga Swiatek to reach semifinals at 2024 WTA Finals

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David Kane

Gauff earned the straight-sets victory needed to guarantee her spot in the final four in Riyadh, knocking out the former world No. 1 for only the second time in 13 meetings.

Coco Gauff pulled off a massive upset at the 2024 WTA Finals, defying a 1-11 head-to-head against Iga Swiatek to stun the former world No. 1, 6-3, 6-4 and guarantee herself a spot in the semifinals.

“It feels great. I knew going into the match that, despite our head-to-head, I had a lot of confidence,” Gauff said on court. “I felt like I was playing great tennis. Even when I was playing a little bit sloppy in the games I lost, they were still going to deuce, so that gave me confidence. I knew if I could find my game and stay solid, I’d have the chance to close out the match.”

The No. 3 seed not only needed to snap a four-match losing streak against Swiatek to advance out of round-robin play regardless of subsequent results from the Orange Group, but she also needed to win in straight sets. Gauff managed both to close out play on Day 4, conquering Swiatek in one hour and 48 minutes on Riyadh’s Center Court.

Whether Gauff advances first or second out of the Orange Group is to be determined by the final rotation of matches on Thursday. Jessica Pegula has been eliminated from contention, leaving the second spot to be filled by either Swiatek or Barbora Krejcikova, who defeated Pegula in straight sets earlier in the day.

 

Gauff has endured an up-and-down follow-up to her breakout 2023 season, one that culminated with her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. Though she began the year with back-to-back major semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, serve and forehand woes followed her through the summer and saw her Flushing Meadows title defense end behind a flurry of double faults.

The 20-year-old rebounded somewhat in Asia, winning a WTA 1000 title at the China Open but suffering another tragic serving day at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, where she narrowly lost in in the semifinals to Aryna Sabalenka.

In Riyadh with new coach Matt Daly, Gauff opened with a strong performance against fellow American Jessica Pegula to book a meeting with Swiatek, who roared back from a set and two breaks down to defeat Barbora Krejcikova.

Gauff shook off intermittent serving woes to outmatch Swiatek for only the second time in their 13-match rivalry.

Gauff shook off intermittent serving woes to outmatch Swiatek for only the second time in their 13-match rivalry.

Facing the Pole on hard courts for the first time since last year’s WTA Finals, Gauff pressured Swiatek early, forcing her to save three break points in her second service game. Though Swiatek, who is also at the WTA Finals with a new coach—having hired Wim Fissette after a US Open quarterfinal exit to Pegula—dug out of the long game, she found herself on the back foot again and again, ultimately giving up two breaks to hand Gauff the opening set.

The second set got closer as some of Gauff’s service issues reared back up—nine double faults to only two in the first set—and Swiatek twice led by a break. Gauff quickly reclaimed the initiative both times and put down a strong service hold to put herself on the brink of a very big win.

“From the ground, on the return of serve, I think I had three games in a row with break points. But I didn’t let that discourage me. I knew I was going to get it eventually. Even in the last game, I missed two forehand returns but I told myself, ‘It’s ok, I’ll get the next one,” and I did!”

Swiatek was dealing with visible frustration on top of a relentless onslaught from Gauff, who outrallied the Pole to earn a match point. A bold final gambit by Swiatek failed to pay off as a forehand swing volley flew long, putting Gauff over the finish line in just under two hours.

Gauff will end her round-robin campaign against Krejcikova, while Swiatek will face Pegula for the first time since losing their match at the US Open.

Welker pins for gold, Kilty earns silver, U.S. women take team title at U23 World Championships

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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

TIRANA, Albania – Wisconsin native Kylie Welker punctuated a remarkable run by the U.S. women to its first team title in U23 World Championships history with a first period pin in the 72 kg gold medal match on Friday evening at Tirana’s Feti Borova Sports Hall.

As the last match of the event, Welker came out firing against Canada’s Vianne Rouleau. She built a 3-0 lead with a step out and single leg takedown in the first 30 seconds before collecting a near-side cradle from a go-behind takedown, powering it up for the fall in 1:12.

With the win, Welker collected her second age-group World title and third overall World medal. She was a U20 World champion in 2021 and a U17 World bronze medalist in 2019.

Welker joined 50 kg champion Sage Mortimer and 76 kg champion Yelena Makoyed atop the medal stand for Team USA this week in Albania.

Two more Americans competed in the medal round on Friday night but came up short against stingy opponents from Ukraine.  

Offense was hard to find for Macey Kilty in the 62 kg final against four-time age-group World medalist Iryna Bondar. Kilty consistently attacked the left leg of Bondar but was only able to convert on a single occasion, as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first period. Otherwise, Bondar countered Kilty’s attacks well, converting three go-behind takedown-to-gutwrench combinations off Kilty’s shot attempts in a 12-3 decision.

With a second silver medal from the U23 Worlds in tow, Kilty now owns six age-group World medals to go along with her silver medal from the 2023 Senior World Championships. Of Kilty’s seven World medals, five are silver. Her single gold and bronze medals were earned at the U17 level.

Both Welker and Kilty will compete next week on these same mats at the Senior World Championships for Team USA.

2022 U20 World finalist Sophia Macaluso finished one win shy of collecting her second age-group World medal. She was upended 8-4 by Alina Filipovych in a competitive bronze medal match to finish in fifth place at 57 kg.

The U.S. amassed 136 team points with three champions, one runner-up, one bronze medalist and two fifth-place finishers to outscore second place Japan by seven points. Ukraine posted a respectable 124 points to wind up in third place.

Prior to this year, the U.S. had never won a U23 World team title in women’s freestyle. Its previous high finish was 2022 where it came in second to Japan. Japan had won every U23 Worlds dating back to the first edition in 2017, except 2021, where it didn’t send a team. Ukraine is the only other nation outside of Japan, and now the U.S., to win this event in women’s freestyle.

The U.S. broke its women’s freestyle medal record at the U23 Worlds with five, topping the 2022 high water mark of four. Three champions is also a new record. Previously, the U.S. women had never had more than one gold medalist at this event.

The U23 World Championships continue at 10:30 a.m. local time with the men’s freestyle group one (50-55-59-68-76 kg) repechage and men’s freestyle group two (57-65-70-79-97 kg) qualification rounds. For those following along live, Tirana, Albania, is located six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.

Top Tennis Talent Lands in Saudi Arabia for 2024 WTA Finals

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The year’s final major tennis tournament begins on Saturday when the sport’s highest-ranked athletes descend on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to compete in the 2024 WTA Finals.

Featuring the eight best singles players and eight best doubles teams, Slam winners and Olympic medalists alike will compete for the Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova trophies before the winter break.

Also up for grabs is a piece of the record $15.25 million prize pool, larger than any Grand Slam purse and a nearly 70% increase over the 2023 pot. Should the champions go undefeated through the tournament, the singles winner will bank $5.155 million, while the top doubles duo will take home $1.125 million.

WTA tennis stars Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula play doubles together at Wimbledon 2024.
2024 French Open and Wimbledon doubles teammates Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will open their WTA Finals singles campaigns against each other. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Eight days of elite tennis action

In both the WTA Finals singles and doubles categories, competitors are split into two groups of four.

Each singles player or doubles pair will play all others in their group for a total of three matches across the first six days. The top two in each group will then compete in the November 8th semifinals, with both finals set for November 9th.

In the singles contest, the Purple Group includes No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, No. 5 Elena Rybakina, and No. 7 Qinwen Zheng, while the Orange Group lists No. 2 Iga Świątek, No. 3 Coco Gauff, No. 6 Jessica Pegula, and No. 8 Barbora Krejčíková.

In both competitions, 25% of the top eight athletes represent the USA. Along with Gauff and Pegula on the singles court, the doubles tournament includes No. 5 US duo Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk as well as Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Taylor Townsend in the Nos. 6 and 8 pairs, respectively.

World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Świątek share a friendly moment during practice for the 2024 WTA Finals.
Off-court friends No. 1 Aryana Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Świątek are fierce on-court competitors. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Will Sabalenka play Świątek at the WTA Finals?

A showdown between Sabalenka and 2023 WTA Finals champion Świątek could be the event’s blockbuster match. The top-ranked players have yet to square off in a major tournament in 2024 — a year rife with highs and lows for both athletes.

Sabalenka started the WTA season by winning her second Australian Open, then later struggled through a shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon. She capped the Grand Slam season in style, though, winning her first US Open in September.

As for five-time Grand Slam victor Świątek, 2024 brought the Polish phenom her fourth French Open title. A rockier second half to the season — including a third round and quarterfinal ousting from Wimbledon and the US Open, and a fall from the No. 1 ranking for the first time since November 2023 — motivated Świątek to seek a new coach.

How to watch the 2024 WTA Finals tennis tournament

The 2024 WTA Finals kicks off on Saturday, when US Open winner Sabalenka plays 2024 Olympic gold medalist Zheng at 11 AM ET.

Later, 2023 US Open champ Gauff will take on 2024 US Open runner-up Pegula at 8:45 AM ET on Sunday.

All 2024 WTA Finals matches will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel.

LSU NIL Powerhouse Duo Among Forbes’ Top Creators in the World

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By: Michael Ehrlich | NIL Daily

The impact of LSU student-athletes on the NIL landscape continues to shine across the country and now expands even further. From a recent Prime Video docuseries to innovative partnerships and investments, Tiger athletes are trailblazing in every aspect of the sports business arena.

LSU duo Livvy Dunne and Flau’jae Johnson have been recognized by Forbes as two of the top 50 creators in the world, taking their place amongst a star-studded list of influencers, entertainers and entrepreneurs. The only athletes – at any level – to appear on this list, the Tigers are featured alongside a who’s who of influencers and creators such as MrBeast, the D’Amelio sisters, the Paul brothers and Alex Cooper, among others.

Much more than athletes, the expert content creator Dunne and hip-hop star Johnson have built their resumes and business portfolios with diverse brand partnerships, unique marketing campaigns, polarizing content and trailblazing investments, none of which were possible pre-NIL. Both national champions in their own athletic arenas – Dunne in gymnastics and Johnson in basketball – the duo are top case studies for what is right in college athletics today.

To rank the world’s top creators, Forbes analyzed data – with the help of creator marketing firm Influential – on the estimated gross earnings, follower counts, engagement rates, and entrepreneurial activities of thousands of internet personalities.

According to Forbes, their top creator honorees earned almost $720 million over the last 12 months, an increase of $20 million from 2023. The influencer industry overall is estimated to be worth $250 billion today, with Goldman Sachs predicting that figure will jump to nearly $500 billion by 2027.

Coming in at 31 (Dunne) and 37 (Johnson) on Forbes’ list, the duo represents the future of what college athletes can achieve outside of their school work and athlete performance. Beyond their brand partnerships, which are vast – from Vuori, American Eagle and Jake Paul’s personal care brand W for Dunne and PUMA, Bose and Powerade for Johnson – both are also trailblazing from an investment standpoint as well.

Dunne is a co-owner in W and created her own fund to support other LSU female athletes, while Johnson has invested in Bazooka Candy Brands and has even purchased 20 acres of land in Atlanta to create future opportunities for the next generation.

As they each prepare for their upcoming seasons, while balancing school, sports and business, these two Tigers continue to cement themselves as the faces of what’s possible in this new NIL universe.

Johnson and No. 7 LSU tip off their season on November 4 versus Eastern Kentucky, while Dunne begins her final season on the gymnastics mat in early January.

Bonmatí, Hayes Win Big at 2024 Ballon d’Or Ceremony

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Dee Lab | Just Women’s Sports

After completing a perfect 2023/24 season with Barcelona FC, Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won her second-straight Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

“I always say this is not something that you can do alone,” the 26-year-old said, crediting her teammates in her acceptance speech. “I’m so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful players who help me to keep growing into a better player.”

Only one other women’s footballer has won the award twice: Bonmatí’s teammate for club and country, Alexia Putellas, who clocked in 10th in this year’s final tally. The two now hold a combined four-year streak in winning soccer’s top honor.

The only other recipients in the award’s six-year history are USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and Norway’s Ada Hegerberg.

Barcelona celebrates their 2023/24 Champions League title.
Barcelona won 2024 Club of the Year at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

It’s Barcelona or bust at Ballon d’Or

Barcelona’s 2024 triumphs — winning a historic quadruple of Liga F, Champions League, Supercopa, and Copa de la Reina titles — earned the team Club of the Year honors last night.

That success was mirrored on the individual level, as well. Barça players owned the award’s Top 3 spots, with forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo just behind Bonmatí in the final vote.

USWNT players Mal Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman post in their Team USA swag at the 2024 Olympics.
The USWNT “Triple Espresso” front line all landed in the Ballon d’Or’s Top 10. (Brad Smith/ISI/Getty Images)

Olympic gold earns USWNT stalwarts votes

Of the five USWNT players on the Ballon d’Or’s 30-athlete shortlist, four landed in the Top 10, buoyed by their gold medal performance at the 2024 Paris Games. USWNT captain Lindsey Horan finished at No. 5 alongside the “Triple Espresso” strike squad of No. 4 Sophia Smith, No. 6 Mal Swanson, and No. 9 Trinity Rodman. 

The lone goalkeeper on the list, USWNT star Alyssa Naeher, came in at No. 17. The Ballon d’Or does not include a separate individual award for women’s football’s top goalkeeper.https://www.instagram.com/p/DBrs9iagbsR/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fjustwomenssports.com&rp=%2Freads%2Fbonmati-wins-second-ballon-dor-award-emma-hayes-named-top-womens-football-coach%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A831.5%2C%22ls%22%3A180.89999999850988%2C%22le%22%3A180.89999999850988%7D

Meanwhile, USWNT boss Emma Hayes brought home historic hardware of her own.

After leading Chelsea FC to a fifth-straight WSL title before winning Olympic gold with the USWNT, Hayes received the first-ever Women’s Coach of the Year award last night.

“I just want to say a big thank you to all the staff and players from both teams,” Hayes said after receiving the inaugural honor.

“Football is a team game and I’m very grateful to have led some amazing teams this year, so this award is for everyone who has been a part of the US team and Chelsea.”

Spain's Jenni Hermoso holds the Ballon d'Or Socrates Award for her humanitarian work.
Spain’s Jenni Hermoso is the first woman to ever win the Ballon D’Or’s Socrates Award. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Hermoso’s advocacy honored

Former Barcelona forward and Spanish national Jenni Hermoso — who now plays for Tigres in Mexico’s Liga MX — became the third person and first woman to win the humanitarian Socrates Award in last night’s ceremony.

The award recognizes Hermoso’s efforts advocating for the advancement of the women’s game, equality at all levels of soccer, and her fight against sexual harassment in sports ignited by the nonconsensual kiss from ex-Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales during the 2023 World Cup trophy ceremony.

“Women’s football deserves a place for new and future generations,” the 34-year-old urged in her speech before imploring further action from the global soccer community.

“I’d like to ask all of you to get together and work together in order to make a better world possible and to make football become what little girls deserve for the future.”

The 2024 Ballon d'Or trophy sits onstage at Monday's ceremony.
The Ballon d’Or awards consistently occur during women’s international windows. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Ballon d’Or ceremony spurs conversation about persisting inequities

While the Ballon d’Or has made strides by instituting a women’s football award in 2018, the ceremony continues to be fall during a FIFA women’s international window. The scheduling makes it near-impossible for many women’s football nominees to attend what is arguably the sport’s biggest night.

Last night, only a handful of European-based players were able to make the Paris event.

Even more, the Ballon d’Or ballot only honors one individual woman footballer, while the men’s night bestows three additional trophies: the Yashin for best goalkeeper, the Gerd Müller for top goalscorer, and the Kopa for best U-21 player. Plus, while 100 journalists vote for the final men’s tally, only 50 are tapped to weigh in on the women’s award.

History in Harare: USA Finishes Series with Chetna Reddy Pagydyala’s 136* Run-Blitz

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By: Yashaaditi Teki | USA Cricket

The USA Cricket women’s team secured its second victory in the 5th ODI of the series against Zimbabwe Women. Despite losing the series 2-3, the Coach Hilton Moreeng-led USA returns home with several historical milestones.

The 7-wicket victory against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club was fueled by the history-making performance of 16-year old ODI debutant, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, with a scintillating 136 runs not out off 152 balls.

USA restricted Zimbabwe to 246 runs in 50 overs and chased the total down comfortably with more than 5 overs to spare.

USA won the toss and elected to field first

USA started their bowling attack with Tara Norris picking up a crucial wicket of the opponents’ opening batter for a duck, and giving USA a strong start. Thereafter, Zimbabwe women picked up their momentum with a 117-run partnership between Modester Mupachikwa scoring 59 off 78 deliveries and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano scoring 60 runs off 68 deliveries.

USA’s introduction of spin into the attack resulted in two quick wickets by Ritu Singh, shifting the momentum back towards USA’s favor. Saanvi Immadi provided excellent support once again by bowling an economical spell of 10 overs, 36 runs, with 2 maidens which aided in slowing down Zimbabwe’s scoring-rate during a crucial stage of the game.

Skipper Aditiba Chudasama ended the innings by picking up two wickets with Tara Norris following her lead to pick up a wicket in the death overs. USA Women maintained their composure and restricted Zimbabwe Women to 246 runs in 50 overs.

USA Women responded with a dominating chase that was fueled by Chetna Reddy Pagydyala’s historical milestone of scoring 136* runs in 152 deliveries, becoming the first American female player to score a century in any format of international cricket.

She now holds the world record for the highest individual score on debut in women ODIs of 136*, surpassing a 51-year old record held by England’s Lynne Thomas.

Pagydyala is also the second youngest to score a century on debut in a women’s ODI, only bettered by Amy Hunter of Ireland who achieved the rare milestone on her 16th birthday. The Southern Californian’s 136* also gives her the 14th highest maiden hundred in women’s ODIs.

Pagydyala and Disha Dhingra put on an impressive 116-run opening partnership, setting a confident tone throughout the innings. USA finished the chase with another crucial, 88-run partnership between Chetna Reddy Pagydyala and Sindhu Sriharsha (35 runs off 39 deliveries), taking the team to victory with 7 wickets remaining.

Despite the series loss, USA women have left an indelible mark at Harare with many firsts. Skipper Chudasama’s squad registered its first ODI win since gaining ODI status and Pagydyala picked up several records with her blistering century on debut.

USA Cricket expresses its gratitude to Zimbabwe Cricket for hosting our women’s team and congratulates both teams on a successful, competitive and exciting series.  

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