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North Central scores five champs, second-straight women’s team title at Ken Kraft Midlands Championships

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By: Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

The No. 2 ranked North Central College squad delivered its second-straight team title at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on the strength of five individual champions, nine finalists and 17 women placing in the top five of their weight classes.

Three-time NCWWC national champion Yelena Makoyed led the way for the Cardinals with a masterful performance at 170 pounds. Makoyed, the inaugural recipient of the USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year award, went unscored upon, teching each opponent, on the way to her first Midlands title.

2023 U20 World bronze medalist and two-time NCWWC All-American Amani Jones posted a similar effort for North Central on her way to the 123-pound title. The Junior from Locust Grove, Ga., won two bouts by 10-0 scores before pinning unattached wrestler Carissa Qureshi at the 2:04 mark of the championship match.

Also earning top prize for the defending NCWWC team champions were two-time All-Americans Sydney Petzinger at 116 pounds and Tiera Jimerson at 155 pounds, plus returning national runner-up Traeh Haynes at 191 pounds.

One area of surprise for North Central came at 101 pounds as unattached high schooler Madison Nieuwenhuis of Michigan pinned defending NCWWC champion Madison Avila in the finals. Nieuwenhuis is one of the top prospects in the women’s division coming off a 16U national title in Fargo, N.D., last summer.

North Central posted 148 team points to dominate a stout Midlands field that included seven programs ranked in the top 15 of the NWCA NCAA Coaches Poll. No. 5 McKendree wound up in second place with 95.5 team points. No. 7 Lock Haven, No. 10 Northern Michigan, No. 12 Aurora, No. 13 Presbyterian and No. 15 UW-Stevens Point all represented well. Not to mention, Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) sent a solid group of high school athletes that wound up placing in the top five of the team standings.

U15 Pan American gold medalists Kayla Batres and Taina Fernandez, both wrestling unattached, wound up atop the podium at NOW Arena. Batres, who was a 16U runner-up in Fargo, N.D. last summer, took down Lock Haven All-American Kaelani Shufeldt 4-2 in the 109-pound finals. Fernandez teched North Central All-American Salome Walker in the 130-pound finals, 10-0.

Marisol Nugent of Sunkist Kids (136) and two-time NCWWC All-American Viktorya Torres of McKendree (146) round out the list of champions from this year’s event.

Final results and complete brackets of the 59th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships are available on Trackwrestling.com. Replays from the event are available online with a Big Ten Plus subscription.

2023 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships

At Hoffman Estates, Ill., Dec. 30

Team Standings

1. North Central, 148

2. McKendree, 95.5

3. Aurora, 64.5

4. Presbyterian, 63

5. Wyoming Seminary, 59.5

6. UW-Stevens Point, 44.5

7. Northern Michigan, 43.5

8. Lock Haven, 28

9. Team Nazar, 26.5

10. Sunkist Kids, 18.5

Final Results

101 pounds

1st – Madison Nieuwenhuis (Unattached) fall Madison Avila (North Central), 5:20

3rd – Lizette Rodriguez (McKendree) dec. Genesis Ramirez (Aurora), 9-0

5th – Lisa Pastoriza (Wyoming Seminary) dec. Emma Heslin (Lock Haven), 7-0

109 pounds

1st – Kayla Batres (Unattached) dec. Kaelani Shufeldt (Lock Haven), 4-2

3rd – Rianne Murphy (Wyoming Seminary) tech. fall Taylor Whiting (Team Nazar), 10-0

5th – Natalie Majer (Unattached) tech. fall Alexis Winecke (UW-Stevens Point), 14-4

116 pounds

1st – Sydney Petzinger (North Central) fall Clare Booe (Wyoming Seminary), 1:13

3rd – Janessa George (North Central) fall Julia Vidallon (McKendree), 1:48

5th – Salyna Shotwell (McKendree) fall Chloe Ayres (Princeton), 1:46

123 pounds

1st – Amani Jones (North Central) fall Carissa Qureshi (Unattached), 2:04

3rd – Shelby Moore (McKendree) tech. fall Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian College), 10-0

5th – Emma Bacon (Wyoming Seminary) tech. fall Zhivanna Magdaleno (Northern Michigan), 10-0

130 pounds

1st – Taina Fernandez (Unattached) tech. fall Salome Walker (North Central), 10-0

3rd – Alexis Janiak (Aurora) tech. fall Nichole Moore (McKendree), 10-0

5th – Haley Vann (North Central) inj. def. Cassia Zammit (Presbyterian College), 0:00

136 pounds

1st – Marisol Nugent (Sunkist Kids) fall Taylor Graveman (North Central), 2:29

3rd – Alondra Morales (North Central) dec. Niya Teresita Gaines (North Central), 7-0

5th – Sydney Park (North Central) dec. Amor Tuttle (UW-Stevens Point), 7-6

143 pounds

1st – Viktorya Torres (McKendree) dec. Alexis Gomez (Gomez RTC), 7-4

3rd – Alissa Caltagirone (Northern Michigan) fall Kendall Bostelman (North Central), 4:40

5th – Maddie Kubicki (Presbyterian College) forfeit Lillian Freitas (Unattached)

155 pounds

1st – Tiera Jimerson (North Central) dec. Noelle Gaffney (Northern Michigan), 3-2

3rd – Maddie Hayden (Unattached) dec. Sarina Bertram (North Central), 8-3

5th – Antonia Phillips (Aurora) tech. fall Caroline Gilstrap (McKendree), 11-0

170 pounds

1st – Yelena Makoyed (North Central) tech. fall Henlee Haynes (Presbyterian College), 10-0

3rd – Jade Herzer (UW-Stevens Point) tech. fall Fiona McConnell (North Central), 12-0

5th – Tabitha Breitrick (UW-Stevens Point) dec. Ruby Joseph (Northern Michigan), 8-5

191 pounds

1st – Traeh Haynes (North Central) dec. Caroline Ward (North Central), 10-2

3rd – Sydney Manos (Aurora) dec. Brooke Huffman (Team Nazar), 14-11

5th – Logan Ryan (Albion) forfeit Ella Beam (Presbyterian College)

10 BREAKOUT PERFORMANCES BY TEAM USA ATHLETES IN SUMMER SPORTS IN 2023

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BY CHRÖS MCDOUGALL | Team USA

New stars emerge every four years at the Olympics and Paralympics. If you were paying attention in 2023, though, you might have caught a preview of what’s to come next summer.

The year before the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 saw several breakout performances from Team USA athletes, results that included world championships, world records and drought-busting finishes.

Fans can follow along throughout the year at TeamUSA.com, but as we look ahead to the Olympic and Paralympic year in 2024, here are 10 athletes who showed in 2023 that they could be names to watch for in Paris:

Minna Stess, Skateboarding

Currently ranked 5th in the world, Minna Stess made history this year by placing third at the WST Park World Championship 2023 in Rome Ostia. In addition to securing crucial points for the Road to Paris 2024, Stess became the first U.S. woman ever to podium at an Olympic qualifier or Worlds event. At just 17 years old, she is considered the top U.S. female athlete in park skateboarding.

Sarah Adam of USA Wheelchair Rugby on the podium at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Mark Reis: Team USA

Sarah Adam, Wheelchair Rugby

Long a mixed-gender sport in name only, wheelchair rugby in the United States now has a female star. Adam broke through to become the first U.S. woman to compete at the world championships in 2022, and in 2023 she established herself as a go-to scorer on a team with Paralympic gold-medal aspirations. Adam, who when not playing is a professor of occupational therapy at St. Louis University, played key roles for Team USA in two major tournaments this year, including the Parapan American Games in November in Santiago, Chile. A victory there made Adam the first woman to win Parapan Ams gold in the sport and secured Team USA’s spot in Paris next year. Only Chuck Aoki, a three-time Paralympic medalist, scored more points than Adam.

Hannah Chadwick of US Para Cycling walks with her guide Skylar Espinoza at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Team USA

Hannah Chadwick guide Skyler Espinoza, Para-Cycling

Chadwick and her visual guide Espinoza didn’t plan to race the track sprint event at August’s world championships in Scotland. Yet in their first sprint race together, the new tandem won a bronze medal. Later, at the Parapan American Games, they opened with another unexpected win in the 3,000-meter individual pursuit. One day later they were back at their preferred 1,000-meter distance, and back atop the podium, this time in the time trial. The winning time also set a new Parapan Ams record for the event. In Paris, Chadwick, of El Cerrito, California, and Freeport, Maine, native Espinoza will aim to win Team USA’s first Paralympic medal in a visually impaired cycling event since 2008.

Cj. Nickolas smiling at the camera and holding up his gold medal

Mark Reis

CJ Nickolas, Taekwondo

The 21-year-old Nickolas put U.S. men’s taekwondo back on the map in May when he finished as runner-up in the men’s 80 kg. class at the world championships in Azerbaijan. Nickolas, of Brentwood, California, defeated the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the semifinals before falling to the division’s top-ranked athlete in the final. In doing so, he became the first U.S. man to win a world championships medal in the sport since 2009. After no U.S. men qualified for the Olympics in taekwondo in 2021 — the first time that had happened — Nickolas should be in position to not only qualify for Paris but maybe even contend for a medal.

noelle malkamaki

Noelle Malkamaki, Para Track & Field

Breaking a world record is so fun Malkamaki decided to do it three times this summer. The 22-year-old from Decatur, Illinois, first established a new global mark in the women’s shot put F46 at the U.S. championships in May. In July, she did it twice more at the world championships in Paris. Her final throw of 13.32 meters secured both the world title and her second world record of the day. Malkamaki, who throws collegiately for DePaul, only recently began throwing in Para competitions, and already she’s a favorite for a Paralympic medal next year in Paris.

Bronze medalist Frederick Richard of Team United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the Men's All Around Final on Day Six of the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 05, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Getty Images

Fred Richard, Gymnastics

Richard arrived on the scene in 2022 eager to draw attention to his sport , both through TikTok and his performances. It’s safe to say he’s succeeded in both. In April, the 19-year-old wrapped up his freshman season at Michigan by winning the all-around and two event titles at the NCAA championships. Six months later, in Belgium, he broke through on a higher level. Richard left the world championships with a pair of bronze medals — in the team and the all-around. Those marked the first medals for U.S. men in those events at a global championship since 2014 and 2012, respectively. And Richard’s high-flying ways aren’t limited to his stunning floor exercise and high bar routines. His creative gymnastics challenge videos have earned him a following of 645,000 and counting on TikTok.

(L-R0 Valarie Allman and Laulauga Tausaga-Collins pose with their U.S. flags.

Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, Track & Field

Talk about owning the moment. Tausaga-Collins unleashed the biggest throw of her life — by far — to become the first U.S. woman to win a discus world title. The Hawaii-born, California-raised thrower missed the Tokyo Olympics and finished 12th of 12 in the final of last year’s world championships, both while battling back injuries. At this year’s worlds in August in Hungary, Tausaga-Collins sat in fifth place with two throws to go. That’s when she broke out for a 69.49-meter throw, beating her personal best by nearly four meters. Her U.S. teammate and the defending Olympic champ, Valarie Allman, was just behind Tausaga-Collins in second (69.23 m).

Sam Watson celebrating and putting his arms up in the air

Joe Kusumoto

Sam Watson, Climbing

Speed climbing will debut as an Olympic medal event in Paris after being rolled into a combined event in 2021 in Tokyo. That’s good news for Watson, who at 17 is already one of the fastest in the history of the sport. In April, Watson, of Southlake, Texas, scaled the 15-meter wall in 5.02 seconds to establish a new U.S. record. The only thing missing for Watson was a climb like that when it counts most, in a final. He finally put everything together at the Pan American Games in October in Santiago, where he not only won the gold medal but also clinched his first Olympic berth.

Joscelyn Roberson of Team United States competes on Floor Exercise during Women's Qualifications on Day Two of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at the Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 01, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Getty Images

Joscelyn Roberson, Gymnastics

The world championships didn’t end quite how Roberson had hoped — a “freak injury” in warmups kept her out of the team and vault finals. But just about everything prior in 2023 was a dream for the 17-year-old from Texarkana, Texas. Following a switch to Simone Biles’ gym last year, Roberson enjoyed a breakthrough winter racking up medals at competitions in Germany, Egypt and Colombia. The powerful tumbler is particularly strong on floor and vault, the latter of which she won at the U.S. championships. In only in her second year at the senior elite level, Roberson showed she can hang with the best in the world.

Jeromie Meyer throws the ball during the Men's Wheelchair Basketball final at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Joe Kusumoto Team USA

Jeromie Meyer, Wheelchair Basketball

Make no mistake, the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team is still a veteran-led group. If the team is to win a third consecutive Paralympic gold medal next year, though, it’ll need key contributions from players like Meyer, of Woodbine, Iowa, who proved to be a key contributor off the bench this year. Meyer closed out his first senior tournament with Team USA by dropping in five points in a 67–66 win over Great Britain to secure the world title in June in Dubai, UAE. He was the only bench player to record a point. Meyer was at it again at the Parapan Am Games, scoring seven points and grabbing three rebounds in the final as Team USA thumped Colombia to secure the gold medal and a spot in the Paris Games.

Chrös McDougall has covered the Olympic and Paralympic Movement for TeamUSA.org since 2009 on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc. He is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

INS AND OUTS: Every club’s list changes ahead of 2024

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By Sarah Black | AFL

Check out every club’s list changes after the AFLW trade and draft periods

IT’S HARD to believe Brisbane won the flag less than three weeks ago, but we’ve had a full AFLW Trade Period and Draft since then.

Some club lists – like West Coast and the Western Bulldogs – are nearly unrecognisable after significant turnover, while others have merely tinkered around the edges during the combined player movement period.

It’s useful to look at both the trade and draft periods as one – a club may not be able to replace a departed key forward through trade, but bring in a young goalkicker through the draft.

Top five draft selections Brooke Barwick, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Jessica Rentsch and Alyssia Pisano after the 2023 AFLW Draft at Marvel Stadium . Picture: Getty Images

Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and North Melbourne will have the opportunity to complete their lists in the Supplemental Selection Period and Rookie Signing Period, which run from February 5 to March 1.

All four sides have been active in recruiting Irish players in the past, and it wouldn’t surprise if they go down that path early in the new year.

Ins: Brooke Boileau, Tamara Henry, Lily Tarlinton (draft) 

Outs: Montana McKinnon (Richmond), Yvonne Bonner, Lisa Whiteley (retired), Hannah Button, McKenzie Dowrick, Amber Ward (delisted)

2024 list: Jess Allan, Sarah Allan, Najwa Allen, Abbie Ballard, Chelsea Biddell, Brooke Boileau, Amy Boyle-Carr, Teah Charlton, Sarah Goodwin, Caitlin Gould, Anne Hatchard, Tamara Henry, Eloise Jones, Niamh Kelly, Keeley Kustermann, Taylah Levy, Ebony Marinoff, Rachelle Martin, Kiera Mueller, Hannah Munyard, Maddi Newman, Danielle Ponter, Zoe Prowse, Chelsea Randall, Brooke Smith, Lily Tarlinton, Stevie-Lee Thompson, Brooke Tonon, Deni Varnhagen, Jess Waterhouse

Adelaide has done well to hold onto the majority of its list, despite the best efforts of opposition clubs. Marinoff, Hatchard, Sarah Allan and Kelly have signed four-year deals, and even coach Matthew Clarke has extended his contract by another two seasons. Of this year’s best 21, only ruck McKinnon and forward Bonner have left, with 21-year-old Tarlinton an important draftee given her height of 180cm and experience in the QAFLW. Irish recruit Boyle-Carr, a Gaelic footballer and soccer player, will provide plenty of speed across any line.

Lily Tarlinton in action during the AFLW U19 Girls Championships match between Vic Country and Queensland at Port Melbourne FC on May 23, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Shanae Davison, Eleanor Hartill (West Coast), Evie Long, Sophie Peters, Indiana Williams, Rania Crozier, Jacinta Baldwick (draft), Kate Lutkins (inactive, pregnancy), Luka Yoshida-Martin (inactive, ACL)

Outs: Zimmie Farquharson, Analea McKee (Western Bulldogs), Kiara Hillier (Sydney), Courtney Murphy, Mikayla Pauga (Greater Western Sydney), Bella Smith (Geelong), Ella Smith (Gold Coast), Phoebe Monahan, Sharni Webb (retired), Brooke Sheridan, Caitlin Wendland (delisted)

2024 list: Ally Anderson, Jacinta Baldwick, Poppy Boltz, Shannon Campbell, Sophie Conway, Rania Crozier, Dakota Davidson, Shanae Davison, Belle Dawes, Jen Dunne, Jade Ellenger, Nat Grider, Ellie Hampson, Eleanor Hartill, Dee Heslop, Tahlia Hickie, Courtney Hodder, Bre Koenen, Evie Long, Kate Lutkins, Charlie Mullins, Orla O’Dwyer, Sophie Peters, Lily Postlethwaite, Jade Pregelj, Taylor Smith, Cathy Svarc, Ruby Svarc, Indiana Williams, Luka Yoshida-Martin

It was the busiest “quiet” trade period we’ve ever seen for Brisbane. Even so, the Lions will only have two positions on offer in their best 21 next year, assuming all remaining 19 premiership players hold their spots, after Pauga and Monahan moved on. Davison will slot in nicely to the forward line, while Hartill provides some rare height in defence and ruck depth. The Lions have effectively replaced all their departed depth with five Academy recruits – forward/mids Long, Peters and Baldwick, and two key talls in Williams and Crozier. Hodder has signed a four-year deal, with Mullins and Smith locked away for three, while coach Craig Starcevich has extended his contract by two.

Ins: Tarni Brown (Collingwood), Yasmin Duursma (Port Adelaide), Celine Moody (Western Bulldogs), Lila Keck, Meg Robertson (draft), Lulu Beatty (inactive, leg), Maddy Guerin (inactice, ACL)

Outs: Mua Laloifi (Western Bulldogs), Annie Lee (Collingwood), Paige Trudgeon (St Kilda), Phoebe McWilliams (retired), Daisy Walker (delisted, then Greater Western Sydney), Imogen Milford, Chloe Wrigley (delisted)

2024 list: Marianna Anthony, Mia Austin, Lulu Beatty, Tarni Brown, Harriet Cordner, Jess Dal Pos, Yasmin Duursma, Dayna Finn, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Erone Fitzpatrick, Jess Good, Lily Goss, Maddy Guerin, Maddy Hendrie, Mimi Hill, Lila Keck, Gen Lawson-Tavan, Abbie McKay, Breann Moody, Celine Moody, Taylor Ortlepp, Kerryn Peterson, Gab Pound, Tahlia Read, Meg Robertson, Keeley Sherar, Keeley Skepper, Amelia Velardo, Darcy Vescio, Brooke Vickers

Celine Moody will complete a straight swap with the retiring McWilliams in attack. There are a few concerns around the normally rock-steady backline after the puzzling decision not to extend Laloifi‘s contract, back-up defenders Trudgeon and Lee seeking opportunities elsewhere and the delisting of small defender Walker. None of the inclusions fill those roles. Duursma‘s pace on the wing will be a boost, as is Keck‘s across half-forward. Sherar and Skepper have signed for four years, with McKay and Pound for three.

Lila Keck is presented her jumper by Kerryn Peterson during the AFLW Draft on December 18, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Kalinda Howarth (Gold Coast), Mikayla Hyde (Fremantle), Annie Lee (Carlton), Muireen Atkinson (rookie), Georgia Clark, Lucy Cronin, Amber Schutte (draft)

Outs: Ash Brazill (Fremantle), Tarni Brown (Carlton), Liv Barber, Sophie Casey, Imogen Evans, Jo Lin, Emily Smith (delisted)

2024 list: Jordyn Allen, Muireen Atkinson, Imogen Barnett, Charlotte Blair, Brit Bonnici, Lauren Brazzale, Lauren Butler, Grace Campbell, Mikala Cann, Georgia Clark, Lucy Cronin, Bri Davey, Erica Fowler, Sabrina Frederick, Kalinda Howarth, Mikayla Hyde, Eliza James, Selena Karlson, Annie Lee, Stacey Livingstone, Eleri Morris, Nell Morris-Dalton, Alana Porter, Sarah Rowe, Sarah Sansonetti, Ruby Schleicher, Amber Schutte, Aishling Sheridan, Charlotte Taylor, Tarni White

The Pies have significantly boosted their defence, losing versatile tall Brazill (who wished to move back to Perth with her family) and stalwart Casey but bringing in Lee, Cronin and rebounder Schutte. Howarth adds some dynamism to a forward line that’s still a work in process, and it remains to be seen just where the Irish Atkinson fits into the mix. Hyde will be hoping for some midfield time at the Pies. Butler, Cann, James, Rowe and White all signed three-year deals, but skipper Davey has only signed for one.

Ins: Maddi Gay (Essendon), Bess Keaney (Gold Coast), Amy Gaylor (expansion pre-signing), Emily Gough, Chloe Adams (draft), Cat Phillips (inactive, pregnancy)

Outs: Danielle Marshall, Jess Wuetschner (retired), Alana Barba, Leah Cutting, Jo Doonan, Renee Tierney (delisted)

2024 list: Chloe Adams, Sophie Alexander, Daria Bannister, Brooke Brown, Mia Busch, Steph Cain, Georgia Clarke, Amber Clarke, Matilda Dyke, Ellyse Gamble, Maddi Gay, Amy Gaylor, Georgia Gee, Emily Gough, Kodi Jacques, Bess Keaney, Alex Morcom, Georgia Nanscawen, Cat Phillips, Maddy Prespakis, Amelia Radford, Paige Scott, Bonnie Toogood, Sophie Van De Heuval, Mia Van Dyke, Ash Van Loon, Jacqui Vogt, Steph Wales, Brooke Walker, Lily-Rose Williamson

The Bombers have brought in some serious midfield and defensive depth, with Gay able to line up on either line (or even forward), Gaylor and Adams through the engine room, and Keaney at half-back. Gough is another versatile product, who at 179cm, is unlike any player currently on Essendon’s list. Of the players who have moved on, only Wuetschner was a regular member of the best 21 this year. 

Emily Gough completes the 2km time trial during the 2023 Victoria AFL State Combine at Margaret Court Arena on October 8, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Ash Brazill (Collingwood), Aisling McCarthy (West Coast), Gabby Newton (Western Bulldogs), Holly Ifould (draft), Mikayla Morrison (inactive, ACL)

Outs: Mikayla Hyde (Fremantle), Roxy Roux (West Coast), Emmelie Fiedler, Nikki Nield, Sarah Wielstra (delisted) 

2024 list: Ebony Antonio, Ash Brazill, Kiara Bowers, Jo Cregg, Dana East, Jae Flynn, Serena Gibbs, Ariana Hetheringon, Holly Ifould, Megan Kauffman, Orlagh Lally, Aisling McCarthy, Hayley Miller, Mikayla Morrison, Tahleah Mulder, Amy Mulholland, Gabby Newton, Emma O’Driscoll, Gabby O’Sullivan, Laura Pugh, Airlie Runnalls, Madi Scanlon, Philipa Seth, Angelique Stannett, Tara Stribley, Mim Strom, Aine Tighe, Makaela Tuhakaraina, Sarah Verrier

The Dockers hit the trade period hard, consequently having one live selection with pick No.49 in the draft (Runnalls was delisted and re-drafted). Brazill and Newton will provide some serious firepower to a forward line that was often a one-woman show, starring Tighe. The former can also swing into defence where required, while McCarthy‘s defensive pressure will add another layer to Fremantle’s engine room. The outgoing Hyde and Roux played six and five games respectively this year, primarily up forward, which the inclusions should cover.

Airlie Runnalls in action during the match between Melbourne and Fremantle at Casey Fields in round nine, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Bella Smith (Brisbane), Chantal Mason, Bryde O’Rourke (draft)

Outs: Annabel Johnson (West Coast), Renee Garing (retired), Sam Gooden*, Ingrid Houtsma, Mia Skinner (delisted)
*Geelong had an extra player on its list in 2023 while Gooden returned from pregnancy

2024 list: Mikayla Bowen, Mel Bragg, Julia Crockett-Grills, Kate Darby, Chantel Emonson, Gabbi Featherston, Zali Friswell, Liv Fuller, Claudia Gunjaca, Erin Hoare, Rachel Kearns, Anna Rose Kennedy, Chantal Mason, Abbey McDonald, Amy McDonald, Meghan McDonald, Aishling Moloney, Darcy Moloney, Nina Morrison, Bryde O’Rourke, Jacqui Parry, Brooke Plummer, Georgie Prespakis, Georgie Rankin, Chloe Scheer, Shelley Scott, Bella Smith, Kate Surman, Becky Webster, one spot left to fill

There’ll be at least one change from the side that played in a preliminary final after the retirement of Garing, and the Cats are hoping for much more footy from Kennedy, who was injured for much of 2023. Geelong is unlikely to rush their three inclusions, and with decent internal improvement, arguably don’t have to push the new Cats into the side from round one. Mason is a developing key forward, O’Rourke is an athletic but raw midfielder and Smith provides good depth to a strong centre line. Morrison, Prespakis and Webster have signed for four years, with Scheer, Parry and Bowen adding three years.

Chantal Mason in action during the Coates Talent League Girls preliminary final between Eastern Ranges and Geelong Falcons at Shepley Oval on September 16, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Katie Lynch (Western Bulldogs), Charlotte Wilson (Melbourne), Ella Smith (Brisbane), Keely Fullerton, Taya Oliver, Kiara Bischa, Sienna McMullen, Annabel Kievit (draft)

Outs: Lauren Ahrens, Jasmyn Smith (Western Bulldogs), Giselle Davies (Sydney), Ali Drennan (West Coast), Kalinda Howarth (Collingwood), Bess Keaney (Essendon), Claire Ransom (delisted, then Greater Western Sydney), Gabrielle Biedenweg-Webster, Kaylee Kimber, Tahlia Meyer (delisted)

2024 list: Elise Barwick, Lauren Bella, Kiara Bischa, Tara Bohanna, Maddy Brancatisano, Ashanti Bush, Georgia Clayden, Daisy D’Arcy, Darcie Davies, Jac Dupuy, Clara Fitzpatrick, Keely Fullerton, Alana Gee, Meara Girvan, Annabel Kievit, Katie Lynch, Ella Maurer, Cara McCrossan, Niamh McLaughlin, Sienna McMullen, Jordan Membrey, Taya Oliver, Wallis Randell, Charlie Rowbottom, Vivien Saad, Lucy Single, Ella Smith, Jamie Stanton, Claudia Whitfort, Charlotte Wilson

The Suns had an incredibly busy trade period, with significant turnover. Lynch and Ahrens have completed a straight swap, while there’s roles at half-back and in the midfield up for grabs after the departures of Keaney and Drennan. Of the draftees, Fullerton or Oliver could take that midfield spot, with Bischa in defence. There’s no getting around the loss of experience over the trade period, but a number of players were keen to return to their home state or move elsewhere for non-football reasons. Howarth‘s talent is a loss, but she only played one game in 2023 before rupturing her ACL. Two players who had been inactive (Kimber and Ransom) were delisted, hence the imbalance in the ins and outs.

Ins: Mikayla Pauga, Courtney Murphy (Brisbane), Aliesha Newman (Sydney), Daisy Walker (Carlton), Claire Ransom (Gold Coast), Kaitlyn Srhoj, Indigo Linde (draft)

Outs: Jodie Hicks, Ally Dallaway (Richmond), Rene Caris (St Kilda), Annalyse Lister (retired), Tess Cattle, Teagan Germech, Zara Hamilton, Grace Hill, Tait Mackrill, Isadora McLeay (delisted)

2024 list: Nicola Barr, Bec Beeson, Annise Bradfield, Madi Brazendale, Chloe Dalton, Fleur Davies, Jess Doyle, Alicia Eva, Tarni Evans, Meghan Gaffney, Georgia Garnett, Zarlie Goldsworthy, Jasmine Grierson, Isabel Huntington, Indigo Linde, Cambridge McCormick, Caitlin Miller, Brodee Mowbray, Courtney Murphy, Aliesha Newman, Alyce Parker, Mikayla Pauga, Emily Pease, Pepa Randall, Claire Ransom, Katherine Smith, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Daisy Walker, Haneen Zreika, one list spot to fill

Hicks, Dallaway, Caris and Lister were all regular members of the Giants’ 21 this year. Walker is one who could take Hicks’ spot, top draftee Srhoj in Dallaway’s role, with the untried Brisbane rookie Murphy in Lister’s key defensive position. Pauga and Newman are talented enough to force their way into the line-up, with Ransom also more than capable if she’s ready to play, sitting out 2023 for personal reasons. Ruck support for Davies remains an issue after Caris‘ departure, but the Giants still have one list spot to fill. GWS had to reduce its 2023 list by two due to injury replacement players. Goldsworthy, Evans and Garnett have signed four-year deals, with Parker opting to turn her back on rival interest and sign for two. Eva – who has stood down as captain – signed a one-year deal.

Alyce Parker celebrates a goal during round three, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Casey Sherriff, Eliza West (Melbourne), Laura Stone, Jess Vukic, Hayley McLaughlin (expansion pre-signings), Mikayla Williamson, Sophie Butterworth (draft)

Outs: Catherine Brown, Tegan Cunningham, Tamara Luke, Akec Makur Chuot (retired), Janet Baird, Zoe Barbakos, Sarah Perkins (delisted)

2024 list: Kaitlyn Ashmore, Charlotte Baskaran, Emily Bates, Greta Bodey, Mattea Breed, Sophie Butterworth, Bridget Deed, Casey Dumont, Mackenzie Eardley, Laura Elliott, Emily Everist, Tahlia Fellows, Jasmine Fleming, Aileen Gilroy, Bridie Hipwell, Ainslie Kemp, Sophie Locke, Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Aine McDonagh, Hayley McLaughlin, Jenna Richardson, Casey Sherriff, Tamara Smith, Louise Stephenson, Laura Stone, Kristy Stratton, Jess Vukic, Lucy Wales, Eliza West, Mikayla Williamson

It was a highly successful player movement period for Hawthorn, lucking out in the talent on offer this year through the aligned Eastern Ranges side, and benefiting from Williamson sliding somewhat in the draft. Butterworth was a canny pick-up, considering the tall timber who have retired. West immediately adds some grunt and Williamson outside speed to the midfield, Stone can slot in at half-back with ease, while Sherriff is a smart high half-forward, providing a clear and calm link into attack. While the squad has become much younger this off-season, the talent potential is enormous for any prospective coach keen on applying for the vacant role.

Ins: Lily Johnson (Port Adelaide), Alyssia Pisano, Ryleigh Wotherspoon, Jacinta Hose, Jemma Rigoni, Delany Madigan (draft), Grace Hill (Greater Western Sydney, injury replacement)

Outs: Libby Birch (North Melbourne), Maddi Gay (Essendon), Casey Sherriff, Eliza West (Hawthorn), Charlotte Wilson (Gold Coast), Georgie Fowler (retired), Jordi Ivey, Sammie Johnson* (delisted)
*Melbourne had an extra player on its list in 2023 while Johnson returned from pregnancy

2024 list: Alyssa Bannan, Georgia Campbell, Maeve Chaplin, Gabby Colvin, Megan Fitzsimon, Georgia Gall, Tahlia Gillard, Sinead Goldrick, Tyla Hanks, Tayla Harris, Shelley Heath, Grace Hill, Kate Hore, Jacinta Hose*, Lily Johnson, Sarah Lampard, Aimee Mackin, Blaithin Mackin, Delany Madigan, Eliza McNamara, Lily Mithen, Karen Paxman, Lauren Pearce, Alyssia Pisano, Liv Purcell, Jemma Rigoni, Saraid Taylor, Rhi Watt, Ryleigh Wotherspoon, Eden Zanker, one list spot to fill
*inactive

Melbourne may take a short-term hit to its tall defensive stocks, losing both Birch and Wilson, as well as Gay across half-back, but injury replacement player Hill provides a bit of depth. West had been squeezed out of the midfield late in the year, while the loss of Sherriff will hurt across half-forward. The Dees may have taken one step backwards in order to go two steps forward, hitting the draft hard for the first time since 2020. Pisano could play straight away in the forward line, the Demons pushed hard to lock away raw but exciting half-back flanker Wotherspoon, and father-daughter pick up Rigoni will provide plenty of pace on the wing or flanks. Hose will sit out the year with a torn ACL.

Alyssia Pisano is presented her jumper by Kate Hore during the AFLW Draft on December 18, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Libby Birch (Melbourne), Ella Slocombe, Georgia Stubs (draft), Zoe Savarirayan (inactive, ACL), Vikki Wall (TBC, inactive, rugby)

Outs: Ellie Gavalas (Western Bulldogs), Ailish Considine (retired), Hannah Bowey, Charli Granville, Cassidy Mailer, Sophia McCarthy (delisted)

2024 list: Libby Birch, Nicole Bresnehan, Jenna Bruton, Lucy Burke, Tess Craven, Bella Eddey, Jasmine Ferguson, Jasmine Garner, Taylah Gatt, Emma Kearney, Mia King, Emma King, Niamh Martin, Liz McGrath, Alice O’Loughlin, Erika O’Shea, Lulu Pullar, Tahlia Randall, Kim Rennie, Ash Riddell, Zoe Savarirayan, Eliza Shannon, Kate Shierlaw, Ella Slocombe, Amy Smith, Georgia Stubs, Ruby Tripodi, Vikki Wall (TBC), Sarah Wright, one list spot to fill

The Roos made just one move in the trade period, bringing in experienced key defender Birch. It’s difficult to work out just where Birch fits into the settled backline, and there’s going to be a very unlucky player who is pushed out, unless they’re redeployed forward. Gavalas is a loss, but she had conceded her spot to Martin by the end of the season. Slocombe and Stubs will have time to develop; both are quick players who provide plenty of run-and-carry. Burke was delisted and re-drafted.

The Power had a list of 33 in 2023 as part of an assistance package for expansion clubs (32 and an inactive player), reducing to 30 for the 2024 season

Ins: Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs), Molly Brooksby, Shineah Goody, Lauren Young (expansion pre-signings), Piper Window, Alissa Brook (draft)

Outs: Yasmin Duursma (Carlton), Lily Johnson (Melbourne), Erin Phillips (retired), Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap, Jade De Melo, Jade Halfpenny, Maggie MacLachlan, Jacqui Yorston (delisted)

2024 list: Alex Ballard, Ella Boag, Amelie Borg, Alissa Brook, Molly Brooksby, Janelle Cuthbertson, Abbey Dowrick, Hannah Dunn, Hannah Ewings, Angela Foley, Shineah Goody, Cheyenne Hammond, Gemma Houghton, Georgie Jaques, Maddy Keryk, Kirsty Lamb, Olivia Levicki, Maria Moloney, Justine Mules, Ebony O’Dea, Katelyn Pope, Matilda Scholz, Jasmine Simmons, Jasmin Stewart, Sachi Syme, Indy Tahau, Julia Teakle, Ash Saint, Piper Window, Lauren Young

Port Adelaide hit the jackpot this year, with two of the top draft prospects in the country in Goody and Young eligible for pre-selection through its academy. Lamb will have an instant impact in the middle of the field, working in tandem with best-and-fairest Dowrick, who’s signed a three-year deal. Goody will provide some class on the outside, Window can rotate inside, while Young should slot straight into Phillips‘ spot as a forward-midfielder. It’s a very young list, but one that should have teams on their toes over the next few years.

Shineah Goody, Lauren Young and Molly Brooksby during the 2023 AFLW Draft at Marvel Stadium on December 18, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Ally Dallaway, Jodie Hicks (Greater Western Sydney), Montana McKinnon (Adelaide), Isabel Bacon, Mackenzie Ford (draft), Tessa Lavey (inactive, toe)

Outs: Meagan Kiely (retired), Jess Hosking (delisted, then West Coast), Sarah D’Arcy, Meg Macdonald, Lilly Pearce, Steph Williams (delisted)

2024 list: Isabel Bacon, Katie Brennan, Monique Conti, Katelyn Cox, Ally Dallaway, Kate Dempsey, Molly Eastman, Grace Egan, Mackenzie Ford, Libby Graham, Caitlin Greiser, Jodie Hicks, Sarah Hosking, Courtney Jones, Poppy Kelly, Shelby Knoll*, Tessa Lavey, Beth Lynch, Laura McClelland, Ellie McKenzie, Montana McKinnon, Bec Miller, Amelia Peck, Stella Reid, Charley Ryan, Gabby Seymour, Eilish Sheerin, Maddie Shevlin, Charli Wicksteed, Jemima Woods, Emelia Yassir
*inactive

It’ll be interesting to see how Richmond juggles its talls in 2024, bringing ruck McKinnon into the side. They like the ground-level work of Seymour, so there’s a potential for Kelly to be pushed into a permanent forward role. Hicks is a steadier head in defence than Jess Hosking (who arguably has the edge in tackle pressure), while Lavey‘s work on the wing has almost been forgotten after a year on the sidelines. Bacon and Ford may not be needed straight away, given the older Dallaway has also been added to the midfield mix.

Richmond’s Tessa Lavey celebrates a goal during round two, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Rene Caris (Greater Western Sydney), Paige Trudgeon (Carlton), Kiera Whiley, Charlotte Simpson (draft)

Outs: Rosie Dillon, Deanna Jolliffe, Erin McKinnon, Renee Saulitis, Jayde Van Dyk (delisted)

2024 list: J’Noemi Anderson, Maddy Boyd, Alice Burke, Rene Caris, Steph Chiocci, Nat Exon, Ella Friend, Darcy Guttridge, Bianca Jakobsson, Grace Kelly, Jaimee Lambert, Caitlin Matthews, Molly McDonald, Simone Nalder, Rebecca Ott, Georgia Patrikios, Beth Pinchin, Nat Plane, Hannah Priest, Ash Richards, Tyanna Smith, Charlotte Simpson, Nicola Stevens, Hannah Stuart, Paige Trudgeon, Liv Vesely, Jesse Wardlaw, Serene Watson, Kiera Whiley, Nicola Xenos

The Saints have made a straight ruck swap, bringing in Caris for McKinnon. Trudgeon instantly boosts the backline, as will the returning Ott, who missed the year with an Achilles issue. The pair will be in competition with Pinchin and Boyd for spots, the latter also capable of playing forward. Dillon didn’t play much in 2023, but Simpson is a tenacious ball-winner in a similar model, with a longer kick. The midfield is arguably the Saints’ strongest line already, but they should be able to squeeze in the classy Whiley, who’s a neat, well-rounded player. A host of players – including Lambert, Patrikios, Smith and Vesely – have signed for four years.

The Swans had a list of 34 in 2023 as part of an assistance package for expansion clubs (33 and an inactive player), reducing to 32 for the 2024 season

Ins: Giselle Davies (Gold Coast), Kiara Hillier (Brisbane), Holly Cooper (expansion pre-signing), Sarah Grunden, Lara Hausegger (draft), Hayley Bullas (inactive, ACL)

Outs: Aliesha Newman (Greater Western Sydney), Jaide Anthony, Kiara Beesley, Sarah Ford, Jenny Higgins, Bridie Kennedy, Kate Reynolds (delisted)

2024 list: Montana Beruldsen, Hayley Bullas, Maddy Collier, Holly Cooper, Giselle Davies, Laura Gardiner, Montana Ham, Alexia Hamilton, Cynthia Hamilton, Lara Hauseggar, Ella Heads, Kiara Hillier, Sofia Hurley, Sarah Grunden, Tanya Kennedy, Brooke Lochland, Paris McCarthy, Lucy McEvoy, Alice Mitchell, Chloe Molloy, Ally Morphett, Julie O’Sullivan, Bec Privitelli, Ruby Sargent-Wilson, Paige Sheppard, Bella Smith, Lisa Steane, Lauren Szigeti, Brenna Tarrant, Eliza Vale, Aimee Whelan, Alana Woodward

Sydney has added some key position depth in the form of Davies, who can play at either end of the field. Hillier is yet to debut, but is a nice rebound defender, while Grunden could conceivably fill the spot in the 21 of Newman, although she isn’t quite as quick. Hauseggar is a very steady defender, while Cooper is an athletic midfielder. The Swans’ biggest player movement win was convincing star ruck Morphett to turn down a hefty contract offer from the Dogs, staying for four years, along with breakout midfielder Gardiner.

Ally Morphett in action during round six, 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

Ins: Ali Drennan (Gold Coast), Roxy Roux (Fremantle), Annabel Johnson (Geelong), Jess Hosking (delisted free agent, Richmond), Verity Simmons (rookie), Jess Rentsch, Kayley Kavanagh, Georgie Cleaver, Matilda Sergeant (draft)

Outs: Shanae Davison, Eleanor Hartill (Brisbane), Aisling McCarthy (Fremantle), Kate Bartlett, Emma Humphries, Aimee Schmidt, Jess Sedunary, Issy Simmons (retired), Krstel Petrevski, Ella Smith (delisted)

2024 list: Jaide Britton, Abby Bushby, Georgie Cleaver, Ali Drennan, Emily Elkington, Amy Franklin, Kellie Gibson, Evie Gooch, Sasha Goranova, Dana Hooker, Jess Hosking, Annabel Johnson, Kayley Kavanagh, Sarah Lakay, Bella Lewis, Sophie McDonald, Jess Rentsch, Ella Roberts, Roxy Roux, Courtney Rowley, Beth Schilling, Matilda Sergeant, Verity Simmons, Belinda Smith, Emma Swanson, Charlie Thomas, Lauren Wakfer, Zoe Wakfer, Mackenzie Webb, Mikayla Western

It’ll be an entirely different West Coast outfit taking the field in 2024. A third of the list has once again been turned over, and Daisy Pearce will be at the helm as coach. Drennan will fill McCarthy‘s role, and Johnson or Sergeant covering Hartill. Roux can slot into Davison‘s spot. Hosking can play across any line, but considering the number of forwards to have hung up the boots, may be needed in attack alongside Cleaver. Kavanagh is a genuine inside mid, and will be competing with the existing Eagles core for a spot in the 21, while Rentsch can play off half-back if required. West Coast won a stack of signatures from its top ranks, with Roberts, Swanson and Thomas all signing for four years, and Lewis and Rowley (who will be rehabbing a torn ACL) for three.

Wild celebrations, tears as Rebel becomes an Eagle

Tears are shed as Jessica Rentsch is selected by West Coast with pick No.2 in the AFLW Draft

Ins: Lauren Ahrens, Jasmyn Smith (Gold Coast), Zimmie Farquharson, Analea McKee (Brisbane), Ellie Gavalas (North Melbourne), Mua Laloifi (Carlton), Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Brooke Barwick, Cleo Buttifant, Jorja Borg (draft)

Outs: Kirsty Lamb (Port Adelaide), Katie Lynch (Gold Coast), Celine Moody (Carlton), Gabby Newton (Fremantle), Richelle Cranston, Kirsten McLeod (retired), Daisy Bateman, Millie Brown, Bailey Hunt, Gemma Lagioia (delisted)

2024 list: Lauren Ahrens, Brooke Barwick, Elle Bennetts, Deanna Berry, Ellie Blackburn, Jorja Borg, Eleanor Brown, Cleo Buttifant, Dom Carruthers, Keely Coyne, Alice Edmonds, Zimmie Farquharson, Naomi Ferres, Jess Fitzgerald, Ellie Gavalas, Elisabeth Georgostathis, Maggie Gorham, Issy Grant, Brit Gutknecht, Sarah Hartwig, Mua Laloifi, Bree McFarlane, Analea McKee, Isabelle Pritchard, Aurora Smith, Jasmyn Smith, Elizabeth Snell, Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Rylie Wilcox, Heidi Woodley

The Dogs have turned over a third of their list, with four senior players requesting trades out of the club. Ahrens will cover for Lynch, Borg for Moody, Gavalas for Lamb and draftee Weston-Turner for Newton, with raw ex-Lion McKee also an option in attack after the retirement of Cranston. Farquharson will also move into the new-look forward line after McLeod hung up the boots, while Laloifi will slot into defence in place of Hunt. Barwick is an elusive midfielder, a slightly different type to work with Blackburn and Gavalas, while the inexperienced Buttifant provides dash out of defence.

Athletics star Yemi Mary John crowned winner of SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award 2023

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By: Sports Aid

Track sensation Yemi Mary John, 20, from Woodford in Essex, has been named as the winner of SportsAid’s prestigious One-to-Watch Award for 2023! Yemi Mary received the annual Award, supported by Royal Bank of Canada, after an outstanding year which saw her claim gold in the 400m at the European Athletics U23 Championships and two senior relay medals at the World Athletics Championships. 

Yemi Mary, who also featured in the top 10 last year having won gold at the World Athletics U20s Championships in 2022, was presented with the Award by 400 metres legend Christine Ohuruogu MBE at Lee Valley Athletics Centre on Monday (18 December). She edged out para cyclist Archie Atkinson, 19, and BMX rider Freia Challis, 15, as they finished in second and third positions respectively.

“It’s a really good feeling and it’s great to have had this season’s achievements recognised!” said Yemi Mary shortly after being presented with the Award. “They caught me off-guard with my Award which was a lovely surprise. Christine has done amazing things, not only in the sport as a whole but in the 400 specifically, so just to have her recognise me and be able to be in a room with such great and successful people is exciting. I appreciated her being there for it.

“I feel like it sets me up for a great trajectory of success and hopefully I will follow in the footsteps of those before [who have won the One-to-Watch Award]. I feel like I’m already on the radar especially because of my first senior season, not only just competing but coming away with medals. The targets I had for the season were hit in the senior field and it solidified my position there and hopefully I can now go further next year.” 

The One-to-Watch Award has gained a strong reputation for identifying the best up-and-coming prospects in Britain since its launch in 2006. Previous winners, including Tom Daley OBE, Hollie Arnold MBE, Jodie Williams and Alex Yee MBE, have already amassed over 50 senior medals from Olympic and Paralympic Games, World and European Championships, and Commonwealth Games.

Yemi Mary, who dabbled in many sports from gymnastics to MMA when growing up, only started properly competing on the track in 2019. The University of Southern California student has been supported by SportsAid for the last two years and is now determined to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games having made such an impression on the world stage at senior level in 2023.  

“Olympics year, Paris has to be my first and biggest target,” added Yemi Mary. “Obviously performing in the NCAA’s season as well will be key to making sure I appear on the senior scene on an individual basis as well as in the relays. I just need to keep on doing what I have been doing and ramp it up. It’s been working pretty well so far….so just doing that, times 10. I don’t like to put a lid on my goals by giving one specific number or title but I’m definitely wanting more medals, more golds, more Olympics, more records even. I want to grow as an athlete and a person.” 

The top 10 for this year’s One-to-Watch Award were selected from around 1,000 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 different sports. Athletes are nominated by their sport’s governing body on the strength of their talent and potential, as well as their recent achievements, before a judging panel, led by Sarah Winckless MBE, identifies the winner, runner-up and third place.

The remaining shortlisted athletes – equestrian Alice Casburn, fencer Amelie Tsang, canoeist Greta Roeser, weightlifter Isabella Brown, squash player Jonah Bryant, golfer Kris Kim, and para athlete Madeline Down – have had their achievements celebrated with in-person visits from SportsAid. The charity’s staff has travelled to their training environments to gain further insight into how they balance sport with their day-to-day commitments.

Each of the top 10 athletes are receiving a cash boost in recognition of their incredible feats. Yemi Mary is being awarded £1,000 as the winner with Archie receiving £750 and Freia benefitting from £500. Alice, Amelie, Greta, Isabella, Jonah, Kris and Madeline will each be given £250. They have also been provided with gift packages focused on nutrition, mental wellbeing, sleep and recovery.    

SportsAid alumna Christine was delighted to present the One-to-Watch Award to Yemi Mary and predicted a bright future for each of the top 10. Christine, who was crowned Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion while accumulating over 20 international medals during her senior career, has high hopes for Yemi Mary having seen the potential she has demonstrated in the 400m discipline.

She has also been impressed by how the USC athlete balances her sport with her Economics studies – alongside the time she spends as a committed volunteer at a homeless shelter. Yemi Mary, who has taken inspiration from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Pocket Rocket Foundation, hopes to build a similar legacy of her own while inspiring young girls to pursue their sporting ambitions. 

“I think Yemi’s fantastic,” said Christine. “I am really blown away by how young she is and how much she does, not just on the track, but outside track. I think it’s a great inspiration for her peers, and for older people, that you can juggle the two successfully. I’m hoping that this Award will continue to inspire her to keep reaching and wanting to be the athlete that causes a stir and mixes things up.

“I think the 400 metres in this country is in a really great place both in the men’s and the women’s. And I think that’s what’s great about Yemi – she does really keep the girls on their toes. And not only that, I’ve also noticed that it inspires the other younger athletes. Because when you see someone else who is new and young coming through, it gives other people the opportunity to believe that they can do the same thing and that they can create an impact. I think she should be really proud of herself.”

Christine added: “I was a recipient of a SportsAid award not too long ago….a very, very, very, very many few years ago! The sports world can get very, very crowded, and very, very noisy. So the athletes are working away, often in their own pockets around the country, and they can sometimes feel like they’re doing all this hard work and nobody cares. I think that it’s really nice for the athletes to feel like they’ve been seen, they’ve been recognised and that their hard work hasn’t gone in vain.” 

Here’s more information on the top three for this year’s One-to-Watch Award….

Winner

Yemi Mary John
Athletics
20, from Woodford, Essex 

• Gold in the women’s 400m at the European Athletics U23 Championships 
• Silver in the 4x400m mixed relay at the IAAF World Athletics Championships (senior) 
• Bronze in the 4x400m women’s relay at the IAAF World Athletics Championships (senior) 

Runner-up

Archie Atkinson
Para Cycling
19, from Heaton Moor, Greater Manchester

• Gold in the men’s C4 Scratch Race at the UCI Cycling World Championships (senior)
• Bronze in the men’s C4 Road Race at the UCI Cycling World Championships (senior)
• Fifth in the men’s C4 Individual Time Trial at the UCI Cycling World Championships (senior)

Third place

Freia Challis
BMX
15, from Halstead, Essex

• Gold in the women’s race at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships (15 years)
• Gold in the women’s race at the UEC BMX Racing European Championships (15 years)
• Gold in the women’s race at the UEC BMX Racing European Cup (15/16 years) 

And here’s the seven athletes who made the top 10 alongside Yemi, Archie and Freia….

Alice Casburn
Equestrian
21, from Norwich, Norfolk

• Seventh place at the Burghley International three-day event (open age group)
• Seventh place at the Thorsesby Park 4* International (open age group) 
• Eighteenth place at the Badminton International 5* three-day event (open age group)

Amelie Tsang
Fencing
17, from Bromley, Greater London

• Gold in the women’s individual foil at the World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships    
• Gold in the women’s individual foil at the British Fencing Championships (senior) 
• Silver in the women’s individual foil at the EFC Cadet Championships (Cabries event)

Greta Roeser
Canoeing
18, from Guildford, Surrey

• Gold in the women’s K1 5,000m at the ICF Junior Canoe Sprint World Championships
• Silver in the women’s K1 Long Course (17.7km) at the ICF Junior Canoe Sprint World Championships
• Gold in the women’s K1 Short Course at the ECA Junior Canoe Marathon European Championships 

Isabella Brown
Weightlifting
19, from Ashford, Middlesex

• Bronze in the women’s 76kg category at the EWF European Junior and U23 Weight Lifting Championships 
• Silver in the women’s 76kg category at the British Weight Lifting Championships (senior) 
• Ranked third in Europe and eighth in the world in the 76kg category at junior level

Jonah Bryant 
Squash
18, from Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex

• Gold in the men’s singles event at the ESF European U19 Individual and Mixed Team Championships 
• Gold in the mixed team event at the ESF European U19 Individual and Mixed Team Championships
• Silver in the men’s singles event at the British Junior Open Championships 

Kris Kim    
Golf
16, from Worcester Park, Greater London

• Won the Junior Ryder Cup with Team Europe by a record margin (Kris won 3.5pts from 4)
• Won the R&A Boys’ Amateur title (U18) 
• Won the EGA European Boys Team Championships (U18) and set new course-record

Madeline Down
Para Athletics
16, from Selly Oak, West Midlands

• Gold in the women’s T38 100m at the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Youth Games 
• Gold in the women’s T38 long jump at the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Youth Games
• Gold in the women’s T38 100m and long jump at the England Athletics National Championships (U17) 

USA CRICKET SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP FACILITATE DOMESTIC CRICKET IN 2024 & BEYOND

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By Dhruv Barot | USA Cricket

  • USA Cricket expands volunteer program to further streamline and professionalize the men’s and women’s domestic pathway.
  • Existing Volunteer Youth and Women’s Coordinator roles to be discontinued.
  • Roles to focus on facilitating recently established pathway competitions, and a need to expand participation options in local communities.

USA Cricket is expanding its volunteer program to ensure the domestic pathway continues to progress in 2024 and beyond.

With the building out of the hard-ball pathways over the last couple of years, and the appointment of various groups to help manage these competitions and associated programs, the role of the Volunteer Youth/Womens Coordinators has become less clear. We believe this restructuring of roles brings more clarity to the responsibilities of the respective volunteer groups and affords individuals an opportunity to utilize their skills and passions in a more streamlined way.

The roles of Volunteer Youth and Volunteer Women’s Coordinators will therefore be discontinued, but we would encourage those existing members of these groups who are interested, to apply for the new roles. USA Cricket wishes to express its gratitude to the members of our existing Volunteer Groups and acknowledge the importance of their efforts over the last few years.

The new roles being established in Hubs across the country are as follows…

  1. Hub Cricket Lead (HCL) – Main point of contact between the Hub and USA Cricket with a focus on local partnership building including sponsorship. Overall responsibility for Hub operations and other development activities within the Hub.
  2. Hub Women’s Coordinator (HWC) – Responsible for helping deliver women’s programs within the Hub including the U15, U19 and Senior Women’s trials and competitions and high-performance activities.
  3. Hub Men’s Coordinator (HMC) – Responsible for helping deliver men’s programs within the Hub, including U19, U23 and Senior Men’s trials and competitions and high-performance activities.
  4. Hub Youth Coordinator (HYC) – Responsible for helping deliver youth programs within the Hub, including U11, U13 and U15 Hub and Zonal competitions.
  5. Hub Participation Coordinator (HPC) – Responsible for helping facilitate increase in quantity and quality of low-barrier-to-entry cricket playing opportunities at a local level (modified formats, soft-ball, hard-ball, schools, clubs, leagues etc.).

USA Cricket invites people to register their interest by submitting a current resume here no later than December 24, 2023.

PWHL inaugural season: What we know ahead of Jan. 1 start

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By: Katie Manganelli | Just Women’s Sports

The first puck drop for the PWHL is set for Jan. 1 — just five months after the league was announced. But a lot of moving parts need to be secured before play can begin.

On June 29, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chelsea FC owner Mark Walters bought out the previous pro women’s league, the Premier Hockey Federation. And since then, Walters, tennis legend Billie Jean King and multi-sport executive Stan Kasten — investors in the rival Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association — have transformed the previous leagues into a single six-team entity.

And just last week, the league hosted nine preseason contests so coaches could finalize their rosters and get a last look at the competition heading into the inaugural season. 

To add to the whirlwind, the league also plans to make rule changes that differ from rules in the NHL. For example, the PWHL is debating allowing two-minute penalties to continue after the opposing team scores on the power play. Many of the rule changes seem to be targeted at increasing scoring opportunities and action.

“We’re going to have to look at the data and see if it actually created more scoring chances or more goals, which of course I think is the goal,” Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s senior vice president of hockey operations, told CBC and Radio-Canada.

“We’ll debrief the event and really understand the pros and cons, and see if it makes sense to implement any of them.”

The PWHL is also still assembling its player discipline committee and its collection of referees, both of which must be finalized before the first puck drop. The league plans to use a pool of officials from other organizations, which include the American Hockey League, Hockey Canada and USA Hockey.

As is typical in women’s hockey, body checking isn’t allowed in the PWHL, but the players still want to play a physical game. So expect no shortage of action along the boards or penalties called.

The first regular PWHL season will consist of 24 games, with international breaks included in the schedule so that players can maintain their national team commitments. The four best teams will make the playoffs and will play best-of-five series through the end of the tournament to determine a champion.

Regular-season tickets went on sale this week and, according to Hefford, sales are already out-performing projections. Toronto already has sold out all 12 home games at 2,600-seat Mattamy Athletic Centre.

“We go into this understanding that we’re building a league, we’re launching a league,” Hefford said. “We’re not going to fill every building every night, so we have pretty conservative projections, I would say. But in initial days into ticket sales we’ve exceeded our projections, which is really great news for us.”

The PWHL plans to launch merchandise soon, including replica jerseys, that should be available in arenas and in online stores.

Even before it hosts its first game, Kasten is shocked at how well the league has come together in such a short time. 

“To see it really coming together, I can’t describe it,” Kasten said. “This will be the league with the highest level of skill for women hockey players ever in the history of the world.”

Carey, Frech, Middleton Earn Top Honors as 2023 High School All-Americans Named

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BY KRISTEN GOWDY | usparatf

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – Forty high school athletes have been named to the prestigious 2023 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School All-American list, the organization announced today. The list recognizes the top high school track and field athletes who have a Paralympic-eligible impairment based on their performances in the 2023 season. This is the 13th group of athletes to have been awarded the honor.

Headlining the 2023 roster are Annie Carey (Boise, Idaho), Ezra Frech (Los Angeles, California) and Arelle Middleton (Rancho Cucamonga, California), who were named U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School Athletes of the Year. The selection criteria looked at the top athlete performances in each event in 2023 as compared against the “A” standard for the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Team. Athletes who competed in high school track and field during the 2022-2023 school year were eligible.

“This was an unprecedented year in terms of success for our younger athletes,” Sherrice Fox, Director, U.S. Paralympics Track & Field, said. “On this list, we have athletes who medaled at world championships and the Parapan American Games, as well as athletes who are brand new to us, which is so exciting and speaks to the future of our sport as we build toward Paris 2024 next year and beyond.”

Earning his third consecutive athlete of the year honors is Frech, whose stellar showing in both track and field events this year cemented the top spot on both the men’s track and men’s field ranking lists. Frech has twice previously been named Male Field Athlete of the Year, and it’s the senior’s first career Male Track Athlete of the Year nod.

Frech’s world record in the men’s high jump T63 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships set the tone for a momentous season for the 18-year-old and earned him the title of Male Field Athlete of the Year. It was the 2020 Paralympian’s first career world championship title, and he followed that with a strong 100-meter mark that put him at the top of the high school rankings on the track side.

Carey, meanwhile, nabbed three bronze medals at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, as part of her campaign for Female Track Athlete of the Year. A freshman this season at Mount St. Mary’s University, Carey’s qualifying marks ­– in the 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump – were earned while she was in high school during the 2022-2023 season. It is Carey’s second consecutive high school athlete of the year honors.

A newcomer to Para track and field, Middleton’s top mark of 12.02 meters in the women’s shot put at her high school state championships propelled the 15-year-old to her first career Female Field Athlete of the Year award. The mark would have won her the world championship gold medal in 2023.

The full list of this year’s High School All-Americans, in alphabetical order with qualifying events, can be found below.

For media requests and inquiries, please contact Kristen Gowdy at [email protected].

2023 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School All-Americans

Michael Allen (100-meter)

Andy Botkin (100-meter, 400-meter)

Aidan Cairns (400-meter)

Micah Campbell (100-meter, 400-meter)

Annie Carey (100-meter, 200-meter, Long Jump)

Chloe Chavez (100-meter, 200-meter, Long Jump, Shot Put)

Joshua Fields (100-meter, 400-meter, Long Jump)

Lauren Fields (100-meter, 800-meter)

Jeffrey Files (100-meter, 400-meter)

Skyler Fisher (800-meter)

Elizabeth Floch (100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter)

Carson Fox (100-meter)

Ezra Frech (100-meter, Long Jump, High Jump)

Alaina Gott (100-meter)

Tyler Gunnarson (100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1500-meter, 5000-meter)

Madison Hahs (100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, Long Jump, Shot Put)

Samuel Haynes (100-meter, 400-meter)

Samantha Heyison (Shot Put, Discus)

Isabelle Hogness (100-meter, 400-meter)

Jian Jackson (100-meter, 400-meter)

Danielle Kanas (Shot Put)

Tayvion Lilly (100-meter, 200-meter)

Emily Lopez (200-meter, 400-meter, Long Jump)

Delmace Mayo (100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1500-meter)

Tucker McCrady (100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter)

Elicia Meairs (100-meter, 800-meter, Javelin)

Arelle Middleton (Shot Put, Discus)

Grant Pierce (100-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1500-meter)

Gianni Quintero (100-meter, 400-meter)

Christian Ramirez (100-meter)

David Ramos (100-meter, 400-meter)

Matthew Reid (100-meter, 400-meter)

Janie Richardson (100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, Long Jump, Shot Put)

Jillian Romanyk (Shot Put)

Lily Rosenthal (100-meter, Long Jump)

Najee Smothers (100-meter)

Austin Spalla (100-meter, 200-meter)

Kira Stevens (100-meter, 200-meter)

Kaidhyn Stockdale (Discus)

Carlo Uglow (100-meter)

Elizabeth Wade (1500-meter)

Sam Winter (100-meter, 400-meter, Long Jump)

Amani Jones named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

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BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING

Amani Jones (Ola, Ga./North Central College) has been named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on December 14, 2023.

Jones won the title at 123 pounds at the North Central Open, held at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. on Sunday, December 10. The event is one of the toughest women’s college open tournaments. Jones helped lead North Central to the team title in this 29-team tournament, which featured top teams from the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA women’s wrestling.

Jones, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA and a 2023 NCWWC runner-up, scored a 10-0 technical fall over Iowa’s Ava Rose in the finals. As the top seed at 123, Jones won all five of her matches with bonus points, including three falls and two technical falls. She scored pins over Kivah Cavallero of the University of Providence, Karla Topete of Carthage College and Cali Leng of Iowa (in the semifinals.) Her other victory was a 10-0 quarterfinal technical fall over Isabelle Silva of Indiana Tech.

Jones is junior at North Central. In addition to her 2023 NCWWC second place, Jones placed fifth at the 2022 NCWWC Nationals. She was a 2023 U20 World bronze medalist for the United States at 55 kg. She won the 2023 U20 World Team Trials, and was fifth at the 2023 U.S. Senior Open. In 2022, Jones won the Pan American U20 Championships. A graduate of Ola High School in Georgia, Jones was a 2019 16U Nationals champion and fifth at the 2021 Junior Nationals.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete’s name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to [email protected].

30 Under 30 2024: Meet The Athletes And Executives Leading Sports Into The Future

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These all-stars are expanding their industry into new sports, technologies and demographics.

Shannon Rhodes says she’s “one of one,” but that’s not a boast. A senior director with the NBA, leading a team that builds apps for the league, the 29-year-old Rhodes notes, sadly, that there just aren’t many other women at the intersection of sports and software engineering.

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JAMEL TOPPIN FOR FORBES

“My aim,” she says, “is to be one of many.”

Rhodes isn’t the only one redefining what success looks like in the sports world. Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, 28, cofounder of the fast-growing sports drink brand Barcode, and Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, 28, who has his own fantasy football show and frequently streams himself playing video games, are helping expand athletes’ opportunities off the field. Meanwhile, Kelly Sherman, 28, is aiding that effort from the agency side, working with WME Sports’ content division to launch media companies for athletes.

Diana Flores, 26, captain of Mexico’s women’s national flag football team, is bringing attention to a new sport—one that’s headed to the 2028 Summer Olympics. And Jason Spector, 29, is introducing fans to new technologies, merging artificial intelligence with gambling as CBS Sports’ lead data scientist.

ll six are members of Forbes’ 2024 30 Under 30 class in the Sports category, highlighting the all-star athletes, innovative founders and accomplished business professionals defining the future of the industry. Candidates—who had to be 29 or younger as of December 31, 2023, and could not have been previously named to a Forbes 30 Under 30 continental list—were reviewed by a panel of judges featuring some of the sports world’s biggest players: Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns’ star shooting guard and an alum of the 2022 30 Under 30 list; Sal Galatioto, founder and president of investment bank Galatioto Sports Partners; Carolyn Kindle, CEO and co-owner of Major League Soccer’s St. Louis City SC; and Renee Montgomery, a two-time WNBA champion as a player who has transitioned to ownership with the Atlanta Dream.

Two of this year’s Under 30 listers—Lauren Esrig, 29, of the Voice in Sport Foundation and Alison Reed, 28, of Women in Sports Tech—work with nonprofits creating new opportunities for women in the industry. Natalie White, 25, founder of Moolah Kicks, is also thinking about inclusivity, but with an entrepreneurial twist: Her company makes performance basketball sneakers designed specifically for female feet. Also in the world of women’s basketball, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, 27, is serving as an advisor for a new league for high schoolers while aiming to launch a new professional league during the WNBA offseason.

Those efforts, and the momentum sweeping across women’s sports more broadly, helped land 18 women among the list’s 30 members.

Along with gender equality, racial diversity is also a growing concern in the industry, with KB Partners senior associate Matt Howard, 29, noting, for instance, that he is among a small group of Black investors in venture capital. But here, too, the 30 Under 30 honorees intend to make a difference. Tennis star Jessica Pegula, 29, for example, now sits on the board of the Asian American Pacific Islander Tennis Association. In all, 15 members of this year’s list identify as people of color.

“As a young Black man, I am passionate about working in a profession that allows me to work predominantly with Black men that are considered culture drivers and sometimes even leaders in our community,” WME Sports basketball agent Isiah Turner, 29, says, adding, “I also believe that in today’s society, one of the best ways to create change is through economics, and that is one of the things that drives me every day to be successful.”

Other sports luminaries from the 2024 list include Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, 26; Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards, 22; and Olivia Dunne, 21, who leads a dual life as an LSU gymnast and as one of the faces of the NCAA’s new NIL marketing era.

Victoria Arlen, 29, who recovered from two serious neurological conditions to win four Paralympic medals and join ESPN as an on-air host, shared her motto with Forbes, and it is surely one her fellow Under 30 listers can relate to, even under less life-threatening circumstances: “Face it, embrace it, defy it, conquer it.”

29 | Tennis Player

Jessica Pegula

Tennis loves a teenage prodigy, whether it’s Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams or Coco Gauff. Pegula, though, had to wait, and work, for her success, not cracking the top 100 in the world rankings until 2019, when she was 24. Next came a meteoric rise to No. 3 in singles in 2022 and No. 1 in doubles in 2023. “Looking back four years later about where my mindset was, I don’t know if I really, truly believed it,” she says. “It’s just been a very long journey.” That trek began in Buffalo, New York, where Pegula’s parents, Terry and Kim, are the billionaire owners of both the NFL’s Bills and the NHL’s Sabres. Pegula can more than stand on her own now, however, making an estimated $6 million from endorsements and appearances on top of $6 million in 2023 prize money. She also owns a skin care line, Ready 24, and sits on the board of the Asian American Pacific Islander Tennis Association. “Athletes are becoming more than one-dimensional, becoming many different things and showing their interests on and off the field,” she says. “And I think it’s great.”

27 | Forward

Napheesa Collier

Napheesa Collier, who took most of the 2022 WNBA season off after welcoming her first child, returned to the court in 2023 and got right back to dominating, finishing fourth in scoring and seventh in rebounding. Working with fellow WNBA star Breanna Stewart, she is also launching a new league called Unrivaled to play during the WNBA offseason, and she will serve as an advisor for Overtime Select, a new league for high schoolers.

25 | Outfielder

Ronald Acuña Jr.

In his six seasons in the majors, Ronald Acuna Jr. has helped the Braves win six division titles, displaying Ruthian power, lightning speed and seemingly limitless swagger. Among his accolades: the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Award, four All-Star selections and, most recently, the 2023 NL MVP Award. He is the first player ever to post 40 home runs and 70 steals in a single season.

25 | Outfielder

Ronald Acuña Jr.

In his six seasons in the majors, Ronald Acuna Jr. has helped the Braves win six division titles, displaying Ruthian power, lightning speed and seemingly limitless swagger. Among his accolades: the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year Award, four All-Star selections and, most recently, the 2023 NL MVP Award. He is the first player ever to post 40 home runs and 70 steals in a single season.

29 | TV Host

Victoria Arlen

Two rare neurological conditions left Victoria Arlen in a vegetative state for nearly four years, and doctors believed her chances of survival were slim. But she recovered to win four medals in swimming at the 2012 Paralympics and joined ESPN as on-air talent in 2015 at age 20. She now hosts shows including “SportsCenter” across the network’s platforms and also appears on “American Ninja Warrior Junior” on NBC’s Peacock.

29 | Cofounder

Austin Barone

Austin Barone is CEO and handles sales and business development for Just Play Solutions, a workflow and automation platform he cofounded in late 2014 while playing football at the University of Kansas. Barone says Just Play has helped coaches and sports organizations adapt to a new digital age, offering features including automated scouting and advanced data analysis.

28 | Senior Manager of Brand and Content Strategy

Robyn Brown

After Brittney Griner was detained in Russia in February 2022, Robyn Brown devoted the Mercury’s social channels to raising awareness and telling Griner’s story, with the #WeAreBG campaign driving 103 million impressions, she says. For a follow-up in 2023, Brown led the social strategy for DT10K, a campaign around Diana Taurasi becoming the first WNBA player to reach 10,000 points.

22 | Swimmer

Kate Douglass

Kate Douglass had one of history’s most dominant collegiate careers in any sport, becoming the first Division I swimmer to win three individual national titles in three different strokes and piling up 15 NCAA titles during her time at the University of Virginia. At the international level, she won a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and piled up nine medals between the 2022 and 2023 world championships.

21 | Gymnast

Olivia Dunne

Olivia Dunne has been an all-American on uneven bars at LSU, but she is better known as one of the faces of college sports’ NIL era, with more than 12 million followers between TikTok and Instagram. She has long-term partnerships with brands including Vuori, American Eagle and Motorola, and Forbes estimates that she made $2.3 million over the 12 months ending in June.

22 | Shooting Guard

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards appeared as the trash-talking antagonist in Adam Sandler’s 2022 basketball film “Hustle,” foreshadowing a breakout year in which he earned his first NBA All-Star selection with the Timberwolves and led Team USA in scoring at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Edwards, the NBA’s No. 1 overall pick in 2020, also recently released his first signature shoe, with Adidas.

29 | Director of Strategy and Development

Lauren Esrig

Working with the Voice in Sport Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to equity and access to sport for girls, Lauren Esrig has built a Title IX micro-grant program to address gaps at U.S. schools. Noting that only 3% of sports science research is conducted with female athletes, she has led investments in studies focused on women with Stanford and Harvard, and she helped secure Adidas as a research partner.

28 | Running Back

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler has risen from an NCAA Division II star at Western Colorado and an undrafted NFL rookie to starring for the Chargers. Off the field, he has a fantasy football show with Yahoo Sports and has frequently streamed himself playing video games on Twitch, helping earn him a reputation as one of the most “interactive” athletes. He also recently launched fan-engagement platform Eksperience.

29 | Senior Associate

Matt Howard

At KB Partners, a $127 million sports-tech-dedicated investment fund, Matt Howard shoulders major responsibilities, leading and negotiating deal terms, observing on boards and supplying updates to limited partners. A former team captain for Penn basketball, he also continues to mentor young players and speaks on panels focused on preparing young athletes for college.

26 | Quarterback

Diana Flores

Diana Flores, who picked up flag football as an 8-year-old, went from playing in the NFL’s grassroots program in Mexico to participating in the league’s flag championships and, in 2022, leading her country to a 39-6 blowout of the U.S. to win gold at the World Games. She now serves as a global ambassador for the NFL and is the first Under Armour athlete in her sport

27 | Brand Consulting Executive

Stasia Foster

Stasia Foster is a sports marketer working in the sports consulting division at CAA, providing strategic advice to brand clients including Bose, New Balance and JPMorgan Chase on sports league and property sponsorships, talent partnerships and experiential marketing strategies. She was also one of the first CAA sports consulting representatives to participate in, and later graduate from, CAA Elevate, the firm’s agent training program.

26 | Quarterback

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson, the NFL’s MVP for the 2019 season, signed a five-year, $260 million extension with the Ravens in May after representing himself in negotiations. His $72.5 million signing bonus, which set an NFL contract record, made him football’s highest-paid player for 2023. Off the field, he has a personal clothing brand, a restaurant and a production company and record label.

24 | Professional Skateboarder

Tyshawn Jones

Tyshawn Jones doesn’t skate in competitions but is known as New York’s king of street skating for his jaw-dropping videos, including a production for Supreme that earned him Thrasher Magazine’s 2018 Skater of the Year Award. (He claimed the honor again in 2022.) He started signing sponsorships at age 13 and is also active as an entrepreneur, with a board company, a parts provider, an underwear line and a restaurant.

28 | Forward

Kyle Kuzma

On the court, Kyle Kuzma is a versatile forward, now playing on a four-year, $102 million contract. Off it, he cofounded the fast-growing sports drink Barcode, which made a splash by signing fellow NBA player Victor Wembanyama as an ambassador. Kuzma also created a lifestyle brand, Childhood Dreams, and has collaborated with Puma on two apparel collections

28 | Global Consumer Direct Marketing Lead For Women’s Running

Darcy McFarlane

A former pro soccer player, Darcy McFarlane led key digital and physical product launches for Nike around the 2023 Women’s World Cup, including the Phantom Luna cleat and the company’s first athlete workouts for Netflix. In an earlier role, she was product marketing manager for the Nike Running and Training Club apps, helping develop the shoemaker’s first adaptive workouts

25 | Water Polo Player

Maddie Musselman

Maddie Musselman won Olympic gold in 2016, finishing as Team USA’s second-leading scorer at age 18, and she was named tournament MVP at the Tokyo Games in 2021 as the U.S. claimed another title. She has also racked up four world championship golds, cementing her as the best athlete in her family, no small feat considering her father was an MLB pitcher and her mother played college soccer.

28 | Director of Program Operations

Alison Reed

A former soccer player at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a military veteran, Alison Reed says she always found herself the only woman in the room and decided to become an advocate to help women land leadership roles themselves. She now runs the fellowship program for Women in Sports Tech, a nonprofit helping businesses diversify talent pipelines and create more inclusive cultures

29 | Basketball Data Science And Scheduling Lead

Patrick Harrel

Patrick Harrel leads the NBA’s game scheduling optimization, using data to route road trips more efficiently to reduce the travel burden on NBA players. He has also helped design and implement the NBA’s Covid restart in 2020 and its new play-in and in-season tournaments, and he serves as a league representative on the Competition Committee, which recommends rule changes each year

25 | Founder

Natalie White

Natalie White is CEO of Moolah Kicks, which produces sneakers specifically designed for female basketball players. Through a partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Moolah’s first production run debuted in more than 140 stores, helping create the retailer’s first women’s basketball wall, and the brand now appears in more than 500 stores and is expanding its direct-to-consumer channel.

21 | Forward

Angel Reese

Angel Reese led LSU to its first-ever women’s basketball national championship in 2023, earning the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award to go with first-team all-American honors. She has also become one of the most marketable stars of the NCAA’s new NIL era, appearing in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue and partnering with brands including Coach, Reebok and PepsiCo’s Starry.

29 | Connected Engineering Lead

Shannon Rhodes

Shannon Rhodes’ teams have launched nine global NBA apps on 12 connected device app stores and worked on the Los Angeles Clippers’ new streaming app, ClipperVision, powered by the NBA app. Previously, she worked on the software engineering team at ESPN, catching the company’s attention, she says, with her senior project at Villanova, which was to automate the first-and-ten line with a $10 camera for high schools

23 | Sprinter

Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after a failed drug test drew her a one-month suspension; she was later lauded for speaking openly about how she used cannabis to cope with Olympic qualifying and the death of her biological mother. After a disappointing 2022 season, she took gold in the 100 meters at the 2023 world championships with the fifth-fastest time ever. She also won bronze in the 200.

28 | Agent

Kelly Sherman

After starting in the mailroom at WME, Kelly Sherman became the first agent in the company’s sports content division, building top athletes’ media businesses. She helped Peyton Manning build Omaha Productions, playing a role in the creation of the “Manningcast,” and she has been involved with the companies of notable athletes including LeBron James and Draymond Green, as well as the Kobe Bryant Estate.

23 | Forward

Sophia Smith

Although the U.S. failed to accomplish its goal at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Sophia Smith was the breakout star for a team in transition, posting two goals and an assist. She has been even more dominant at the club level: The NWSL’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020, she led the Portland Thorns to the NWSL title in 2022 and earned league and championship MVP honors

29 | Lead Data Scientist

Jason Spector

Jason Spector developed Sportsline AI, an artificial intelligence model that predicts scores and player stat lines for the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, MLB and most of the world’s biggest soccer leagues. Once he could demonstrate that it could outperform professional handicappers, he says, he joined CBS Sports’ “Early Edge” podcast to give out betting picks

29 | Agent

Isiah Turner

Isiah Turner signed his first NBA client, Josh Christopher, while in law school in 2021 and has represented picks in the last two NBA drafts as well, with Jabari Walker and Gradey Dick. Turner has also helped his agency place clients in European, Asian and Latin American leagues and played a key role in recruiting young talent as NIL clients.

29 | Chief Growth Officer

Tom Weingarten

Tom Weingarten, who started as an intern in 2015, now serves as chief growth officer at sports media company Overtime, where he leads its social media strategy across 80-plus accounts. (He actually joined the company before it was called Overtime and was among its first ten employees.) Weingarten also has a role as on-air talent, interviewing players and speaking on podcasts.

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