Three years later, the NWSL has a new commissioner. The league announced the hiring of Lisa Baird on Thursday, filling a position that had sat empty since Jeff Pugh stepped down in 2017.

Baird most recently served as the CMO of New York’s WNYC radio, the public radio affiliate of NPR in New York. Previously, she spent over a decade as the CMO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

During her decade with the USOPC, Baird worked closely with U.S. Soccer, which earlier this year agreed to continue its management of the NWSL for at least the next season.

“I’m excited that [the deal] has been extended for another year,” Baird said. “I worked with U.S. Soccer as a critically important [national governing body] for 10 years, so I have a comfort level dealing with management there. With the year agreement in place, that gives me stability and security, and I have a good level of trust with them to build what is going to be the right partnership for the future.”

Baird’s background in both sports marketing and media should immediately come into use as she works to secure additional sponsorships for the NWSL, which now counts Budweiser as its official beer of choice. With CBS set to announce that it will be the broadcast rights holder for the NWSL starting this year, Baird’s reputation for building and sustaining brands will be put to the test as she looks to guide the league toward eventual independence.

“I’m very excited about the potential of media,” Baird said. “When I talk to people about professional sports, the most common complaint I hear from people who are avidly following the game is how are we going to engage with it? I have a lot of experience building brands, building digital extensions of brands, building social communities around the game and rivalries. And that’s an area that I hope I can put my imprint on.”

The NWSL season will start on April 18th when the Washington Spirit hosts Reign FC at Audi Field. With a tremendous amount of momentum following last summer’s World Cup, hopes are high that Baird’s vision and expertise are exactly what’s needed to translate the current energy around women’s soccer into long-term sustainability.

“The game and the athletes are elite, so that feels exciting in and of itself,” Baird said of the league. “I’ve been a long advocate for women’s sports in the United States through my time at the Olympic Committee. I feel like not only do we have a clear path for growth, but we have momentum. And I think the experience I bring will help take us to the next level.”

Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis this week at the age of 32. Since arriving in America with her father in 1994 with less than $1,000 (and speaking no English), Sharapova has won five Grand Slam titles en route to becoming one of the most iconic figures in the world of sports. Below, we remember the moments that defined her career. 

2004: Upsets Serena Williams to win Wimbledon

Seeded 13th and only 17-years-old, Sharapova pulled off one of the greatest upsets in tennis history when she knocked off Serena Williams to win Wimbledon in 2004. Serena was both the defending champion and the tournament’s top seed. The win kicked off “Maria Mania,” as a sharp increase in media attention made Sharapova an overnight celebrity.

2005: World No. 1

Sharapova became the first Russian woman to hold the world No. 1 ranking on August 22nd, 2005, and though her reign lasted only a week, she was able to reclaim the top spot in September of that year. The 2005 season was also notable for the fact that Sharapova lost to the eventual champion in every Grand Slam that she played in, further solidifying her status as an apparent up-and-coming superstar.

2006: US Open champion

After establishing herself as one of the world’s best players in the years since her Wimbledon victory, Sharapova returned to the top of the mountain by defeating top-seed Amélie Mauresmo to win the US Open.

2008: Australian Open champion and lingering shoulder issues 

Sharapova won the 2008 Australian Open without dropping a set all tournament. However, an MRI scan later in the year revealed that Sharapova had been suffering from a torn rotator cuff since April. After a failed attempt to rehabilitate the shoulder, Sharapova had surgery, beginning what would become an ongoing cycle of treatment and injury. Even in a retirement interview with The New York Times, Sharapova said her shoulder hasn’t been fully healthy since before her 2008 surgery.

2012: Career Grand Slam

After multiple years of struggling to return to form, Sharapova had a personal renaissance in 2012. First, she won the French Open, completing a Career Grand Slam and regaining the No. 1 ranking in the world. Then, she became the first female to ever bear the Russian national flag at the 2012 Olympics, where she won a silver medal after losing to Serena Williams in the final.

2013: Off-court feud with Serena 

After Sharapova upset Serena in 2004, many believed the next great tennis rivalry had been born. However, after topping Serena once more in 2004, Sharapova never beat her again, and with her retirement, the all-time record officially stands 20-2 in Serena’s favor. Instead of an athletic rivalry, we were given a personal feud, which officially broke into the public in 2013. Serena opened the exchange by taking an apparent shot at Sharapova’s boyfriend at the time (rumored to be one of Serena’s exes), claiming he had a “black heart.” Sharapova responded by pretending to be above it all before hinting that Serena might be dating her own coach.

2016: Doping charges and sharp decline 

Sharapova released a letter in March of 2016 saying that she had failed a drug test at that year’s Australian Open. In her letter, Sharapova admitted to testing positive for meldonium, which had been added to the WADA’s banned substance list on January 1st, 2016 (and which was illegal in the US, though not in Russia). Sharapova, who had reportedly been taking the drug for 10 years to treat a magnesium deficiency, an irregular EKG, and a family history of diabetes, claimed to have overlooked the multiple warnings she was given in the lead-up to the ban.

The charges kept Sharapova off the court for 15 months and seriously tarnished her reputation among competitors, as following her reinstatement, she was given multiple wild-card invitations to major tournaments despite only just coming off a major suspension. Her subsequent decline in performance also forced fans to reconsider her on-court accomplishments. While age and chronic injuries certainly played a factor, given how long Sharapova had successfully competed with a bad shoulder, it was hard not to notice how quickly her game deteriorated post suspension.

2020: Announces retirement

By announcing her retirement in February, Sharapova guaranteed there’d be no farewell tour for one of the most famous names in the world of sports. Now we can start debating where she ranks all-time. For many, Sharapova is only on the fringes, given her pitiful record against Serena and her great-but-not-amazing final total of five Grand Slams.

The major discrepancies between Sharapova’s on-court accomplishments and off-court celebrity have been a source of controversy for over a decade. She was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 years straight, which is a testament to not only her personal hustle and brand management, but also her famously marketable appearance. It’s hard to fault Sharapova for maximizing her earnings potential (and bringing attention to her sport while doing so). And yet, it’s also clear that she was able to monetize her image in ways her competitors could not, even as she was continually out-performed on the court.

Summarizing Sharapova’s career in a neat, final judgment is neither possible nor interesting. Whether or not her trophy case ever warranted her endorsement profile, the fact is she won our attention again and again. And in the world of sports, there may be no greater victory.

Jenavee Peres plays catcher and utility for UCLA. An All-American at San Diego State, Peres transferred to UCLA after taking 18 months off from softball to give birth to her son, Levi. Below, she discusses being a new mother while smashing home runs for the No. 1 team in the country.

Tell us a little about your son. I’ve seen pictures, and he’s absolutely adorable. 

My son’s name is Levi and he is 19 months old. He’s just starting to talk. He said his first two-syllable word a week or two ago when he was watching one of our games while I was in Florida. He was with my mom and my family, and I guess the announcers were talking about me on TV as I went up to bat, and they said “she looks so happy,” so Levi said “happy.”

That’s amazing. Ok, I wanted to start out by asking you a little bit about your career at San Diego State, where you both broke a lot of records and were an All-American. What stands out about your time there? 

I feel like it was just kind of like any regular experience in college. I made a lot of friends and connections, and was just trying to enjoy each day because I knew that eventually it would come to an end like all athletic careers do. Of course, I didn’t expect it to end the way it initially did, but I’ve come to terms with that. I loved my teammates, and we still keep in touch. My coaches were just amazing, especially after I told them I was pregnant. They tried everything to see if I could come back for my fifth year before we ended up deciding that it was just a little too far away from home. But it was really cool to be a part of the foundation there and help build the program up. Even though we only made it to regionals once, I feel like that program is on its way to competing in the College World Series. Unfortunately, I won’t be a part of that, but I’ll always know that I helped lay the foundation. They’re still an up and coming team, and I don’t think anybody should sleep on them.

What were your initial thoughts when you found out you were pregnant? 

Initially I was just terrified. It took my boyfriend and I completely by surprise. I had gotten pretty sick but I just thought it was stress. And then I went to the doctors one day because it just felt like I was on my deathbed, I felt terrible. They had me do a urine test and they took some blood samples. And then they came back and said, “you’re pregnant.” This was in 2017, when I was a senior at SDSU. I was three months pregnant when I found out, which I just couldn’t believe.

You finished school and graduated while you were still pregnant. After Levi was born, when did you start thinking about returning to school and playing softball? 

While I was still pregnant I was actually thinking about going to Long beach State for grad school and then playing my last year there just because it was a lot closer to home in LA. It’s maybe a 20 minute drive from my house, which I knew would make raising Levi a lot easier. But eventually I decided, you know what, I just don’t think I can fully dedicate myself to being both a softball player and a grad student and a mom. Just being a mom felt overwhelming at the time, so I talked to the Long Beach coach and said, thank you so much for the offer, but I don’t think I can do this, which she totally understood. And at that point, I just kind of just came to terms with feeling like that part of my life was over. I was ready to just focus on being a mom. I’d come to terms with the fact that my transition to adulthood had been a lot quicker than most other student athletes.

What changed between that time and when you got the call from UCLA? 

Well, I got my first adult job, which I actually still work when I have a few hours to spare. My boss is totally accepting of my schedule and is really inspired by my story. I’m a security dispatcher at the Irvine Spectrum. And before UCLA reached out, I had just gotten into my routine. I felt like I was really living my big girl life. I was like, it’s time to step away from softball and just get my career set up. I was still giving lessons at the time, so softball was fresh in my mind. I hadn’t given it up entirely, but it was definitely just a hobby at that point.

So then you got the call from UCLA to join the team. How did that happen, and what was your reaction? 

I remember seeing a call from a random number, and I usually don’t answer random numbers, but for some reason I just felt like I should answer this call. And then she’s like, hi, it’s Lisa Fernandez. And my heart just about fell out of my rear end. It was insane.

So you recognized the name right away?

Every softball player knows the name. I definitely fangirled for a second, and then I was like, wow, she’s calling me — wait, why is Lisa Fernandez calling me? And she’s just like, here’s the low down. We need a catcher and someone who can hit… are you interested? Initially, I was just like, how the heck am I going to make this work? First, I had to get into the school. Then I would have to figure out babysitting and commuting. There were so many things that had to fall into place, and fortunately they did. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing if it wasn’t for my support system at home, my family, my boyfriend, my boyfriend’s family. I’m beyond grateful for all of them.

 

How have your teammates and coaches at UCLA supported you through the entire process? 

They’ve just supported me in every single way they can. Our program’s mantra is family, school, softball. As far as priority wise, my teammates and coaches just constantly remind me that if there’s something that I need to do with Levi or just something that’s going on at home that I need to focus on, then I am more than welcome to handle it because my family is my main priority. And my teammates just always ask me like, Hey, how are you doing? They’re constantly checking in on me, making sure I’m okay, because they are very aware that I have a lot on my plate. They also just love Levi, but he’s very picky with who he likes to talk to. My teammates are funny, they all still try to get on his good side.

What did it mean to have your son in the stands during your first home series? 

It was just surreal. I remember going to the bookstore to buy him UCLA gear beforehand thinking that he would need to look pretty fly, because we were for sure going to be taking a lot of pictures that day. It meant way more than the world to me to have him there for my first home game as a Bruin, seeing him wave at me from right above the dugout. I know he’s too young to remember it when he’s older, but that’s a memory that will be in my brain for the rest of my life. I can’t describe how full it made my heart feel. He kept waving at me, and even started crying because he wanted to come see me out in the field.

We’ve now seen a few amazing athletes, like yourself, like Serena, return to their sport after giving birth. There’s a stigma surrounding new mothers as athletes, as people always wonder whether they’ll be able to return to form. How have you handled that, personally? 

There’s definitely a stigma around being an athlete and having a baby, and everything just going downhill from there. I think we need to break that stigma and show that having a baby is not the end of your life, your athletic career, or you as a person. I want to be an advocate to show other moms, or really anybody facing adversity, that if you change your mindset anything is possible. It’s definitely hard, and there are moments when being a mother and an athlete kicks your butt. But just being more confident has made me happier as a person at home. It gives me energy, which helps me take better care of myself. And ultimately, being the best version of myself makes me a better mother.

I know you’re still working as a dispatcher, but has this year given you any new ideas about your future? 

Honestly, I’m just trying to live in the moment now because I know what it feels like for a career to come to an end. It’s so rare for anybody to come out of retirement and play for the best team in the country with the best players, the best coaches, the best facilities, the best public school, the best everything. So I’m just trying to make sure that I appreciate every single minute of it because I know what it feels like to be without it.

5. Tayler Warehime, UNC

Warehime absolutely punked the opposing goalie with this one, pump-faking to draw the keeper off her line before smoothly burying it low-corner behind-the-back. Trick shots aren’t supposed to look this easy.

4. Caroline Beck, Monmouth

The season hasn’t really begun until someone’s ankles are broken, and Monmouth’s Caroline Beck did the honor this year, dropping her defender before burying her shot.

3. Kailyn Hart, Stony Brook

The Stony Brook freshman makes magic out of chaos with this goal, scooping a loose ball off the dropped pass and then tossing it behind-the-back and passed the keeper. Poor defenders probably thought they had a chance.

2. Brindi Griffin, Maryland

Twizzlers are always sick, but rarely do you see a player pull one off with a defender on her back given how much space is needed to twist both your body and your stick. Apparently no one bothered to tell Griffin this shouldn’t look so easy.

1. Kailyn Hart, Stony Brook

This may be the smoothest behind-the-back you will ever see, and it was only Hart’s second-ever collegiate goal (and it was at No. 4 Syracuse). Both this shot and her goal above made SportsCenter’s Top 10. Not bad for someone only a few weeks into their college career.

Alanna Smith plays as a forward for both the Phoenix Mercury and the Australian National Team. Born in Tasmania, Australia, Smith was an All-American at Stanford University, where she was the Cardinal’s first-ever international recruit.

When did you decide you wanted to play college ball in America? 

My uncle went to college in California, and that put the idea in my head. My dad pushed it. Both him and my uncle had played professionally, so they were a big part of my basketball life growing up.

How did you decide on Stanford? 

I wanted basketball to be a vehicle to a good education, and Stanford, academically and athletically, was one of the best. It took a while to get on their radar, though. The women’s basketball team had never had an international recruit before, and I had to email them for three months before anyone responded. I stayed persistent and told them that I wanted to do a visit. They finally relented and said I could come. I had to walk right off a 17 hour flight and into a workout for the coaches. It was brutal, but I did enough to pique their interest. Other schools treat you like a celebrity when you’re a recruit, but Stanford is very business-like because they can never promise you admission. So I was thrilled when I finally got the call. I started running around my house.

What was it like going to school 8,000 miles from home? 

The first two years were rough. When I arrived, I thought I’d made it. I’d fought my way into my dream school. But because of a national team commitment, I couldn’t come to athlete orientation in the summer, so I had to jump right into classes and basketball in the fall while also adapting to a new country. It was a struggle. On the court, I wasn’t performing as well as I could, and I was having a hard time keeping up with my school work. I developed anxiety and was super homesick, but the 17 hour time difference made it hard to call my family in Australia.

Were you experiencing culture shock?  

Yes. I thought the transition would be easy because I’d grown up watching American television, and obviously I spoke English. But there were a lot of subtle cultural differences. Like a lot of Australians, I’m pretty laid back, so I had to adjust to how formal American etiquette can be, especially in restaurants. There’s so much emphasis on service here. And in Australia, we don’t tip. I kept forgetting that my first year, which resulted in a lot of side-eyes whenever I’d leave a table.

I also didn’t know what “tailgating” was. People kept referencing it during the fall in my freshman dorm, so finally I had to ask what they were talking about. I thought it might have something to do with trucks, so I was very confused.

What about on the court? Were there differences in how American players approached the game?  

For one thing, I had to start calling out plays with an American accent so my teammates could understand me. In terms of culture, it’s definitely more of a collective mindset in Australia. You always feel like you’re working as a group. The mentality in America is more individualistic, even when you’re on a team. You have to find ways to put yourself out there as a player. That’s not really the case back home.

After that first year, what kind of adjustments did you make? 

I had actually gotten a decent amount of playing time off the bench for a freshman despite my struggles, so I thought sophomore year was my time to step up and be a starter. But the season started off the same as the one before. I wasn’t playing well. I still felt homesick. Coach started a freshman over me. I kept thinking, what the hell? This was supposed to get better. 

I just had to keep grinding. Toward the middle of the season, I had a break-out game, which instilled some confidence in both myself and my coaches. I started to string more games together, and by the end of the year, I’d carved out my role as the 6th woman. We made it all the way to the Final Four. The next season, I was a full-time starter. And then my senior year, I was an All-American.

Did you ever consider quitting during those first two years? 

There were moments I came close, but I had a great support system around me on the team. And having to go through those pains and fight for my minutes meant that once I’d established myself as our top scorer and rebounder, I knew I’d earned it. And I felt I owed it to myself to go out and perform every night because of how hard I had worked to get that opportunity.

How was the jump to the WNBA?

On a more personal level, one thing I had to quickly internalize was that this is a business. You can be cut at any point during, especially as a rookie. You have to be mentally tough to go out there and do your job knowing you might not have it tomorrow.

Do you think having to work your way off the bench at Stanford helped you prepare for the WNBA? 

Absolutely. There’s something to be said for having to fight for your spot every step of the way. It weeds out a lot of personalities and teaches you to stay confident even when you’re on the bench. There are some players in this league who have been stars their entire careers, and they have to adjust to not being the go-to scorers. I don’t play some games, but I’m always ready. I know my time will come, so I have to be prepared.

Looking back on your rookie season, what stood out? 

It didn’t go exactly as I planned because of injuries, but I still learned so much from some of the best players in the world, and I got to play in the best league in the world. I’m now super keen to start my second year.

How have you changed since coming to America?

Mentally, I’m in a much better place now. A lot of my early college struggles were due to anxiety, which I’ve come to realize is a serious issue for a lot of athletes. More attention needs to be given to mental health in sports. People shouldn’t be afraid to discuss these issues. I know that for me, talking with my teammates and leaning on my family helped me develop a more consistently positive mindset. Words of encouragement from people I trusted were really important.

What are some of your current strategies for dealing with anxiety? 

I write a lot of stuff down. Simple as that sounds, it helps. Just writing out what I’m feeling helps me gain some distance from it. And on days when I’m down, I’ll list out things I’m thankful for. Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small: air conditioning, pancakes, having the opportunity to play in the WNBA. Writing it out forces me to take a step back and reflect on the privileges I enjoy. It forces me to remember that no matter my mood that day, I’m ultimately fine. I’m genuinely in a very good spot right now.

Is there any other advice you’d like to pass along? 

I’m someone who firmly believes that positivity is required if you want to get anything done. You’ll never have the necessary energy if you’re just feeling awful all the time. The right mindset has to be there before you can really get to work.

It’s been an unbelievably hectic start to WNBA free agency. Thanks to the groundbreaking new CBA signed in January, player movement is more fluid than ever before. Increased cap space, a reduction in the number of times a team can core a player, and improved max contracts give both teams and players greater flexibility in moving contracts and picks. 

Below, we break down the biggest deals of the offseason so far:

  • Phoenix has a new Big Three: The Mercury traded all-star DeWanna Bonner to the Connecticut Sun for three first-round picks, which they then used to land Skylar Diggins-Smith in a subsequent deal with Dallas. Diggins-Smith will team up with Diana Taurasi and a recently resigned Brittney Griner to make the Mercury immediate title contenders.

  • Washington keeps two of three: the defending champions were able to resign both reigning league MVP Elena Delle Donne and reigning finals MVP Emma Meeseman, but all-star guard Kristi Toliver bolted west to return to LA, whom she played for from 2010-2016, winning a title in 2016.

  • Sparks may be the new favorites: Tolliver will join former MVPs Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike, as well as all-star Chelsea Gray in headlining a loaded Sparks squad. Throw in Brittney Sykes (acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Kalani Brown) and the most disappointing team of 2019 now looks like the team to beat heading into 2020.

  • Las Vegas rolls the dice: The Aces pulled off one of the splashiest signings of free agency when they inked two-time scoring champion Angel McCoughtry to a two-year deal. A lineup of McCoughtry, A’ja Wilson, Liz Cambage, Kelsey Plum and Kayla McBride is scary on paper, but McCoughtry’s health is a real concern: she missed the end of the 2018 season and all of the 2019 season with a torn ACL.

  • Seattle resigns Stewart: The Storm re-signed 2018 MVP Breanna Stewart, who missed all of last season after rupturing her Achilles tendon while playing abroad. Stewart returned to the court with Team USA in an exhibition game against UConn last month, where she looked eager to reclaim her title as best player in the league.

FULL 2020 FREE AGENCY TRACKER (BY TEAM):

Updated February 17th. UFA: unrestricted free agent; RFA: restricted free agent; CO: club option.

Atlanta Dream:

  • Alex Bentley, UFA

  • Kalani Brown (via trade with Sparks)

  • Alaina Coates, UFA

  • Glory Johnson (contract signed, previously with Wings)

  • Sun Mengran, UFA

  • Shekinna Stricklen (contract signed, previously with Sun)

Chicago Sky:

  • Kayla Alexander, UFA

  • Sydney Colson (contract signed, previously with Aces)

  • Kahleah Copper, UFA

  • Stefanie Dolson, UFA

  • Jamierra Faulkner, UFA

  • Allie Quigley, UFA

  • Courtney Vandersloot, UFA

Connecticut Sun:

  • Rachel Banham, RFA

  • DeWanna Bonner (via sign and trade with Mercury)

  • Natisha Hiedeman (contract signed)

  • Bria Holmes (contract signed)

  • Jonquel Jones, UFA

  • Courtney Williams, UFA

Dallas Wings:

  • Morgan Bertsch (contract signed)

  • Kaela Davis, CO

  • Allisha Gray, CO

  • Megan Gustafson (contract signed)

  • Isabelle Harrison (contract signed)

  • Moriah Jefferson (contract signed)

  • Brooke McCarty-Williams, UFA

  • Imani McGee-Stafford (contract signed)

  • Astou Ndour (via trade with Sky)

  • Karlie Samuelson (contract signed, previously with Sparks)

Indiana Fever:

  • Betnijah Laney, UFA

  • Erica McCall, CO

  • Tiffany Mitchell, UFA

Las Vegas Aces

  • Liz Cambage, UFA

  • Angel McCoughtry (contract signed, previously with Dream)

  • Danielle Robinson (contract signed, previously with Lynx)

  • Sugar Rodgers, UFA

  • Carolyn Swords, UFA

  • Tamera Young, UFA

Los Angeles Sparks

  • Alana Beard, UFA

  • Chelsea Gray, UFA

  • Marie Gulich (via trade with Dream)

  • Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (contract signed)

  • Brittney Sykes (via trade with Dream)

  • Kristi Toliver (contract signed, previously with Mystics)

Minnesota Lynx

  • Seimone Augustus, UFA

  • Temi Fagbenle, UFA

New York Liberty

  • Tina Charles, UFA

  • Layshia Clarendon (contract signed, previously with Sun)

  • Reshanda Gray, UFA

  • Marine Johannès, UFA

  • Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, RFA

  • Kiah Stokes, UFA

  • Tanisha Wright, UFA

Phoenix Mercury

  • Essence Carson, UFA

  • Skylar Diggins-Smith (via trade with Wings)

  • Brittney Griner (contract signed)

  • Bria Hartley (contract signed, previously with Liberty)

  • Yvonne Turner, UFA

u2B50uFE0F4x WNBA All-Star
u2B50uFE0F3x All-WNBA
u2B50uFE0F2014 Most Improved Player
u2B50uFE0F2013 No. 3 Overall Pick


Coming to a Madhouse near you. pic.twitter.com/496A2eKL2B

— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) February 12, 2020

“,”resolvedBy”:”manual”,”resolved”:true}” data-block-type=”22″>

 

 

Seattle Storm

  • Sue Bird, UFA

  • Blake Dietrick, RFA

  • Courtney Paris, UFA

  • Breanna Stewart (contract signed)

  • Morgan Tuck (via trade with Sun)

  • Shavonte Zellous, UFA

Washington Mystics

  • Elena Delle Donne (contract signed)

  • Tianna Hawkins, UFA

  • Emma Meesseman, UFA

  • Kim Mestdagh, UFA

  • Leilani Mitchell (contract signed, previously with Mercury)

  • Aerial Powers, UFA

Spring is almost upon us, which means college lax is officially back. As the 2020 season gets underway, we’ve got a list of the ten players you should expect to see filling up the stat sheets, taking home some hardware, and leading their teams on deep tournament runs come May.

1. Jamie Ortega, University of North Carolina, Junior

Named the US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year, Ortega holds UNC’s single-season record with 81 goals. She was named MVP of the 2019 ACC tournament after putting up a school-record 12 points in the Tarheel’s championship victory. Known for making big plays in big moments, Ortega was also named to the 2019 All-NCAA Tournament Team after racking up five goals and two assists in the semifinal game. Our prediction: Ortega takes home this year’s Tewaaraton (Player of the Year Award) as she extends her reign as one of the greatest offensive threats in the country.

2. Kali Hartshorn, University of Maryland, Senior

Hartshorn has dominated the past few seasons as a draw control specialist and a goal scorer, recording at least 100 draws controls and 35 goals each season since her freshman year. She’s on track to surpass the draw control record of Maryland legend – and perhaps the greatest college lacrosse player ever – Taylor Cummings. After recording 137 draw controls and putting up an impressive 48 goals last year, Hartshorn will have a chance to beat Cummings’ single-season record for draw controls in Maryland history this year (144). Whether or not she hits that mark, expect her to still net her fair share of head-turning goals.

3. Charlotte North, Boston College, Junior

North is one of the best ball-handlers in the game right now (and here’s the proof). A recent transfer from Duke, she led the Blue Devils with 59 and 82 goals as a freshman and sophomore, respectively. Now she’ll have a chance to be BC’s main offensive threat, after the Eagles graduated most of their top scorers from last year. A walking highlight-reel, expect North to come out firing as she looks to find a rhythm with her new teammates.

4. Brindi Griffin, University of Maryland, Senior

In 2019, she led her team in assists and scored a hat-trick in the Terps’ 2019 National Championship win. Griffin’s playing style is similar to her sister Brooke’s, a former two-time All-American and National Champion at Maryland, as both excell at feeding and dodging to the goal. While she hasn’t yet been recognized as an All-American, don’t be surprised to see her end up on the first team this year as she establishes herself as the leader of Maryland’s offense while continuing to put up goals like this:

5. Katie Hoeg, University of North Carolina, Senior

Last season, Hoeg clocked 73 single-season assists, breaking her own single-season school record of 50 set the year prior. Named an IWLCA second-team All-American, Hoeg became the second Tarheel to ever record 104 points in a season, joining fellow attacker Jamie Ortega. After last year’s loss in the NCAA semifinals, you better believe Hoeg will be hungry for a title this year. If her and Ortega can continue to find each other, expect UNC’s offense to be just about unstoppable.

6. Ali Biacco, Stanford University, Junior

Biacco has almost single-handedly transformed the once-sluggish Stanford offense since arriving as a freshmen, turning the Cardinal attack into a well-oiled machine defined by quick execution and crisp transition play. Biacco won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Award in 2018 before leading the Pac-12 with an astonishing 80 goals (and nine hat tricks) as a sophomore. Under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Megan Whittle, a three-time All American at Maryland, expect Biacco to push the tempo as she looks for creative ways to score against defenses committed to shutting her off.

7. Quinton Hoch-Bullen, University of Denver, Junior

Hailing from Canada, Hoch-Bullen is best known for her otherworldly stick skills. In 2019, she was named the Big East Attacker of the Year and ended the season with 59 goals. In an especially memorable performance, Hoch-Bullen netted a team-high five goals against Michigan in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, ultimately leading Denver to its first-ever NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. Expect her to repeat as Big East Attacker of the Year this year as she helps Denver reclaim the league championship after just falling short in double overtime last year.

8. Kerrigan Miller, University of Southern California, Senior

When all is said and done, Miller might go down as one of the best west coast lacrosse players of all time – and it’s not hard to see why. Last season, Kerrigan made waves as one of youngest players to play for the US National Team in the Spring Premiere. She then went on to lead the Pac-12 in caused turnovers (a whopping 41) while repeating as the league’s Midfielder of the Year. Expect her to both be a Tewaaraton finalist and claim her first All-American First Team award as she continues to captain USC’s offense.

9. Emma Trenchhard, University of North Carolina, Junior

The reigning ACC Defender of the Year, Trenchard will once again be one of the top defensive players in the game this year. In 2019, Trenchard recorded 24 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers while regularly shutting down the other team’s best player. After spending her off-season training with Team USA, expect Trenchard to anchor the best defense in the country alongside Kayla Wood and Catie Woodruff as the Tarheels look to secure their third NCAA title.

10. Sam Fish, Princeton University, Junior

A one-woman brick wall, Fish gained national attention last year in the 2019 Quarterfinals when she stopped a record nine goals against then No. 1 Boston College. With 192 saves and a .482 save percentage, she went on to win IVY League Goalie of the Year, solidifying her reputation as one of the best netminders in all of college. Look for her to be the backbone of a Princeton team that may just surprise a few people come tournament time.

It’s been an electric, unpredictable year in college basketball, and the best is still to come. With roughly a month’s worth of conference games and tournament contests remaining before the NCAA tournament, it’s time to take a step back and review the year so far.

 

MOST SURPRISING TEAM: GONZAGA 

Even coming off a Saturday night loss at St. Mary’s, Gonzaga has still been the surprise of the year, easily surpassing pre-season expectations. Last season ended with a second-round loss to Oregon State, and this year the polls predicted a similar trajectory, with the Bulldogs slotted 23rd in the initial Coaches Poll. Respectable, but not exactly scaring anyone.

After losing three starters from last season to graduation (Zykera Rice, Chandler Smith and Laura Stockton), it seemed fair to expect a rebuilding year. Instead, until last weekend’s loss in Moraga, the Bulldogs’ only blemish had come in an overtime duel at sixth-ranked Stanford. In between the two losses, Gonzaga strung together an 18-game win streak during which they held a third of their opponents to 45 points or fewer. Their fans have jumped on the hype train, and now the McCarthey Athletic Center is regularly sold out for home games.

The Bulldogs are led by Jill Townsend, who dropped a career-high 28 points against Loyola Marymount. Townsend will need to take on even more of the scoring load now that senior guard Katie Campbell has been lost for the season to a knee injury. The Bulldogs average shooting 40.8% from deep, a number that ranks second in the country. Combine that outside threat with the nation’s fifth-ranked scoring defense, and it’s obvious why Gonzaga should still be competitive in every one of its upcoming games.

The Bulldogs also have the unique distinction of having two sets of identical twins on their roster. Juniors Jenn and LeaAnne Wirth hosted Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong during their recruiting visit and now all four have average double-digit minutes. The Wirth twins, specifically, are third and fourth on the team in scoring as regular starters.

 

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: NOTRE DAME

It’s no secret that Notre Dame has not lived up to the lofty expectations it has set for itself under Muffet McGraw. Their record (9-14, 4-7 in ACC play) says it all. There is a good chance that the Fighting Irish will become just the third team in Division I history to plummet from national runner-up one year to missing the tournament come mid-March. If so, a 24-year streak will be snapped.

Not only have the losses come to perennial powerhouses like Tennessee and UConn, but also to Clemson, which has just six other wins on the season and is one of just two teams below Notre Dame in the conference standings.

In a sign of the times, Notre Dame’s current two-game win streak matches its longest of the season. Preseason, hurting from the loss of all five starters and two key bench contributors, Notre Dame was ranked outside of the top 10 for the first time since Jan. 17, 2011. Soon after, the third-longest active run in the AP poll ended altogether after 234 consecutive weeks.

These are odd times around Purcell Pavilion, to say the least.

“I just … I gotta do better,” McGraw said recently. “I feel like I can fix it, but I didn’t. I’m going to find an answer. I’m gonna fix it.”

 

MVP: SABRINA IONESCU

And this one isn’t particularly close. The reigning player of the year, Sabrina Ionescu leads the top scoring offense in scoring. Ionescu also has the most assists and the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country despite how often she’s asked to make a play. Her six triple-doubles are the most in the country, and she is now up to 24 total in her already-historic college career.

Incredibly, with two other teammates in the top 100, Ionescu’s 17.2 points per game rank 64th in the sport. The future first pick in the WNBA draft has once again made her case as the best college player in the game. Oh, and she can do this:

BEST MOMENT: UCONN SALUTES GIANNA BRYANT

The entire basketball world has been grieving the loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who notoriously desired to play for Geno Auriemma’s Huskies. During their exhibition with Team USA, UConn left a space for Gianna’s jersey on their bench. Rest in peace, Mambacita.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Each team, even those at the top, has questions to answer. For No. 1 South Carolina, it will be whether it can keep up when its opponents get hot from behind the arc. The Gamecocks have struggled in this category when facing top competition. Against Maryland and Kentucky, South Carolina went 1-of-9 and 1-of-6 from 3-point range and eventually abandoned the shot entirely. In their lone loss of the season, to Indiana, South Carolina remained enamored with the 3-ball and suffered the consequence, to the tune of 3-for-19 from beyond the arc.

No. 2 Baylor only has one game remaining against a team receiving votes in the AP poll, against TCU on Wednesday. The Lady Bears will likely need to win out to prove they deserve a top seed in the tournament. No. 3 Oregon still has to visit No. 10 UCLA and No. 6 Stanford, but if the first contest against the Cardinal is any indication, neither Pac 12 opponent will provide much of a test.

No. 4 NC State will have to make up ground in the conference tournament after losing to No. 9 Louisville on Wednesday. If the Wolfpack can run the tables and enact revenge, they could be in line for a top seed in the tournament.

No. 5 UConn will need to prove it can win when Megan Walker and Christyn Williams are neutralized. The Huskies’ top four scorers account for almost 77% of the team’s points. For comparison, South Carolina’s top four register account for just 60% of the Gamecocks’ offense. When Walker and Williams faced Oregon, they combined to shoot 5-for-25, and their struggles led to a decisive home loss.

Beverly Yanez joined Reign FC during the second season of the NWSL. She went on to play six seasons for the club, having previously played abroad for INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan. After a decade of professional soccer, Yanez announced this week that she was retiring from the sport. She sat down with JWS to discuss her hopes for the future, why now is the time to step away, and how much the league has grown since she joined.

How have the last few days been since you announced your retirement?  

It’s been emotional, just seeing the outpouring of love. I’m very grateful for the amount of people that have reached out, whether it be on social media or to me personally. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster knowing that I’m finished doing something that I’ve done for so long, something that has brought me so much happiness and structure to my life. Soccer has been such a big part of my identity that it feels weird to ask what I’m going to do without it, because it’s all I’ve known since I was a kid. But I’m also very excited for the future.

Why is now the right time to step away? 

There was a lot of thinking that went into the decision. In part, I started to feel that, though I love the sport so so much, my body just isn’t recovering like it used to. I feel like I’m getting a little bit older. I’m also very excited at the thought of starting a family. And I knew that I wanted my career to end on a positive note. I wanted to walk away still loving the game, which I do. To step away is tough, but I’m incredibly grateful for everything that it’s brought to my life. And I’m thankful to be able to walk away on my own terms, having had such a positive experience and with so many good memories. I can honestly say in my heart of heart that I gave it everything I have.

What are you most looking forward to about retirement? 

I think it’s easy for people to overlook how much you have to sacrifice to consistently play at the highest level. Every single day of my career I woke up asking how I could be the best version of myself in order to help the team. Every single thing in my everyday life revolved around the fact that I needed to perform at my best. That meant I ate at a certain time every day, and I ate certain things the day before a game and the day of a game. It meant I couldn’t walk my dogs on game day because I could never be sure how long they’d want to go. I had to manage my body on a consistent basis and obsess over every little thing. I loved it, and that’s how I chose to live, but that kind of life can also be very, very draining after a long period of time. So I’m excited to now just get up and ask myself, like, what do I want to eat today? Do I want to walk the dogs twice today? Having that kind of daily flexibility is honestly what I’m most excited about. That and getting to spend more time with my husband, of course.

What was it like getting to play for Reign FC throughout your NWSL career? 

I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it a million more, but to be able to start and end my NWSL career with Reign FC has been a true honor. The club has just been so incredible during my entire time there. They take such good care of their players. They give them the maximum that they can, not just financially, but with whatever they can do to make sure players are comfortable and enjoying their experience. It’s a fun and competitive environment where athletes can thrive. They really care about you as a person, which was a huge reason why I stayed there for so long.

You’ve been in the league since almost the beginning. How has it changed in your time? 

I have seen the league grow immensely over the course of my career, which is one reason I’m so at peace walking away now. I’ve been able to witness and be a part of the growth, and now I step away with so much hope that it will continue to grow. The difference between how many boys and girls come up to ask us for autographs at airports now versus six years ago is just incredible, and it shows you that our efforts have made a real difference. Even in retirement, I’m still going to do what I can to give back to the younger players and use my knowledge and my experience to empower those who are fighting for more recognition and equality. What the national team did this past summer was beyond amazing, and I’m in complete support of them and all other women who are standing up for more equality across the board. I got to experience that fight firsthand and now I’m going to be able step away and continue to encourage those who are working to grow and improve the league.

Looking back, how are you different now than you were at the beginning of your career?

It’s been an incredible journey. The game has taught me things that I will carry with me the rest of my life. It’s taught me how to improve myself, how to be organized and healthy, how to be there for my teammates, how to come together and find commonalities with people I might have never talked to if I passed them on the street. It’s made me look at life differently, and I’m going to take that with me into my new everyday reality. I want to get to know people, I want to get to share my experiences with people. I want to hear about what other peoples’ lives are like. And that’s because soccer showed me how to be more outgoing, how to be more of an extrovert, how to open up and get to know people. It’s let me travel the world and meet the most amazing people who I will call friends for the rest of my life. There’s so many stories I hope to tell my kids someday about the people I met and the journey I had.

USWNT fans have been clamoring for more Christen Press for years, and during the Concacaf tournament, she showed the world why. Though she ended the tournament as only its third-highest scorer, Press was still awarded the Golden Ball Award for best player of the tournament after notching five jaw-dropping scores. Relive each below, and consider yourself invited to join the ever-growing Christen Press fan club:

Press opened the tournament with this calm, collected finish against Haiti just 2 minutes into the game:

She then followed that up with an elegant finish to the near post against Panama, catching the keeper shifting across the goal:

Three defenders? You’re going to need more.

This goal against against Costa Rica deserves to be framed and hung in a museum. Yes, it’s that beautiful.

“You want to block my shot? Fine, I’ll just chip it over three defenders and the goalie.”

Even when she missed, Press made it look good. Though she couldn’t quite finish this one, she just about broke the crossbar: