Jordan Brand, committed to giving women a platform to amplify their voices and push culture forward, announced last week that it had signed 11 WNBA athletes to its roster.
To celebrate the milestone, the brand worked with revered photographer Ming Smith and stylist Carlos Nazario to create a stunning series of black-and-white portraits featuring nine of these women with Michael Jordan.
“Here for a Reason,” a special exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WNBA, is on display this week at the Nicola Vassell Gallery in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Location: 138 10th Ave New York, NY 10011
Price: Free
Date: June 29 – July 2
Just Women’s Sports dropped by Tuesday night to capture scenes from the exhibit.
New name, new opportunities.
Gotham FC has clinched their spot in the NWSL Challenge Cup Championship with a draw yesterday against Racing Louisville FC.
A back-and-forth battle between the newly-branded home squad and the NWSL’s newest team went down to the wire, as both defenses put together strong performances.
*** cue Kanye West’s Homecoming ***
Newest Gotham FC member and Long Island native Allie Long also saw her first minutes for the club in the second half of the match, completing a 10-year return to the tri-state club since last playing for Sky Blue FC in 2011.
Catch Gotham FC take on the Portland Thorns for the NWSL Challenge Cup Crown this Saturday, May 8th, at 1pm ET on CBS.
And oh yeah, here’s what you probably clicked on this link for. 📸
Last night was a movie.
And not like one of those cheesy hallmark movies. This one was a cinematic masterpiece that even Christopher Nolan would appreciate.
Gotham FC vs North Carolina had it all. Braces from Midge Purce and Debinha, Carli Lloyd doing Carli Lloyd things, a Jess McDonald jousting header, and oh yeah… to top it off, a game-winning back heel from Evelyne Viens in stoppage time.
It was truly a picture perfect night, one that almost felt normal. The weather was perfect, with the sun setting as the second half began, and unlike any match last year, this game had hundreds of cheering fans in the stands. Really no better way to begin the Gotham FC Era.
Masked up and perched above the press box, I had the best seat in the house to witness it all. And thankfully the pictures didn’t turn out too bad.
A new professional softball league where teams change every week and there’s a point system? The first thought I had when hearing about Athletes Unlimited was “Huh, that’s interesting”
I was given the presentation about the league in April, and my mind was blown. Teams drafted every week, individuals earning points alongside their teams, and a ranking system that would determine bonuses. It seemed like the wheel was being reinvented while still keeping the essence of softball intact. It took all but 2 minutes to convince me that I wanted to sign a contract.
I have been playing softball since I was 5 years old. I turned 30 this year, so it’s safe to say that my entire life has been dedicated to this sport. I’ve become accustomed to the way professional softball has been even though I knew it could be something more.
When I arrived on August 16, 2020, I knew immediately this experience was going to be different. I walked into my hotel room where there was a box of food waiting for me as well as a welcome package. Since we were in a global pandemic we weren’t able to leave the hotel room until we received a negative COVID test, and they made sure that we were set for our small quarantine before we could begin training. (We were tested a total of 11 times in 6 weeks to ensure the safety of ourselves and those around us).
We knew this environment was going to be different purely because the structure of this league was different. Once we started training and went into our first scrimmage drafts, we were able to finally see what playing for Athletes Unlimited truly meant. Everyone was invested, involved, and on board with what we wanted professional softball to look and feel like.
We’ve known for a long time that we can put a competitive product on the field, but now we were given the chance to truly showcase that.
Going through the draft process was its own kind of stress, but once you were placed with your team for the week it was as if you’d been looking forward to playing with this specific group the whole time. Each week was completely different than the last yet equally as competitive. In just 3 practices with each group, team chemistry was developed, as well as team goals and camaraderie. Every team felt like the exact team you needed to be on.
More than the competition though was the social aspect. We were in our own Covid shield and weren’t able to go anywhere but the field and our residences. Back and forth to the same two places every day sounds a little monotonous, but it wasn’t.
Everyone embraced being in the shield and made the most of it. There were outdoor gatherings where people ate dinner together and talked about everything under the sun. Ice cream dates, game nights, and weekly educational pieces put on by Athletes Unlimited so we could learn and grow as people as well as softball players. Our racial equity working group put on an event called “Friday Night Lights” so we could talk about important topics we are facing in the world. I’ve never been a part of something in sports so driven to make the world a better place.
Leaving the shield at the end of the season felt like a sad goodbye because every piece of our 6 weeks together was incredible.
For me, there were times of extreme highs, like getting the first hit and first home run in Athletes Unlimited history. Were there frustrating times? Of course, but that comes with playing a game of failure. Was I happy that I led the league in strikeouts? Absolutely not. But playing in this league challenged me in every single way that I needed to be challenged. I am a competitive person and I want to win while being the very best player and teammate that I can be. Competing in this league lit a fire in me that makes me want to continue developing as a player and as a person.
I can’t know what the softball’s future holds, but right now what I know is this: It’s brighter than it’s ever been.
Phone, keys, wallet… mask.
It still seems a bit surreal, but I know this is just the new normal. Walking onto Montclair State University’s campus last Saturday with my camera in-hand and my mask on my face, I checked in at the entrance, got my temperature taken, lathered my hands in sanitizer, and quickly found my way to section “V1” of the bleachers.
It’s been over a year since I last photographed an NWSL game. And even though I was tucked away in the corner section of the bleachers, it felt great to just be back doing what I love.
Editor’s note: this is part of an ongoing series of photo essays by photographer Jesse Louie. You can read his introductory note here.
The last hurrah.
One year today, in what seems like almost a completely different universe, over 33,000 fans packed Soldier Field in Chicago to celebrate this incredible team, one last time.
Five games in five cities. The Victory Tour was a chance to show off the team’s newest hardware and properly celebrate with hundreds of thousands of fans from across the nation.
This U.S. women’s national team was that special.
The kind of special that destroys all of the competition en route to their 4th World Cup Star. The kind of special that’s recognized as Time’s Athletes Of The Year. The kind of special that our kid’s kids will read about in textbooks — or ebooks or whatever they’re reading in school, decades from now.
So insanely special that I decided to join those 33,000 fans on a whim and drive from New Jersey to Illinois just to witness and capture greatness in action.
And in typical fashion, they did not disappoint. The game against Korea might have ended in a 1-1 raw, but the energy from start to finish was like that of the world’s greatest rock concert for 90 minutes plus.
Memories and photographs will have to hold us over until we can catch that squad back on the pitch, doing what only they can do.
“What was living in the bubble like?”
It’s apparently the million-dollar question. I’ve heard it asked in every interview. I’ve read short quotes from several NWSL players trying to explain it in a sentence or two. I’ve received texts, calls, and direct messages from friends, family, and fans near and far. Everyone wants to know what exactly it was like in there.
If I were you, I’d want answers, too. I mean, how could you not? How could you see that the National Women’s Soccer League was able to resume play before any other team sports league in the United States, and not be curious about every single detail? Well, lucky for you guys, I’m not really one for secrets. And double lucky for you guys, Just Women’s Sports provided me with a couple of disposable cameras for the sole purpose of showing you all the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup through my lens.
Let me be the first to admit that, like many of you, I had an infinite number of questions going into the Challenge Cup. Can this really work? Is it too good to be true? What are the chances NO ONE tests positive? Are we sure this is a good idea?
Here’s the thing, though. Most of my worries disappeared the second we entered the hotel in Utah. We were greeted by staff members, showed our dining and living areas, and led to our rooms where the doors were left open and our keys inside. It just felt so professional and prepared from the minute we got there. Afterwards, we went to Zions Bank Academy for COVID-19 testing and saw the facilities for the first time. I was mesmerized by the fields, the views, and the kindness of the NWSL staffers. Even the doctor who performed my COVID test was so sweet that I proceeded to go to her and only her for the next 4 weeks (shout-out line 1, you my girl!!!).
After a week or so away from the NWSL Challenge Cup bubble, I have had some time to sit back and reflect on the experience. Firstly, thank you to the NWSL and all the selfless volunteers and staff that worked day-in and day-out to provide all the teams with the appropriate measures to ensure everyone’s safety. I was so happy to see you all honored before the final match, and hope that you were thanked each and every day. Also congratulations to the Houston Dash, as well as all the teams for their hard work and the sacrifices they made to attend this tournament.
When I look back at this tournament, I am met with gratitude and fullness. Although the tournament ultimately did not end the way our squad had envisioned, this experience provided for me in ways I never could have expected.
With this being my first year on OL Reign, I was instantly impressed by the team’s closeness, individual strength, acceptance of differences, and leadership. This team truly has some inspiring women on it and I can genuinely say I learned something from every girl on the roster.
One person in particular who stuck out to me was captain Lu Barnes – who by the way had an unbelievable tournament! Let’s appreciate that for a second. Lu has the world’s biggest heart. She also makes the best vegan pancakes, which we had every gameday morning. She leads with love in all that she does and as a member for all 8 years, she is a big reason why this team has been so successful.
While in the Bubble, Lu, Rosie White and I noticed there was an absurd amount of waste. So together, we worked with some amazing companies to provide the team with reusable water bottles courtesy of Crazy Cap, reusable cutlery courtesy of Albatross Cutlery, and reusable plates courtesy of Eco Lunch Box. This cut back our use of single-use plastic immensely, and it was empowering to see the whole team buy into reducing their waste.
Although it was always an exciting day when we were able to leave the hotel, I do not particularly miss the invasive biweekly COVID testing. You would walk down the long halls of the academy and step into what appeared to be a doctor’s office in a makeshift classroom. You would sit patiently trying to distract yourself before kindly being asked which nostril you prefer. Left side strong side, every time for me. Apparently, I also have a small naval cavity… you learn something new every day.
Rosie graciously volunteered as a tribute to give you a visual of how long these swabs were.
When it came to hotel living, I enjoyed learning about my teammates and playing card games. I’m already missing our little bundles of joy and bright lights: Steph Cox’s two beautiful daughters.
I have nothing but admiration and respect for Steph, who was a fearless leader within our squad, and for her two little girls. From watching ballet recitals, basketball shootouts, pool excursions, and so much more… Steph chased her children around the hotel while putting in 90-minute shifts. Hearing their laughter fill the hallway broke up our monotonous routine and served as a constant reminder to choose joy throughout the journey.
For us, the success of this tournament was about our team’s ability to come together. No amount of PKs will ever disprove that. And if you ask me, we achieved that and so much more.
I left this tournament a better person, and that is all I could have asked for. I gained friendships I will have for a lifetime. I confirmed what a profound impact we can have on one another through our own personal stories. I learned what it meant to voice your opinion, ask questions, and engage in tough conversations. I learned that the only way to grow is to be brave enough to put yourself out there. And in doing so, more often than not, you enable the people around you to grow as well.
I couldn’t be more grateful to have been surrounded by such an intelligent group of powerful women passionate about making a difference in the lives of many. We left the tournament inspired and committed to making a difference in our local Tacoma community and to putting all of our incredible conversations into action. I will be forever grateful for this unique experience that brought us all together during such a pivotal time in society.
And thank you JWS for giving me the platform to share some of my thoughts!
Sky Warrick is a sports videographer who covered and captured content during the entire NWSL Challenge Cup. Below, she shared her thoughts and photos from the NWSL’s historic tournament in Utah.
Everything about this tournament was a grind. Covering the NWSL usually is, but when you take the work of an eight month season and compress it into a month, everything feels like it’s the highest priority.
This type of work is nothing new to me, except I’m used to being tied to a specific team. This Challenge Cup presented both opportunities and challenges I’d never had before: juggling 8 teams’ schedules, with back-to-back double-header days (such a long 48 hours), all while balancing equal coverage for everyone. I was excited to cover teams and players I’ve never worked with and tell stories I may have never had a chance to otherwise.
As games progressed to the knockout rounds, the intensity increased to the highest levels. The play was passionate, and the skill was entertaining. Amidst the organized chaos of tackles, battles, and diving saves, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the competition playing out 5 feet from my seat on the sidelines.
You have to admire the tenacity the players brought to the pitch. To have seven of eight teams in the quarterfinals with clean sheets forcing PK shootouts with everything on the line was just insane. And each time a game went to penalties, I would sit back and think, “Yeah, I love sports.” I couldn’t help but feel giddy being in the position to cover those moments which contain both the best and worst of sports: the joys of winning and the despair of loss.
Under the bright stadium lights of Rio Tinto Stadium, the grind continued through the semi-finals and the final, with strength and endurance on full display in every match. As much as it was a grind, it was also an absolute joy. I loved being around the sport I had missed so much. It felt incredible to work with players I thought I’d never see again, and I met so many new professionals who share similar passions. Ultimately, the Challenge Cup afforded me the privilege to continue a career I thought could be a thing of the past given the times.
It was an absolute blast to be in the post-game celebrations. Covering a championship celebration was an experience I had never had the opportunity to shoot. I wanted to soak it all in. How often do you get a chance to cover such pure happiness and excitement like that? The long days, the hours spent going through footage and photos, the early mornings, all came down to that beer-slinging celebration. I made sure not to take it for granted.
As someone who has been around the NWSL for several years, there was so much to celebrate coming out of this tournament. The grind it took to pull it all off. The health and safety of the athletes, staff and workers, not one of whom tested positive throughout the Cup.
The teams and players should celebrate the thrilling product they put on the field that attracted the attention of hundreds of thousands of viewers. Everyone behind the scenes that made every moment of this tournament possible should celebrate being the first pro-sports league to successfully return. I think we could all relate to the fact we were happy getting back to doing what we love. If I’ve learned anything from working within women’s soccer, it’s that there will always be a push to be better, to be successful, to bring about change. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of this latest push and to have once again been able to take up the grind.
Hey everyone! My name is Dani Weatherholt and I am a midfielder for the OL Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League. With our league being the first to return, I wanted to provide a different perspective of my experience leading up and throughout the Challenge Cup. Photography has always been a passion of mine, and I hope to provide an inside look of our tournament through my eyes and all the incredible people along the way.
Montana
With the State of Washington under strict protocol, our team headed out to Missoula, Montana for a month-long preseason to prepare for the upcoming Challenge Cup. With the quick turnaround, our team wasted no time and went straight into the grind of double-days. However, there was a buzz amongst the group and the dreaded double-days were met with a joyful eagerness and gratitude to be back on the field together doing what we love. Our team held perspective at the root of all that we did, and it showed in our relentless hard work on the field and our unified connection off the field.
On our final day in Montana, my teammate Rosie White and I headed out to Glacier National Park for a last-minute adventure. The National Park did a great job of providing a safe environment and limiting the number of people allowed into the park and on the trails. We knew that the Utah “Village” would be strict to ensure everyone’s safety, so we wanted to get one last breath of fresh air and explore the beautiful National Park.
Side note: I was getting closer and closer to this deer, and Rosie screamed my name sending it running for the woods. So blame Rosie White for not letting me get a closer photo for you all.
Travel Day
Our month-long preseason had gone by in the blink of an eye. We said our goodbyes to the beautiful community of Missoula, one that welcomed us with open arms, and were grateful to be representing another city as we headed into the Challenge Cup. We carpooled to the airport as teams do, but this time was different. We arrived at the airport and were led through a separate gate and instructed to pull directly onto the runway. We all took our turns guessing which airplane was the one we would take (everyone was wrong), and I got in trouble for taking pictures of people’s private planes. With laughter and smiles concealed by our face masks, we smized our way onto our little plane.
A huge thank you to our Club, the NWSL, and the Utah Royals for ensuring this safe method of travel for our team.
Before take-off, there was a combination of nerves and excitement amongst the group. Not sure whether it was because of the small flight, the turbulence, or the fact that Co-Pilot Jess Fishlock was apparently landing our plane. Without fail, a 10/10 landing from the legend, and our team touched down safely in Utah eager to get started.
Thank you for taking the time to read a short snippet of our final days in Montana and our journey to Utah. I hope to use this platform to showcase an inside look of the NWSL Village and share some stories behind the incredible people within it.