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Purdue women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp under investigation

@PurdueWBB

Purdue University is investigating allegations made against women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp that she created a “toxic and hostile environment.”

The document detailing the investigation, obtained by the Journal & Courier, also cites Terry Kix, Purdue’s director of women’s basketball operations, in several incidents.

Versyp is alleged to have created a “toxic and hostile environment” by verbally attacking players, using personal information to “bring them down” and “bullying” a member of her coaching staff. The document also says that Versyp was “fully aware of Ms. Kix’s conduct,” allowing it to continue.

Kix’s conduct allegedly includes cussing out players and hitting a player’s arm hard enough to knock a cell phone out of her hand.

The University’s Office of Institutional Equity is overseeing the investigation to determine if Versyp violated the school’s anti-harassment policy.

Versyp, the program’s all-time winningest coach, is set to begin her 16th and final season with the Boilermakers. Former Boilermaker star Katie Gearlds is already in line to replace Versyp next season after serving as associate head coach this year.

At the end of last season, five players with remaining eligibility transferred out of the program. Assistant coach Melanie Balcomb also left the team shortly after the season ended in March even though her contract ran through June 30, 2021.

“Bend It Like Beckham” Sequel in Development for 2027 Release

Actor Parminder Nagra in a scene from "Bend It Like Beckham."
"Bend It Like Beckham" director and co-writer Gurinder Chadha confirmed that a sequel to the 2002 hit film is in the works. (Sundance/WireImage)

Over two decades after first hitting theaters, Bend It Like Beckham is on track for a sequel, Gurinder Chadha — the director and co-writer of the 2002 women's soccer blockbuster film — confirmed on Saturday.

"I'm excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women's game," she told Deadline late last week.

Though the new script is still in development, Chadha is aiming to collaborate again with co-writer Paul Mayeda Berges and hoping to lure the original cast — led by actors Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley — back to set.

With women's football booming both in England and beyond, London-based Chadha has been ruminating on a Bend It Like Beckham follow-up for the last two years.

"I [initially] didn't want to do anything because I didn't have a story. And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I’m inspired," the filmmaker explained. "It's my very clear wish to bring the characters back very, very soon. Women's football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honor for me to be a small part of it."

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes looks on before a 2025 friendly.
Chadha tapped USWNT boss Emma Hayes for help with the "Bend It Like Beckham" sequel. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

"Bend It Like Beckham" sequel snags assist from USWNT boss

As part of her development process, Chadha is consulting with major players in the women's soccer space — including USWNT manager Emma Hayes, whom Chadha met at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in May.

"[Hayes's] insights into the world of football at her level are invaluable," noted Chadha.

As for Hayes, assisting Chadha is somewhat of a full-circle moment for the decorated London-born women's soccer coach.

"I cried in the cinema watching the film because I felt just like [the main characters] Jess and Jules," Hayes told Deadline. "There was no hope for women's football in Britain then so I was going to the States to try my luck."

"Twenty-three years ago I could never have dreamed of how much that film changed the women's game, and now I have the best job in the world: head coach of the US women's national team."

The Bend It Like Beckham sequel is aiming for a 2027 debut to coincide with both the 25th anniversary of the original film's UK opening and the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Fever Guard Sophie Cunningham Sounds Off on WNBA Star Caitlin Clark in New Podcast

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham speaks to media during a 2025 press conference.
Outspoken Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham debuted a new podcast this week. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham became the latest WNBA player on the mic this week, as the outspoken athlete launched a new podcast on sports media personality Colin Cowherd's The Volume network.

Entitled "Show Me Something" in reference to the two hosts' Missouri roots, the podcast features the seven-year WNBA veteran as well as her former high school classmate and current Summer House reality star West Wilson.

"We're definitely going to hit on the WNBA, a huge topic in sports right now, and then Bravo, clearly, but pop culture, food, fashion, travel... we really do talk about anything," Cunningham said about the variety of topics she'll be discussing with her childhood friend on their podcast. "Our love language is, like, s—t-talking."

The media move follows several recent endorsement deals for Cunningham, as she continues to capitalize on the social media bump she experienced following a June 17th dust-up with Connecticut Sun players.

In this week's first episode, the 2025 Fever addition did not hold back, immediately digging into the ongoing discourse surrounding superstar teammate Caitlin Clark.

"There's really good, well-known people in our league. I'm not discrediting them," Cunningham said. "But when people try to argue that [Clark's] not the face of our league, or if our league would be where we're at without her, you’re dumb as s—t. You’re literally dumb as f—k."

USC Basketball Lands Top High School Recruit Saniyah Hall

Young Team USA star Saniyah Hall poses with her 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP trophy.
Top-ranked high school basketball star Saniyah Hall will suit up for the USC Trojans in 2026. (Yaroslava Nemesh/FIBA via Getty Images)

USC women's basketball is stocking up, bringing on their third No. 1 high school prospect in four years with top-ranked Saniyah Hall committing to the Trojans on Friday.

Set to join the team for the 2026/27 season, Hall follows in the footsteps of 2023 top recruit JuJu Watkins and Class of 2025 No. 1 prospect Jazzy Davidson.

USC reportedly beat out both North Carolina and UCLA in the race to secure a commitment from Hall.

The Northeast Ohio product will close out her high school career at SPIRE Academy, returning to her home state following a junior-year campaign with Montverde Academy in Florida.

The 6-foot-2 guard, who turned 17 years old on Wednesday, has also seen significant international success, first helping Team USA earn gold in the 2024 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup.

Hall added a 5x5 gold medal to her collection earlier this month, when the then-16-year-old set records en route to securing Team USA the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup title.

Her US U19-record 19.9 points per game — plus team-leading averages of 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.9 steals across the competition's seven games — saw the starter named tournament MVP following the July 20th championship victory.

Shortly after returning Stateside, Hall visited USC, announcing her NCAA basketball commitment almost immediately after leaving campus.

"I would say it felt like home. I loved all of my teammates," Hall told ESPN's NBA Today on Friday. "The girls there are so fun to be around."

Ex-Canada Coach Priestman Joins NZ Side Wellington Phoenix FC After Drone Scandal

Bev Priestman poses at a 2025 announcement that she will coach New Zealand club Wellington Phoenix.
Former Canada soccer head coach Bev Priestman will manage the Wellington Phoenix following her one-year suspension from FIFA. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Embattled ex-Canada women's national team coach Bev Priestman has officially left the country, relocating to New Zealand to manage A-League Women's side Wellington Phoenix FC.

"We're really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football," Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said in the club's announcement. "We all know she's had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment."

In addition to her firing from Team Canada, Priestman served a one-year suspension from all football-related activities, finishing that mandatory moratorium this month.

FIFA issued the suspension after determining that Priestman was guilty of spying on opponents via illegal drone use during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"For me, I didn't feel safe, that's being brutally honest," she told reporters this week, commenting on the drone scandal's local fallout. "It was very difficult for my family and I have to live with that. I have to wear that."

The Wellington Phoenix — the lone New Zealand club competing in the top-flight Australian league — finished the 2024/25 season ninth out of 12 teams, with the young club soon setting their sights on a deeper run in their fifth season behind Priestman.

"It feels like Christmas Day to me to come back," said Priestman, whose wife, Wellington Phoenix FC academy director Emma Humphries, is a former New Zealand national team player. "I know I have to earn the trust of everybody. And I'll be working hard to do that."

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