Chicago Sky risk future draft picks with Marina Mabrey trade
The Chicago Sky are playing the short game, and not necessarily the long game, when it comes to their trades.
Head coach and general manager James Wade has drawn criticism over his team’s recent trade, which involved trading away two first round draft picks – one in 2023 and one in 2024. Dallas also reserves the right to swap first round picks with Chicago in 2025.
While the 2023 class is loaded, the 2024 class is at times being described as the best the league has seen in years. It’s a class that includes draft-eligible players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese.
There’s also potential depth to consider, as the Sky also traded away a second rounder in 2025 and a second and third rounder in 2024. In effect, most of their draft stock is now gone with six picks having been traded away.
Of course, Wade could always get some of that back. But it could require parting with big name players once again.
But the team appears to be focusing on the now. Mabrey averaged 12.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game through three seasons in Dallas and averaged 13.6 points per game last season – a career high.
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Fever rookie Caitlin Clark rocketed to the upper tiers of Sportico's annual highest-paid women's sports athletes report on Wednesday, landing in 10th place with an estimated $11 million in yearly earnings.
With tournaments like the US Open guaranteeing equal purses across men's and women's events, tennis players dominated the findings, accounting for nine of the 15 entries. This includes first-place Coco Gauff, who, with $9.4 million in prizes plus $21 million in endorsements, tops the list for the second year in a row.
Skier Eileen Gu came in second, complementing her individual earnings with the list's highest-estimated endorsement profits at $22 million. Gymnast Simone Biles came in at No. 9 with an estimated $11.1 million in total income.
The report underlines the continued importance of endorsements in the women's game — particularly within team sports, where many athletes rely on supplemental income to boost relatively small pro salaries.
However, 2024's estimated $221 million in total earnings is up 27% over last year, with 11 athletes making at least $10 million compared to six in 2023.
1. Coco Gauff: $30.4 million Prize money: $9.4 million | Endorsements: $21 million
2. Eileen Gu: $22.1 million Prize money: $62,000 | Endorsements: $22 million
3. Iga Świątek: $21.4 million Prize money: $8.4 million | Endorsements: $13 million
4. Zheng Qinwen: $20.6 million Prize money: $5.6 million | Endorsements: $15 million
5. Aryna Sabalenka: $17.7 million Prize money: $9.7 million | Endorsements: $8 million
6. Naomi Osaka: $15.9 million Prize money: $870,000 | Endorsements: $15 million
7. Emma Raducanu: $14.7 million Prize money: $671,000 | Endorsements: $14 million
8. Nelly Korda: $14.4 million Prize money: $4.4 million | Endorsements: $10 million
9. Simone Biles: $11.1 million Prize money: $135,000 | Endorsements: $11 million
10. Caitlin Clark: $11.1 million Salary/bonus: $100,000 | Endorsements: $11 million
11. Jasmine Paolini: $10 million Prize money: $6.5 million | Endorsements: $3.5 million
12. Jeeno Thitikul: $9.1 million Prize money: $7.1 million | Endorsements: $2 million
13.Jessica Pegula: $8.2 million Prize money: $4.2 million | Endorsements: $4 million
14.Elena Rybakina: $7.9 million Prize money: $3.9 million | Endorsements: $4 million
15.Lydia Ko: $6.7 million Prize money: $3.2 million | Endorsements: $3.5 million
JWS Staff
Dec 4, 2024
2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament Hits the Court
The 2024 NCAA DI volleyball tournament officially kicks off on Thursday, when 64 teams will gear up to battle for postseason glory in this weekend's first and second rounds.
The college court's best have their sights set on competing in the December 22nd national championship match in Louisville, Kentucky.
Along with the 31 conference champions who automatically received postseason invites, the NCAA committee revealed its 33 selectees in Sunday's selection show. The top 32 teams are seeded one through eight in their respective bracket quadrants, and teams are guaranteed to only face non-conference opponents through the tournament's second round.
Leading the field with nine teams each are the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC, followed by the Big 12 with six squads selected.
The four teams who finished atop the national rankings — Pitt, Louisville, Nebraska, and Penn State — all earned No. 1 seeds.
Sitting atop the rankings for most of the season, overall No. 1 seed Pitt showcases the ACC's immense depth, despite the conference having yet to produce a champion. The Panthers, who finished with Division I's best record at 29-1, have come achingly close over the last three seasons, falling short in the national semifinals each year.
Pitt's only loss this season came courtesy of ACC newcomer No. 2 SMU, a team they could face in the regional finals after landing in the same bracket quadrant.
Similarly, Louisville has been a consistent contender for the conference, becoming the ACC's first-ever team to make the championship match in 2022. Last year, the Cardinals failed to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2020, stumbling in a five-set quarterfinal thriller against conference rival Pitt.
Big Ten dynasties seek continued dominance
After battling through arguably the sport's toughest all-around conference, Big Ten behemoths Penn State and Nebraska will take aim at their eighth and sixth program titles, respectively. Only former Pac-12 team Stanford — now a No. 2 seed in their debut ACC season — boast more NCAA championships than the Nittany Lions or Huskers.
Both teams finished their 2024 regular season campaigns neck-and-neck, posting 29-2 overall records and going 19-1 in conference play to share the Big Ten title. Penn State holds the tournament edge, however, maintaining their streak as the only NCAA team to make all 44 championship brackets — one more than Nebraska.
Each faces an uphill battle in the 2024 championship field. The Huskers must contend with longtime rivals and 2021 champs No. 2 Wisconsin in their quadrant. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions find themselves in the same quadrant as reigning back-to-back champion Texas, who grabbed a No. 3 seed after a rollercoaster season.
How to watch the 2024 NCAA DI Volleyball Tournament
The first and second rounds of the NCAA volleyball tournament will take place at 16 campus sites between Thursday and Saturday.
No. 5 BYU will kick off the action against Loyola Chicago at 3:30 PM ET on Thursday, with all 32 first-round and 16 second-round matches airing across ESPN platforms.
JWS Staff
Dec 4, 2024
USWNT Pulls Off Wild Win Over the Netherlands in 2024 Finale
The USWNT ended 2024 with an unlikely win, overcoming a Dutch shooting barrage to earn a 2-1 comeback victory in Tuesday's Euro trip closer.
The world No. 1 squad looked overrun for much of the first half as the No. 11 Netherlands outshot the US 14-1. Oranje rookie Veerle Buurman ultimately broke through with a 15th-minute goal off of a corner kick to give the Netherlands a well-earned lead.
That said, the USWNT held tight, equalizing in the 44th minute when Buurman headed in Tierna Davidson's free kick for an own goal.
Subs made all the difference in the game's second half, taking back enough control to mount an impressive US comeback. In just her fourth cap, forward Yazmeen Ryan produced her first international assist, finding her Gotham FC teammate Lynn Williams streaking into the penalty area to put away the 71st-minute sliding goal that allowed the US to gut out the win.
"I thought today we demonstrated by not being at our best, both in and out of possession, that finding a way to win is a sign of a great team," commented US boss Emma Hayes after the match.
SWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher's epic final match against he Netherlands
Longtime starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned Player of the Match honors with six stunning saves in her final USWNT performance on Tuesday. The now-retired star finishes her international career with 89 wins, 69 clean sheets, and 112 starts in her 115 caps.
Reflecting on her final year in goal for the States, Naeher said after Tuesday's match, "I think part of why I've been able to play with so much extra joy and smiles and really enjoy it this year even more, is I really felt like it was the last the whole time."
A golden 2024 to fuel 2025 USWNT success
With Saturday's draw against No. 2 England and Tuesday's victory over the Netherlands, the USWNT ends 2024 on a 20-match unbeaten streak that included their 16th Concacaf title and fifth Olympic gold medal.
After taking the US reins in May, head coach Hayes caps the year with a 13-0-2 record, with eight of those wins coming against FIFA-ranked Top-15 teams.
The momentum Hayes has built sets the stage for continued success next year. The USWNT will kick off 2025 with a mid-January training camp to run concurrently with a "Futures Camp," designed to identify and develop young talent for the senior squad.
The first matches on the USWNT's 2025 schedule will come in February, when the team hosts No. 7 Japan, No. 15 Australia, and No. 21 Colombia in the 10th annual SheBelieves Cup.
JWS Staff
Dec 4, 2024
Breaking Down the 2024 USWNT Campaign on ‘The Late Sub’
On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins wraps up a banner year for the USWNT. She starts by diving into how Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands, discussing how it showcased just how far the team has come and what they’ll need to do to continue to grow in 2025.
Later, Watkins chats through the lessons learned from the USWNT midfield's recent performances, plus the differences in player form between their clubs and national team.
Finally, she dishes about Alyssa Naeher's epic final performance, underlining how much the starting goalkeeper will be missed as she officially retires from the USWNT.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
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