All Scores

College Athletes Reflect On Seasons Cut Short

KAREN AMBROSE HICKEY/ISI PHOTOS

It’s still difficult to believe that it’s been less than a week since the NCAA announced their decision to cancel all remaining winter and spring sports seasons. Although it was the only responsible decision, student-athletes across the country continue to mourn the loss of their season and, for some, the end of their sports career. Just Women’s Sports sat down — virtually and most definitely six feet away — with college athletes from around the country to discuss the impact of the coronavirus and life without sports. 

What were your initial reactions when you heard your season was canceled?

“Tufts University was one of the first to receive news that spring sports were cancelled, and at the time it felt so unfair, like ‘why us?’ Not many other schools in the nation, besides some close to us, were cancelling their seasons at that point. It felt like something was being taken from us while others still continued like nothing was wrong. Now athletes across the country are dealing with the same issues. In a sense, it kind of lessens the blow, but it still hurts. Our seniors are the ones that suffered the most. Specifically for our team, which is DIII. Our conference doesn’t have a fall season so our seniors didn’t even get to put a jersey on this year. There was no way for them to prepare for the end of their softball careers, and that’s what hurts me the most. Everything changed so quickly, with absolutely no warning. One day our team was practicing and planning for our first trip of the season to Florida and the next day our coach was telling us it could be our last practice of the season.” — Sofia Molina, Tufts Softball

“I was heartbroken. I have so many friends who were in the thick of their winter seasons and excited for the NCAA tournament. Our women’s basketball team was having an incredible season and to end it like this is so sad. I also feel for the spring sports who never even really got a chance to compete. Playing sports brings us all so much joy. To have that taken away from you is so disappointing, especially when college seasons are so short. It makes you really appreciate your sport. I think everyone at Stanford understands that cancelling sports is the right thing to do, but athletes are also devastated that they don’t have a chance to play out their season.” — Sierra Enge, Stanford Soccer

“It’s pretty crazy. It all happened so suddenly. I think a lot of people kind of knew in the back of their minds that this was a very real possibility after hearing about the NBA cancelling and then a bunch of professional sports leagues cancelling. We figured that it was only a matter of time before the NCAA decided to do the same thing. But obviously everyone’s devastated because we worked so hard all year, and then not being able to finish out your season is just really tough. The seniors probably took it the hardest out of everyone just because it all really came to an end for them. It was really sad and still is really sad, for all of us.” — Taylor Scornavacco, Stanford Lacrosse

“I was with a few of my teammates when we officially found out, and they started crying. I was just in complete shock of it all. I just didn’t know how to feel. Softball has been so important to me for so long that I couldn’t even comprehend the fact that I might not have my final season and that the sport was over for me entirely. It was just heartbreaking.” — Casey Maggiore, Tufts Softball

“It was definitely a whirlwind of events. We came back from our qualifying competition for the NCAA Championships only to find out the next day that they were cancelled. It was definitely heartbreaking to hear considering we have worked all season for this, and our team was more than ready to show how hard we have been working. It was the worst watching the seniors on our team hear the news, because they had no idea they were done with their season.” — Daria Lenz, Stanford Swimming and Diving

“At first, I was in disbelief. We had heard about other schools in previous days cancelling classes for a few weeks, but very few schools had addressed sports. I think it was really hard to hear that our season was cancelled because we had worked all fall and winter training, and we finally got to be in season and were coming off a huge win against Villanova, as well as close games against other top teams.” — Charlotte Clark, Harvard Lacrosse

Since the NCAA announced the cancelation of all sports there has been talk about eligibility relief for student-athletes whose seasons were affected. What are your thoughts?

“None of this has been easy, but we have all started to lean on each other during these tough times. That is the most important thing we can do. Being a senior, I definitely have yet to really come to terms with softball being over. I think it is great that the NCAA is potentially offering some type of eligibility relief, but I am not sure it will be all that easy for seniors who may have jobs lined up or financial concerns. Since the announcement, I have definitely started thinking about pursuing grad school at Tufts and using a redshirt year to play out my last season. But honestly, it all depends.” — Casey Maggiore, Tufts Softball

“I think that it is really important that seniors don’t lose their opportunity to play, especially in their last year of eligibility. But even if eligibility relief is guaranteed by the NCAA, Harvard seniors probably won’t redshirt at our school because we do not have graduate programs for them to continue their education. Additionally, because this was never foreseen, a lot of seniors already have jobs set up for after school, so it would be difficult to put everything on halt and start over.” — Charlotte Clark, Harvard Lacrosse

What was your coach’s reaction?

“Everyone was really disappointed and speechless, especially the seniors. It was hard for my coaches and teammates to really say anything. Our coaches knew how upset we were but they continued to offer their support and reminded us how this isn’t anyone’s fault and it is out of our hands. The overall message was to stay positive and to stick together.” — Charlotte Clark, Harvard Lacrosse

“They took it very hard. But they were all very strong for us. They said this sucks, but you know, life is going to teach you lessons sometimes and this is just one of those lessons that you have to overcome.” — Casey Maggiore, Tufts Softball

“We had a team meeting, and our coach’s message to the team was to stick together. She was obviously upset and unprepared for our season to end so suddenly and felt deeply for the seniors. She said how she didn’t plan for that meeting to be the last time she speaks to us as a team and wants to, once everything settles, give the seniors a proper send off. But at this point, for her, she’s all about trying to get us to ride through this together and stick together, not lose those relationships that we’ve worked so hard to develop.” — Taylor Scornavacco, Stanford Lacrosse

“Our team had a meeting, and it was great to get everyone to talk about the issue all together. It started out pretty sad, but our coaches ended it on a great note, recognizing that our hard work made this year something we will never forget. We all agreed that we didn’t need the NCAA Championships to recognize what we achieved throughout the season.” — Daria Lenz, Stanford Swimming and Diving

How has your offseason training been affected by all of this? 

“It’s hard to complain when other sports lost their entire season. But the spring offseason is still very important for our soccer team. We graduated a lot of players in the fall and the spring is the time when we have the most hours to train with our coaches and when we can play games. We had 5 spring games lined up, 2 against boys teams to help us prepare for the season. Not being able to compete will be tough for our development. We are also not able to train together at all. It’s hard to train for a game by yourself. Nothing really gets you prepared except training in a high intensity environment like Stanford.” — Sierra Enge, Stanford Soccer

How is the virus now impacting your training with the US team? 

“I am currently at home, where the facilities are closed. We are taking this week off, but we are unsure of how we will be training and when we will return to campus. The Olympic Trials are still taking place, but everything is up in the air as of now.” — Daria Lenz, Stanford Swimming and Diving

“US soccer has cancelled all events until April and will reassess the situation then. I train with the U20 team and our U20 World Cup is supposed to be in August, but who knows if that will happen anymore. These next few months were going to be the time for us to train hard and prepare to hopefully win a World Cup. Our trip to Spain in April is cancelled, and we are just waiting to hear about when we will be together next. As of right now we do not know much. We were just sent a fitness packet for the next four weeks and told that they would reassess the situation after that four weeks and get back to us. The US hasn’t won a U20 World Cup since 2012, and we wanted to represent the US and go back to our winning history. I don’t know what will happen with the tournament, but not being able to train together is obviously a huge disadvantage.” — Sierra Enge, Stanford Soccer

How do you plan to stay active during this time off?

“I’m definitely just trying to make sure that I’m staying balanced and healthy. I am focused on my school work, even though my classes are online, and I am enjoying time with my family at home. From all of this, we are all learning to not take anyone or anything for granted.” — Taylor Scornavacco, Stanford Lacrosse

“Right now, our coaches told us to keep touching our stick and working, but they are not going to give us a training plan until the summer. So we will all just need to stay active and fit on our own.” — Charlotte Clark, Harvard Lacrosse

“I definitely have less resources at home than I do at school. I am not sure how I will be training the next couple of weeks. As of now, we are all just waiting it out.” — Daria Lenz, Stanford Swimming and Diving

Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries Ride Upset Wins into the WNBA Weekend

Phoenix Mercury players including Satou Sabally huddle during a 2025 WNBA game against the New York Liberty.
Phoenix rose to No. 3 in the WNBA standings with Thursday's win over New York. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

Two key upsets headlined Thursday's WNBA bill, sending the Phoenix Mercury soaring into third place in the league standings while the No. 6 Golden State Valkyries continued to outwit opponents.

The red-hot Mercury snagged their fourth straight win by taking down the No. 2 New York Liberty 89-81 on Thursday night, overcoming an 35-point performance from two-time MVP Breanna Stewart with five double-digit Phoenix scorers.

Meanwhile out West, the Valkyries stifled a surging No. 7 Fever, downing Indiana 88-77 in part by holding star guard Caitlin Clark to just 3-for-14 from the field — and 0-for-7 from behind the arc.

"We were being disruptive, we know that she doesn't like physicality, we know that she wants to get to that left step-back," Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase said about the Valkyries' strategy to effectively contain Clark.

Though the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx and 2024 WNBA champions New York still hold court atop the table, Thursday's actions proves that other squads are making some unexpected in-roads.

Putting together an impressive road record are the Mercury, who will ride a 4-2 away record into their Saturday matchup against the No. 11 Chicago Sky — the last stop on a four-game road trip that's been perfect for Phoenix thus far.

Already flipping the script on expectations is Golden State, with the 2025 expansion team rising despite relying on a hodgepodge roster as several players compete at EuroBasket 2025. The Valkyries will aim to keep their winning momentum in their Sunday clash with the No. 12 Connecticut Sun.

How to watch the Mercury, Valkyries this weekend

Both of Thursday's victors will be back in action this weekend, with Phoenix facing Chicago at 1 PM ET on Saturday, airing live on ABC.

Then on Sunday, Golden State will host Connecticut at 8:30 PM ET, with live coverage on WNBA League Pass.

Las Vegas Aces Aim to Stop Skid Ahead of Tough WNBA Weekend Matchups

Las Vegas's A'ja Wilson tries to defend a lay-up from Seattle's Gabby Williams during a 2025 WNBA game.
The Las Vegas Aces will face both Seattle and Indiana this weekend. (Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)

In another weekend full of WNBA action, all eyes are on Las Vegas, as the No. 8 Aces will try to curb a two-game losing streak against two formidable opponents.

A successful weekend for Las Vegas could hinge on three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson's potential return from injury, with the star forward recently upgraded to "questionable" after landing in concussion protocol last week.

Overall, the margin for error has narrowed in the middle of the WNBA pack, as talented teams continue to translate quality performances into consistency.

  • No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 8 Las Vegas Aces, Friday at 10 PM ET (ION): The Aces will try to end their free fall in Friday's head-to-head battle with a Seattle side that can beat anybody at their best.
  • No. 7 Indiana Fever vs. No. 8 Las Vegas Aces, Sunday at 3 PM ET (ESPN): Las Vegas next faces a Fever team still smarting from Thursday's away loss to the Golden State Valkyries, with both teams narrowly clinging to positions above the playoff line.
  • No. 2 New York Liberty vs. No. 5 Seattle Storm, Sunday at 7 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Liberty have a comfortable hold on second place, but with two losses in their last three games, New York is flirting with danger entering their Sunday game with Seattle — particularly if star big Jonquel Jones is out after suffering a knock to the ankle on Thursday.

Ultimately, there's no rest for the weary in the WNBA, as a series of difficult matchups can see a single error quickly slide into a losing streak.

NWSL Kicks Off Final Gameday Slate Ahead of Summer Break

The San Diego Wave celebrate a goal by María Sánchez during a 2025 NWSL match.
The San Diego Wave will take on 2024 runners-up Washington on Sunday. (Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)

The final NWSL weekend heading into the league's six-week summer break has arrived, giving teams one more chance to prove themselves before regular-season play pauses to make way for major international tournaments.

With a five-point gap separating No. 1 Kansas City from No. 2 Orlando in the NWSL standings, the Current will enter the break as the 2025 Shield frontrunners regardless of this weekend's results.

Despite Kansas City's grip atop the table, there's still plenty of room for movement both above and below the postseason cutoff line, as clubs across the NWSL look to wrap their midseason finales on a high note:

  • No. 1 Kansas City Current vs. No. 10 Angel City FC, Friday at 8 PM ET (Prime): Angel City has a shot at launching themselves above the cutoff line on Friday, but they'll have to snap the Current's five-game winning streak to make it happen.
  • No. 8 Gotham FC vs. No. 9 Bay FC, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Gotham and Bay FC enter the weekend tied on points while staring at each other from on opposite sides of the playoff line — meaning a Saturday win for either club could set the tone for the rest of the 2025 season.
  • No. 3 San Diego Wave FC vs. No. 4 Washington Spirit, Sunday at 10 PM ET (CBS Sports): The weekend's only top-table clash could see San Diego sprint back into second place — unless Washington leapfrogs the upstart Wave to claim the third-place spot.

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Ups Purse to $12 Million, Ties LPGA Tour Record

Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul hits a shot during the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
Thai golfer Jeeno Thitikul is in the lead after one round at the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

The LPGA Tour has turned its attention to Texas, with the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship — the third major of the pro golf season — teeing off in Frisco to a flurry of first-round action on Thursday.

All of the sport's Top 100 athletes are participating in this week's event, including No. 1 Nelly Korda, who sits in a 14th-place tie with an even-par first-round performance, and surging US dark horse No. 50 Lexi Thompson, who tied for 10th in her Thursday return from a brief retirement.

However, leading the pack heading into Friday's second round is Thailand's world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul, who finished the first day of competition atop the leaderboard with a score of 4-under-par.

Australia's No. 24 Minjee Lee also posted a strong start, capping Thursday at 3-under to sit in second place.

While the sport's best chase victory on the links, the 2025 KPMG Women's PGA Championship is already making history off the green.

Not only is it the first-ever women's major to tee off at Frisco's Fields Ranch East, the tournament also increased its purse to $12 million on Tuesday — nearly tripling the $4.5 million prize pool from just four years ago and tying the US Women's Open for the LPGA Tour's highest payout in the process.

How to watch the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

The third LPGA Grand Slam of 2025 continues through Sunday.

Friday's second round will air live on the Golf Channel, while coverage of Saturday and Sunday's final rounds will air across NBC and Peacock.

Start your morning off right with Just Women’s Sports’ free, 5x-a-week newsletter.