The start of the 2022 volleyball season has been historic for Conroe High School (Texas). The Tigers have won 32 straight matches to start the season, by far their best start in program history, dropping just five sets in the process.

Over the last 15 seasons, Conroe hasn’t won more than 29 games in a single season. The Tigers have already surpassed that mark this fall and still have over 10 games remaining in the regular season.

Senior Ariana Brown has helped propel the Tigers to their unbeaten start with 367 kills, averaging more than five kills per set. The University of Louisiana Monroe commit, who is coming off a seven-day stint that earned her Just Women’s Sports Player of the Week honors, transferred to the school in the offseason and is getting the opportunity to play for her mother, coach Charvette Brown, while closing out her varsity career.

Kenedi Medford is usually the one setting for Brown, racking up 456 assists along the way, while her sister Kaiden Medford has tallied 119 kills. Emma Malak recently surpassed 1,000 career digs, with 439 of them coming this season.

Conroe began the season unranked, but thanks to the unbeaten start, the Tigers have arrived at No. 4 in this week’s JWS volleyball team rankings.

Check out the complete rankings below, and click here to see last week’s rankings.

1. Cathedral Catholic (Calif.), 1-0

The Dons opened up their 2022 campaign last week with a convincing sweep of La Costa Canyon, winning all three sets by eight points or more.

2. Marymount (Calif.), 4-0

The Sailors have not lost since 2019 and have dropped just one set so far this season.

3. Bloomfield Hills Marian (Mich.), 12-0

Senior Ava Sarafa, a Kentucky commit, is averaging more than nine assists per set this season.

4. Conroe (Texas), 32-0

While the Tigers finished 24-19 last year, their last playoff appearance was in 2017.

🚨🚨🚨 BIG WIN AT HOME TONIGHT AGAINST WILLIS!!! It was the place to be tonight—PACKED HOUSE! 32-0!!! #oneteamonemission #SicEm pic.twitter.com/0jC9OuaQQ2

— ConroeVolleyball (@ConroeTigerVB) August 31, 2022

5. Wayzata (Minn.), 2-0

The Trojans extended their winning streak to 56 games with consecutive victories to start the season.

6. Byron Nelson (Texas), 24-1

The Bobcats distribute the wealth. They have a trio of attackers with more than 200 kills and two setters with more than 300 assists.

7. Cornerstone Christian (Texas), 31-1

Senior Nayeli Gonzalez leads the way with 307 kills, and sophomore Megan Fitch isn’t far behind with 288 kills.

8. Prestonwood Christian (Texas), 14-1

The Lions’ sole loss is to Cornerstone Christian, and they bounced back by handing Highland Park just their second loss of the season.

9. Blue Valley North (Kan.), 2-0

The reigning state champions have picked up where they left off last season.

10. Highland Park (Texas), 23-2

The Scots’ two losses have both come against Prestonwood Christian.

11. Buford (Ga.), 15-1

The Wolves have reeled off nine wins in a row, dropping just two sets during that streak.

12. Tompkins (Texas), 21-3

The Falcons have cooled off slightly, falling in two of their past seven matches.

She said NO!! @SimiElliott Great win tonight over Cinco Ranch!! Let’s keep it up! @OTHSVolleyball @PrepDigTX @houstonjuniors pic.twitter.com/X4IfhIfZVS

— Brooklynn Merrell (@BMerrell5) August 31, 2022

13. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 2-0

The Sharks have played two games and secured two straight-set victories in the past week.

14. Sante Fe (Fla.), 3-0

The Raiders have played nine sets this season and have won all nine as they look to repeat as Class 4A state champions.

15. Cleveland (Tenn.), 16-1

Since losing their second match of the season, the Blue Raiders have reeled off 15 consecutive wins, dropping just four sets.

16. McCutcheon (Ind.), 9-1

The defending Class 4A state champions have dropped just three sets this season, although two of those dropped sets resulted in a loss during tournament play.

17. Dike-New Hartford (Iowa), 7-1

The Wolverines fell in pool play of the Centennial Early Bird Tournament but bounced back to claim the trophy in a stacked field that included some of the top teams in Iowa.

Congrats to the Early Bird Tournament Champions! Quite a day in Ankeny where the field featured 16 teams: #1 in Class 2A, #11 in 3A, and 10 teams ranked in 5A. #rollblue #MomentsThatMatter pic.twitter.com/qsExq3OxH8

— Justin Stockdale (@DNHSUPT) August 28, 2022

18. Mira Costa (Calif.), 9-2

The Mustangs returned to their winning ways Tuesday with a sweep.

19. Assumption (Ky.), 6-0

A perennial contender, the Rockets are off to another hot start.

20. Alpharetta (Ga.), 17-3

After starting the season 9-3, the Raiders are currently riding an eight-game winning streak, during which they’ve lost just one set.

21. Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.), 6-1

The Titans’ 45-game winning streak came to an end Saturday with a straight-set loss, but they avenged that defeat days later with a sweep of the same opponent.

22. Fayetteville (Ark.), 3-0

The Bulldogs have played nine sets and won all of them.

23. Bishop Gorman (Nev.), 2-0

The Gaels’ pursuit of a fourth consecutive state championship is off to a good start.

24. Sierra Canyon (Calif.), 13-1

The Trailblazers have played Mira Costa twice this season, splitting the series.

25. Mother McAuley (Ill.), 8-0

The Mighty Macs have yet to drop a set after falling in last year’s Class 4A state title game.

Phillip Suitts is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. He has worked at a variety of outlets, including The Palm Beach Post and Southeast Missourian, and done a little bit of everything from reporting to editing to running social media accounts. He was born in Atlanta but currently lives in wintry Philadelphia. Follow Phillip on Twitter @PhillipSuitts.

The 2025 CAF African Women's Player of the Year nominations dropped last week, with a trio of NWSL stars — including 2024 award winner Barbra Banda of Zambia — topping this year's shortlist.

Calling the nomination "an honour and a privilege," Banda posted about the nod on social media, saying that "To be in the same category with all these amazing talents is truly a humbling feeling."

Joining the Orlando Pride striker in excelling for both club and country in 2025 are two other NWSL standout goalscorers: Kansas City Current star and 2024 NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga (Malawi) and Bay FC's Rachael Kundananji (Zambia).

Rounding out the 10-player lineup is Chawinga's older sister Tabitha (OL Lyonnes/Malawi), Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto/Nigeria), Rasheedat Ajibade (PSG/Nigeria), Ghizlane Chebbak (Al Hilal/Morocco), Sanaâ Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco), Portia Boakye (Hapoel Petah Tikva/Ghana), and Mama Diop (RC Strasbourg/Senegal).

Based on performances between January 6th and October 15th of this year, the expert panel displayed a more than significant lean toward attacking prowess in their selections, ultimately choosing a roster of all forwards for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year shortlist.

While the exact date is forthcoming, the CAF will announce its award-winners at a ceremony later this year.

Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler is hitting the NWSL pitch, with the Golden State Warriors forward joining the San Diego Wave as a minority investor this week.

"Soccer has been a passion of mine for a long time, and being part of the game in a meaningful way has always been a dream," Butler said in the club's Monday press release. "San Diego has become a city close to my heart, and I'm proud to invest in a club that is pushing boundaries, building something lasting, and setting a new standard for what women's sports can be both on and off the pitch."

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Butler joins retired San Diego Wave star Alex Morgan in an ownership group led by the Levine Leichtman family, after the majority owners purchased the California club at a then-record $113 million valuation in 2024.

"Jimmy is a competitor and visionary who shares our values and our ambition to grow this club," said San Diego controlling owner Lauren Leichtman. "He brings a global perspective, a deep respect for the athlete's journey, and a creative spirit that perfectly complements what we are building here at Wave FC."

Butler isn't the only high-profile men's sports athlete anteing up for the NWSL in recent months, with the NBA star following in the footsteps of NFL quarterback Caleb Williams — who invested in 2026 expansion side Boston Legacy FC — and LA Clippers forward Chris Paul, who joined Angel City's star-studded ownership group.

The 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup spread further around Concacaf on Monday, as Costa Rica and Jamaica officially joined the previously announced Mexico and the US in submitting an uncontested bid to host the international tournament.

"Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to host the biggest and most impactful Women's World Cup in history, one that will inspire a new generation of fans and help grow the women's game across our entire region and around the world," said US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone in a Monday statement.

"This bid is a reflection of our shared belief that soccer can be a force for good," added US Soccer CEO JT Batson. "We're not only creating an unforgettable moment for athletes and fans, we're building a lasting foundation to grow the women's game at every level, in every country."

Parlow Cone also noted that more than 30 US cities have already expressed interest in hosting some of the 104 games during the newly expanded 48-team tournament, with Jamaica poised to make history as the first-ever Caribbean nation to welcome a senior World Cup match.

"This will have a huge impact on the psyche of every single Jamaican," said Jamaican Football Federation president Michael Ricketts. "It is no ordinary feat for a small country like ours to host World Cup matches.... This is huge for Jamaica and for every person who proudly calls themselves Jamaican."

With no other bids on the table, FIFA is on track to ratify its 2031 hosting decision at the next FIFA Congress in April 2026.

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon is stepping into the spotlight, with Variety announcing that the three-time WNBA title-winning boss will star in a forthcoming documentary from NFL athlete-backed production houses SMAC and 2463 Entertainment.

"For decades, women on the hardwood [were] underestimated and told to stay in their lane," said SMAC CEO and co-founder Constance Schwartz-Morini. "Becky defied every expectation and broke through barriers that once seemed unshakable."

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Schwartz-Morini, Fred Anthony Smith, Ajay Sangha, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Sean Clifford will serve as executive producers, joined by 2463 founder and Super Bowl champion wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as well as SMAC founder and retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan.

Through audio diaries, the documentary will provide an inside look at Hammon's rise up the WNBA coaching ranks as well as her experience as the first woman to serve as an acting head coach for an NBA team, with Hammon taking the reins of the San Antonio Spurs in 2020.

A six-time WNBA All-Star during her playing career, Hammon left the NBA for Las Vegas at the end of 2021, leading the Aces to three championships in four years.

The report didn't specify the film's title or scheduled release date, with more details expected in the coming months.