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Dominique Dawes continues to change gymnastics years after historic feat

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Dominque Dawes is Olympic greatness personified as the winner of four medals across three Summer Games, so it’s no surprise the 45-year-old was tuned into the Beijing Winter Olympics this month.

Speed skater Erin Jackson, in particular, captured the gymnastics icon’s attention after putting on a dominant performance to become the first Black woman to take home a speed-skating medal in Olympic history.

“I was definitely excited for that amazing feat because I know it’s going to motivate a number of young girls of color to see speed skating as an opportunity for them,” Dawes told Just Women’s Sports.

Dawes is familiar with making history, having changed the landscape of her sport in 1996 when she became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic medal in gymnastics. The Maryland native was also part of the “Magnificent Seven,” the first American group to win the gymnastics team competition when they came in first at the Atlanta Games.

“It’s not something I definitely stay fixated on,” Dawes says of her groundbreaking achievement. “It does warm and touches my heart when people bring up the Olympic feats and the fact that they watched those Olympic Games with a loved one and the fond memories that they still hold onto, and many times that loved one is no longer here.”

Although those Games are now 26 years in the rearview mirror, Dawes can still recall being overcome with emotion before she entered the Georgia Dome for the first time.

“It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced in life, the enormous amount of pressure,” she says. “Something that Simone Biles talked about was having the weight of the world on her shoulders, and that’s really what it felt like to be one of the leaders of Magnificent Seven for the ’96 Olympic Games.

“I had an emotional breakdown because it was so much pressure, and the weight that I felt emotionally as well as mentally that I was not only representing my country, but I was also representing my race.”

Dawes cites her teammates as her grounding force amid the stress, a feeling to which many Olympians and athletes can relate.

Mikaela Shiffrin made headlines during the Beijing Olympics after skiing out of three races, including her two best events, the slalom and the giant slalom. While onlookers searched for answers about what could have happened to the remarkably consistent skier, a welcome conversation emerged about athlete pressure, mental health and the dangers of the pursuit of perfection.

“The fans really just see everything that is on center stage, in the spotlight, when you get to the Olympic Games. They don’t know the journey, they don’t know the blood, sweat and tears, they don’t know the sacrifice,” Dawes says “They don’t recognize that you’re a human and you’re dealing with loss, and you’re dealing with pain, and you’re dealing with all the different emotions that come with just life, and that you’re also sacrificing so much to make it to the Olympics.”

Dawes started her Olympic journey at 6 years old and made her first team at 15, meaning her four-minute shot at glory was nine years in the making. The immense weight of that moment, when athletes are expected to execute on all the skills they spent preparing, can be daunting and debilitating.

“That’s what I love about the dialogue that’s happening today about mental health,” Dawes says, “because it’s OK for our young people and young adults to recognize that they need to put their mental health first.”

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Dawes competes for Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Games. (Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images)

Dawes was outspoken about the stress of competitive gymnastics in the Peacock Series “Golden.” The six-part docuseries, which Dawes helped produce, follows five elite American gymnasts on their paths to the Tokyo Olympics, including all-around champion Sunisa Lee.

More than anything, the Tokyo Games will be remembered for an unprecedented move by star Simone Biles. The American gymnast and seven-time Olympic medalist stepped back from a series of events following a sudden onset of the “twisties,” sparking widespread acknowledgement of athletes’ mental health.

“I think it’s great that she was able to listen to her inner voice and do what was best for her,” Dawes says of Biles, penning a Washington Post op-ed in July in support of the young star’s stance.

While pressure is not unique to gymnastics, Dawes is adamant that the culture in the sport must change.

USA Gymnastics has been under intense scrutiny for years over its handling of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal. The former USAG team doctor was convicted of sexually assaulting minors in 2018, among other charges, with at least 265 young women and girls, many of whom are gymnasts, alleging abuse.

Béla Károlyi and Márta Károlyi, who were at the helm when Nassar was on Team USA’s staff, have also been criticized for their negligence and reportedly abusive coaching techniques.

“I think there needs to be an overhaul of those that are out on the floor currently coaching that are detrimental to the overall health and well-being to these young girls and these young women that are on the floor,” Dawes says.

Gymnasts like Ali Raisman and Biles have been outspoken about their disillusionment with USA Gymnastics’ commitment to athlete safety and have repeatedly demanded change. Dawes says the right people still aren’t in positions of power, despite the athletes’ objections.

“I believe the way we can save our sport is by getting the right coaches in there, and currently, we don’t have them on the national level, in my opinion,” Dawes says.

She is also careful to point out that abuse isn’t unique to USAG, but a problem in private gyms as well. Dawes has been vocal about the toxic environment she trained in under her personal coach, and that the neglect she suffered is something she still carries with her today.

“I went through years of anxiety. I was terrified each and every morning going to practice. I would cry all the time, I was hyperventilating quite a bit,” says Dawes, who felt at the time that she didn’t have the choice of leaving the gym or the sport. Those who did walk away from gymnastics were ostracized and targeted for their changing bodies, she says.

“It made young people feel shameful about going through puberty, about growing up, about becoming a young woman,” says Dawes. “And that’s sad because it really does damage. It wrecks a young person’s self-esteem and self-worth.”

The culture that continues to plague gymnastics is why Dawes has stuck with the sport, opening the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academy with her husband in an effort to reform gymnastics from the inside.

“I don’t want my poor kids to experience what I experienced,” she says. “It’s a beautiful sport, and it can be done the right way with the right people. We want to offer a positive, empowering and encouraging environment for young girls that want to pursue the sport of gymnastics.”

Dawes has plans to to expand her gym in Clarksburg, Md. in the fall of 2022, and perhaps more beyond that. She finds comfort in the fact that the pain she underwent years ago can now serve a greater purpose.

“That’s what drives me today, is I don’t want today’s generation or tomorrow’s generation to go through what I went through,” Dawes says. “I’m doing it today because I am standing up for the young Dominique.”

Golden is available to stream now, as Peacock honors Black History Month this February by spotlighting content from Black creators and about the Black experience.

Clare Brennan is an associate editor at Just Women’s Sports.

Australia, Manchester City Rising Star Mary Fowler Ruptures ACL

Manchester City star Mary Fowler of Australia warms up before the International Friendly match between Australia Matildas and Korea Republic before her ACL injury.
Manchester City confirmed the Matildas star's season-ending ACL injury earlier this week. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Australia and Manchester City forward Mary Fowler exited last Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal with a confirmed ACL injury, cutting short what had been a promising season for the young international star.

“Mary will remain under the care of the club’s medical team and start her rehabilitation,” City said after the team’s 2-0 loss to crosstown rivals Manchester United.

“It’s never easy when something like this happens, especially when you’ve been working so hard and feeling good,” Fowler added.

Fowler scored six goals in 17 WSL appearances for Manchester City this season, coupled with a league-leading seven assists. She joined City in 2022 from French side Montpellier, signing a four-year contract with the English team.

The news adds to City’s mounting injury tally, as the fourth-place team enters the UK league’s home stretch with Vivianne Miedema, Bunny Shaw, and Alex Greenwood on the sidelines. Additional unavailable players include Jill Roord, Laura Blindkilde-Brown, Aoba Fujino, Rebecca Knaak, and Lauren Hemp.

Manchester City star Mary Fowler (R) of Australia Kim Hyeri (L) of Korea Republic compete for the ball during the International Friendly match between Australia Matildas and Korea Republic before tearing her ACL.
Fowler scored 16 goals over 64 appearances for Australia. (Andy Cheung/Getty Images)

Fowler injury leaves 2026 Asian Cup fitness in question

Fowler's recent ACL tear has broader implications than club play.

Australia is set to host 2026 Asian Cup, with the 22-year-old striker expected to lead the Matildas' frontline at the tournament. However, with a lengthy rehabilitation process ahead, Fowler might not be available to represent her country when the Asian Cup kicks off next March.

“This is tough news for Mary and for all of us who know the dedication and passion she brings to her craft,” Matildas interim head coach Tom Sermanni said in a national team statement. “She’s an exceptional talent and a much-loved member of our team, and we know she’ll meet this challenge with the same courage she brings to the pitch.”

“Everyone in the Matildas and Football Australia family – players, coaches, and support staff – will be right behind Mary as she takes the first steps toward her comeback,” he continued.

Fowler debuted for Australia's national team in 2018. She went on to score 16 goals over 64 appearances.

Conference Realignment Stacks SEC, Shakes Up NCAA Softball

Oklahoma's Nelly McEnroe-Marinas scores during a 2025 NCAA softball game.
New SEC team Oklahoma dropped to No. 4 in this week's NCAA softball poll. (BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN/USA TODAY NETWORK)

NCAA conference realignment drastically altered this year's college sports landscape, affecting volleyballbasketball, and, now, softball, as former titans lose ground while others rise to the occasion.

After years dominating the Big 12, four-time reigning NCAA softball champions Oklahoma are now riding the ups and downs of the stacked SEC.

The Sooners recorded a loss to unranked Missouri and fell twice to then-No. 10 Tennessee last month, before dropping two of three games to then-No. 22 Alabama this week.

With the now-No. 17 Crimson Tide's victories, Oklahoma fell two spots to No. 4 in Tuesday's ESPN/USA Softball rankings update.

Similarly, after adding a pair of weekend losses to then-No. 5 Tennessee alongside earlier stumbles against ranked SEC foes Florida and Mississippi State, former Big 12 standout No. 1 Texas took a tumble, with the 2024 runners-up Longhorns sliding to No. 3 this week.

While those wins earned the Vols a boost to No. 2, a dark horse SEC squad took over the sport's No. 1 spot on Tuesday, when a 12-game winning streak lifted the Texas A&M Aggies atop both the SEC table and the national rankings for the first time in program history.

Texas A&M softball celebrates a three-run blast from freshman second baseman KK Dement during a 2025 SEC softball game.
Texas A&M is the No. 1 NCAA softball team for the first time in program history. (Evan Pilat/Texas A&M Athletics)

SEC solidifies itself as top NCAA softball conference

The fall of NCAA softball's recent giants from the sport's elite spots isn't due to a decline in Oklahoma's or Texas's play, but simply a result of the intense level of competition and talent in the SEC.

The conference now lays claim to all of NCAA softball’s top four teams — plus seven of the Top 10.

With the college softball postseason looming next month — not to mention the eight-team Women's College World Series beginning on May 29th — the SEC is proving itself the conference to beat in the 2025 title hunt.

Texas softball's Leighann Goode tries to tag out LSU's Tori Edwards during a 2025 SEC game.
No. 3 Texas hopes to bounce back by sweeping No. 9 LSU this weekend. (Mikala Compton/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK)

How to watch SEC softball this weekend

While No. 1 Texas A&M will take the weekend off after closing out a three-game series against Missouri early Friday afternoon, both No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Oklahoma will be battling in SEC series.

The Longhorns hope to sweep No. 9 LSU after claiming a 7-3 series-opening win on Thursday. Friday's first pitch between the pair is at 5:30 PM ET on SECN+, with Saturday's final game beginning at 12 PM ET on ESPN2.

The Sooners will kick off their own three-game slate against No. 15 Mississippi State at 5 PM ET on Friday, streaming live on SoonerSports. The pair will close out the series with a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 3 PM ET, with both games airing on SECN+.

NWSL Rivalries Kick Off Weekend Lineup with Cascadia Clash

Seattle's Jordyn Bugg defends NWSL rival Portland's Payton Linnehan during a 2024 Cascadia Clash match.
Portland will look to build on their first 2025 win in a Cascadia Clash against NWSL rivals Seattle. (Soobum Im/Imagn Images)

With a trio of old and new rivalries on deck, the 2025 NWSL season's fifth matchday promises budding top-table rivals, a bicoastal clash, and one of the league’s longest regional feuds.

Plus, with only two points separating the No. 5 and No. 12 teams in the standings, clubs will be focused on securing all three points as they strive to keep up with the season’s three remaining undefeated teams.

While the NWSL’s official Rivalry Week is still months away, this weekend’s key matchups provide some sneak-peek showdowns:

  • Seattle Reign FC vs. Portland Thorns, Friday at 10 PM ET (Prime): In the first Cascadia Clash of the season, the Thorns — fresh off their first 2025 win — face a Seattle team trying to turn around a two-game losing streak.
  • Angel City FC vs. Gotham FC, Friday at 10:30 PM ET (NWSL+): A classic East Coast vs. West Coast battle sees Gotham chasing Angel City up the table, as LA tries to keep their unbeaten streak alive against one of the league's more dangerous rosters.
  • Orlando Pride vs. Washington Spirit, Saturday at 5:05 PM ET (ION): The Pride downed the Spirit at the 2024 NWSL Championship before Washington enacted revenge in the 2025 Challenge Cup, with both powerhouses now aiming for regular-season bragging rights.

As NWSL teams push for early-season positioning, this weekend’s action promises to up the stakes by tapping into rising tensions and rivalries — both old and new.

Angel City hires new coach in Bundesliga's Alexander Straus

On Thursday, Angel City announced that the club officially filled its head coaching vacancy, hiring Frauen Bundesliga manager Alexander Straus to take over the LA team after his current season leading Bayern Munich ends on June 1st.

After more than a decade coaching in the club and youth national system of his home country Norway, Straus took charge of Bayern Munich in 2022, leading the German team to back-to-back league titles.

His 2024/25 squad is on track to claim a third straight Bundesliga trophy, and recently exited the competitive UEFA Champions League tournament in the quarterfinal round.

Following manager Becki Tweed's firing in December, ACFC tapped Sam Laity to serve as interim head coach as the club conducted an extensive global search for the permanent position.

"When we set out to hire our head coach, we looked for specific characteristics such as a dominant style of play, a proven winner at the highest level, a focus on player development, a collaborative mindset, and a leader in high performance," said ACFC sporting director Mark Parsons in a club statement. "Alex fits this profile at every measure."

Still undefeated entering the fifth matchday of the 2025 NWSL season, Angel City will continue under Laity until Straus's arrival.

The interim manager will then shift into an assistant coach capacity as Straus leads the 2022 expansion franchise as it hunts a second-ever postseason berth.

UWCL Powerhouses Face Off in 2024/25 Champions League Semifinals

Chelsea's Lauren James dribbles away from Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí during their 2023/24 Champions League semifinal.
Chelsea takes aim at defending Champions League victors Barcelona in this weekend's semifinals. (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals begin this weekend, as four powerhouse clubs familiar with the UWCL spotlight kick off their first matches of the two-leg round.

France's Olympique Lyonnais, Spain's Barcelona FC, and England's Arsenal and Chelsea will battle it out, with just two tickets to the winner-take-all May 24th final in Portugal on the line.

"The coolest thing about big tournaments and high-stake games is you might be expecting something, and you get something completely different," Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Lindsey Heaps told reporters this week. "That's when you see the best teams come out, and they're able to adjust."

Lyon's Lindsey Heaps and Melchie Dumornay celebrate teammate Tabitha Chawinga's goal during the 2024/25 Champions League quarterfinals.
Lyon will face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in Saturday's 2024/25 Champions League semifinal. (Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Champions League semis pit WSL against European elite

Arguably topping the four-contender list are defending champs Barcelona, with the Spanish side hunting a fourth UWCL title in five years. First, however, they'll have to contend with a stacked Chelsea team hungry to lift a first-ever Champions League trophy — one that could clinch a historic quadruple.

Meanwhile, with both the men's and women's sides reaching this season's Champions League semifinals, Arsenal will square off against eight-time champions Lyon in a quest to claim their first UWCL title in over 18 years.

Both WSL titans are chasing history against their European opponents, with Arsenal still the only UK team to ever win Champions League.

The Gunners will kick off the round by hosting Lyon in their 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.

"Playing at the Emirates, and the hunger and the belief that we have as a team at the moment, we're going to go and play our game to the best we can," said Arsenal manager Renée Slegers.

With an estimated 40,000 tickets sold for the pivotal clash, Emirates provides an environment even Arsenal's opponents look forward to competing in.

"You always want these kind of crowds and this kind of atmosphere," Heaps said of the Saturday matchup. "Even if it's against you, it's the best thing in the world."

How to watch the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semifinals

The first-leg matchups of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semifinals kicks off on Saturday, when Arsenal hosts Lyon at 7:30 AM ET.

Then on Sunday, Chelsea will travel to Barcelona to take on the reigning champs at 12 PM ET.

Both matches will air live on DAZN.

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