All Scores

Imani Mcgee-Stafford Talks Stepping Away From the WNBA to Pursue Her Law Degree

ICON SPORTSWIRE/GETTY IMAGES

Imani McGee-Stafford is a professional basketball player who recently announced her decision to take a two-year hiatus from the WNBA in order to pursue a law degree from Southwestern Law School in LA. A University of Texas graduate, McGee-Stafford was drafted 10th overall in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. Named to the WNBA All-Rookie team, McGee-Stafford went on to play for both Atlanta Dream and the Dallas Wings. Below, she discusses what inspired her to return to school and how she handled her earlier transition from college to the pros.

When did you first become interested in pursuing a degree in law? 

I started thinking about law school after Dr. Ford’s testimony in the Brett Kavanaugh hearing a couple of years ago. The fact that we would feel comfortable putting someone accused of these things in the highest job in the land was just crazy to me. Then couple that with Trump’s sexual assault allegations, and it just showed me that we really don’t care about women as a country. And that’s when I started thinking, how can I help change that? The only route that made sense to me was being a lawyer.

Do you think that your basketball career is over or do you hope to return to the league after you graduate from law school?

We’ll see what life has. But my goal is to take a two-year hiatus, which will probably end up being one, because I don’t think we’re going to have a season this year, then come back and play for a couple of years and then retire and do law.

What kind of message do you think pursuing a degree in law sends to your fans who look up to you as an athlete?

I think that because athletes are notably great at their sport, people believe that we can only be great at one thing. It is really hard for people to picture athletes doing anything other than athletics, because that is usually what they’re best at. For me, I’m totally an idealistic child when it comes to the fact that I really want to see if I can have it all. I want to live like five lives, because I just want to do so much. Hopefully fans that look up to me understand that you can do whatever you really set your mind to. I mean, I got into law school with a full scholarship. I had to work really hard for it, but it’s possible.

Looking back, did you know that you wanted to pursue basketball professionally when you were playing at Texas?

Not until my last two years. It just became more tangible towards the end of my college career. For one, I always used basketball as a means to an end. I wanted a free education and to major in accounting, and Texas has the number one accounting program in the country. That was what I focused on when picking a school. Also, I didn’t really think I was good enough and I wasn’t a “sports-first” type of person. But then, my junior year, I started off the season with an injury and I pretty much spent the whole year on what felt like one leg. But I still did really well and won some Big 12 accolades. That’s when I was like, “Wow. Maybe I can keep hanging and go far with basketball.”

Did you follow the WNBA at that point and were there any teams that you were hoping to get drafted by?

I’m different because my mom played for the WNBA, so I’ve kind of been around it my entire life. I wanted to go to Dallas, ironically, or San Antonio, because I was already in Texas and at that time was married to my ex-husband who had also gone to Texas. So I wanted to just stay close. Then if that didn’t happen, which it didn’t, I wanted to go to Chicago because I knew Pokey [Chatman] really liked me — she was the head coach at Chicago at the time. I wanted to be with whoever really liked me.

Can you remember your reaction and your thoughts when you were drafted?

Relief, probably, because it’s a really scary, nerve-wracking kind of situation as you’re waiting for your name to get called. It feels like two minutes takes forever to pass. You’re not in control, and you really don’t know where you’re going. So when I finally got drafted, it was mostly just relief, and I was excited, because I got to go to Chicago. I knew that Pokey really wanted me on her team.

What made your transition from college ball to the league so successful?

I think I was just well-prepared. Shout-out to my college coach and my family and friends. When I was getting interviewed before the draft, I talked to Dan Hughes, who’s now the coach of Seattle, but he was San Antonio’s coach at the time. He asked me a question, and it was super simple. He said, “What do you bring to the game every time you step on the court?” I don’t remember how I answered in the moment, but it was something I really thought about and took with me as I entered the league. To play at the WNBA level, you have to do something great and you have to consistently do it great, every day. Maybe you’re a scorer or maybe you’re just a rebounder. Whatever it is, you have to leave the college mindset of being a “do-it-all player” and figure out what it is you do great every day.

Some people are special and they can be that same player they are in college. But most players have to transition based on the new team they are playing with, and I think I was able to do that. What I bring every day is energy. I talk. I’m loud. I’m locked in. I’m a defensive presence and a rebounder. Defense is what I enjoy doing, and it’s what I’m known for doing. I’m going to bring you great energy, and I’m going to know the scouting report, up and down, every day. Regardless of who steps up in front of me, I’m going to be ready every day.

You have a very athletic family. You mentioned that your mom played in the WNBA, and your brother plays in the NBA. How much has your family’s experience with professional basketball impacted you as a player? 

Heading into the league, it was helpful in terms of knowing what to expect. I had the benefit of asking some of the greats — Tina Thompson, Lisa Leslie, my mom — about what to expect and how to be successful. But ultimately, around my second year in the league, I figured out how to measure my own success. That helped alleviate a feeling of pressure, as I just acknowledged that I may never actually attain the success that my family has, but that doesn’t mean I’m failing.

What was it about your second year that helped you come to that realization? 

My rookie year, I was starting. I was on the All-Rookie team. I was playing in the semifinals as a rookie. Then, the next season, my coach got fired, and I did not mesh well with the new coach at all. I went from having a significant role to not playing at all, even though I felt as though I was better than the other people in my position. That was when I had to figure out what success looks like for me. How can I measure something when it’s not really in my control? How do I take inventory of what I think my success is and make small, tangible goals, even though my playing time is out of my control? That’s when I learned to be my own judge.

Looking ahead, do you have a specific interest in terms of what type of law you’d like to practice? 

I am interested in civil litigation and public interest law. I want to be a research lawyer and help change laws around women’s rights and sexual violence. We need more women in the field. The people who make laws and policy advocate for what they know and for people who look like them. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of people of color nor women of color in those positions. I want to get to that position so that I can help people like me.

Wimbledon Increases Prize Money, Winner to Receive $4.07 Million

Czechia's Barbora Krejčíková celebrates a point during the 2024 Wimbledon final.
2025 Wimbledon competitors could win up to 11.1% more prize money this year. (Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images)

Wimbledon is leveling up, as the annual London-based Grand Slam announced Thursday that it's increasing its purse by 7% across the board in 2025, pushing the total prize money to £53.5 million ($72.59 million) ahead of tennis tournament's June 30th kick-off.

Both the 2025 women's and men's singles champions will earn winner's checks in the amount of £3 million ($4.07 million) — an 11.1% increase over the amount won by 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková.

With increases across all Slam events, from singles and doubles to wheelchair competitions, even athletes who stumble early will see a raise over last year's competition.

For example, singles players ousted in this year's first round will take home 10% more than in 2024, earning deposits of £66,000 ($89,530).

The 2025 total purse now doubles the prize money offered by the tournament a decade ago, and makes Wimbledon the biggest potential payday across all four of the sport's Grand Slams.

"We're immensely proud of the fact that, if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period and 7% this year," said All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club chair Deborah Jevans. "And we have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players."

Canadian Swimmer Summer McIntosh Breaks 3rd World Record in Five Days

Canadian star swimmer Summer McIntosh competes in a 2025 race.
Summer McIntosh recorded three world records in five days at the 2025 Canadian swimming trials. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Teen swimmer Summer McIntosh made a major splash at the 2025 Canadian Swimming Trials, shattering three world records in just five days of competition in Victoria, BC.

First on Saturday, the Toronto swimmer shaved 1.2 seconds off the Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400-meter freestyle mark to set a new world record time of 3:54.18.

Then on Monday, McIntosh took down a decade-old record in the 200-meter individual medley (IM), becoming the first woman swimmer to complete the race in less than 2:06.00.

Just two days later, the 18-year-old McIntosh broke her own 400-meter IM world record, besting her 2024 Canadian Olympic Trials time by 0.73 seconds with a 4:23.65 race Wednesday.

With her unstoppable week-long performance, McIntosh became the first swimmer to set three new world records in different individual events at one meet since US legend Michael Phelps's historic run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Going into tonight, I knew I could do something really special because this has probably been the best meet of my career," McIntosh told reporters after Wednesday's race.

That said, the young star is already eyeing new times — and new records.

"Overall, [I'm] happy with the time, but I know I can go faster," said McIntosh following her 400-meter IM performance. "The faster I swim, the happier I am."

NWSL Returns to California for 2025 Championship Weekend

View of PayPal Park during a 2025 NWSL match.
San Jose's PayPal Park will host the 2025 NWSL Championship in November. (Eakin Howard/NWSL via Getty Images)

The NWSL Championship is on its way back West, with the league announcing on Friday morning that the 2025 title match will kick off from PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Hosted at the home pitch of 2024 expansion team Bay FC, the game will take place on Saturday, November 22nd.

In addition to the championship match, the 2025 NWSL season's final weekend will include a variety of supporting events like Fan Fest and the annual Skills Challenge competition.

"We're thrilled to bring the NWSL Championship back to the West Coast and to a region with as rich a history in women's soccer as the Bay Area," said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman in a league statement.

Citing a long list of former USWNT stars with local ties, including Julie Foudy, Kelley O'Hara, and Alex Morgan, Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain — a US legend herself — called the Bay Area "the place women's soccer calls home."

"Our community's fabric is woven with the greatest the game has to offer," explained Chastain.

"This community's passion for the game, combined with the excitement surrounding one of our newest teams in Bay FC, makes it the perfect setting to celebrate the league's top talent and crown our next champion," said Berman.

How to attend and watch the 2025 NWSL Championship

Like last year, the 2025 NWSL Championship will air in primetime, with CBS set to broadcast the match live at 8 PM ET on November 22nd.

Tickets to the game will be available for purchase beginning in August, though interested fans can sign up for presale access online now.

NWSL, WNBA Player Unions Address ICE Raids, Voice Solidarity with Los Angeles

Orlando Pride players huddle before a 2025 NWSL match.
The NWSLPA and the WNBPA put out a joint statement addressing this week's ICE raids in Los Angeles. (Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

The NWSL and WNBA Players Associations teamed up to release a joint statement on Thursday, with the unions expressing their solidarity with "all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity" after the recent ICE raids and ensuing protests in Los Angeles.

The move comes after Angel City published their own social media post addressing the ICE raids last Saturday, with the Los Angeles NWSL club noting "We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home."

ACFC also directed immigrants in need of assistance in the wake of the ICE raids to two community organizations: the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights and the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Calling the WNBA Players Association "leaders in this space," NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke told The Athletic that the basketball union initiated their joint statement.

"It's important to stand together as workers' unions," she noted.

NWSL and WNBA unions speak to families impacted by ICE raids

"It's not lost on us that this country and the world are in turmoil right now," wrote the NWSLPA and WNBPA. "Across the country, families are facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty tied to immigration."

The athlete unions then crystallized their position, saying, "We stand with all people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity, no matter where they come from or where they hope to go."

"Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect," they continued. "We know not every situation is simple. But offering compassion should never be up for debate."

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