All Scores

Janiah Barker, Montverde win GEICO Nationals for injured Jordana Codio

(Courtesy of SEQL [Sports Equality])

When it was over, when the final buzzer had sounded on the Montverde girls’ basketball team’s GEICO Nationals victory, Janiah Barker wrapped her arms around her best friend. Together, they cried.

“We did this,” Barker said to Jordana Codio, “for you.”

Just over a year ago, the stars from opposite Florida coasts decided to team up for their senior seasons. Barker, a 5-star forward per ESPN, and Codio, a 4-star guard, had long been AAU teammates, and both were in search of a change of scenery — and a national championship.

They landed on Montverde, a boarding school about 25 miles outside Orlando long known as a powerhouse for men’s basketball. Second-year coach Special Jennings was intent on building that same reputation for the girls’ team, and Barker and Codio fit right into her vision.

Seventeen games into the season, everything was going according to plan. The Eagles had won 14 games, and Barker and Codio were the team’s two leading scorers. Then, near the end of the third quarter of Montverde’s game against Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, Fla.) on Jan. 21, Codio — whose junior season had been cut short by a torn ACL — rose for a layup.

“As I planted to go up, a girl bumped me. She was a little late to help,” Codio said. “My knee buckled on the way up, and I fell down. In that instant, I already knew I had done it again.”

Splayed out on the floor, Codio “made a scene” as her teammates surrounded her. “Oh my god! Oh my god!” she shouted, more from the emotional weight of the moment than physical pain.

An MRI revealed Codio had, in fact, suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee for the second year in a row. Codio’s dreams of winning GEICO Nationals with her best friend had been dashed, but some words of encouragement from Barker helped brighten her outlook:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Codio had good reason to believe Barker.

Her junior season at American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) had been sullied even before the first ACL tear. In response to a racial slur being used in a virtual classroom, Codio and a teammate wore “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts during pregame warm-ups. After American Heritage administration asked the players not to wear the shirts moving forward, citing a violation of uniform policy, Codio and her teammate said they would do so anyway. The following two games were then canceled. The administration said the cancellations were due to COVID-19 concerns, but others took the act as retaliation, and the story gained national attention.

It was a turbulent time, Codio said, but it brought her to a better place. She knew it was time to transfer, and she wondered if Barker might be looking to team up.

The two first met in the ninth grade on a recruiting visit to Florida, and their relationship blossomed when they discovered their on-court chemistry playing for Essence, their AAU team.

“We played really good together,” Codio said. “We were each other’s hype man.”

After three seasons at Tampa Bay Tech, where she developed into the No. 3 player in the class of 2022, Barker was also looking for a new home. She wanted to compete on the national level.

“Before I even got to Montverde, I knew GEICO was the end goal,” Barker said on an episode of WSlAM’s “All Eyes on Us.” Codio, sitting beside Barker, nodded her head silently.

For 17 games, the duo got to share the court, leading Montervde to wins over some of the nation’s best, including a 56-51 victory over Duncanville (Texas) on Nov. 26.

When Codio went down, Barker — and the rest of her Eagles teammates — found a renewed purpose.

“Everyone wanted to win for her, because she’s a fighter,” Jennings said. “We wanted to send her off the right way.”

Codio embraced her role as unofficial team mascot. Held upright by crutches, she cheered her teammates on during practice, and even helped operate the clock. By the start of GEICO Nationals last weekend, Codio had shed her crutches and was ready to watch her team from the bench.

She watched as Montverde, led by Barker’s 13 points and seven rebounds, beat DME 67-54 in the national semifinal, and then New Hope 61-57 in the final. The Eagles overcame a seven-point deficit with five minutes remaining after Jennings posed the team a question during a timeout: “How do you want to be remembered?”

As the rest of the Eagles stormed Jennings, Barker hung back and hugged Codio, who will look to mount another comeback next season as a freshman at Texas. Barker’s future is more uncertain: After Georgia coach Joni Taylor left to take the job at Texas A&M, Barker reopened her commitment.

Wherever she ends up, Barker will no doubt take inspiration from Codio’s journey. She likely won’t be the only one.

“Her story should be heard by other young girls,” Jennings said of Codio. “It takes a strong individual to go through what she’s gone through. I think that should be spoken about and celebrated.”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

‘The Late Sub’ Tackles NCAA Basketball, PWHL Hockey, and College Volleyball

Iowa State's Addy Brown tries to dribble past South Carolina's defense.
A massive win over No. 20 Iowa State helped put defending NCAA basketball champs No. 3 South Carolina back on track. (Kelly Gavin/Getty Images)

On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins takes a break from the soccer beat to catch up on other women's sports action, starting with the state of NCAA basketball, which has already seen big upsets this season, before moving onto look at some recent upheaval in the WNBA.

Later, Watkins chats about PWHL stars and how conference dominance is shaping the 2024 NCAA volleyball tournament.

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.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Sportico Report Taps Highest-Paid Women’s Sports Athletes

Highest-paid women's sports athlete Caitlin Clark smiles during a game.
Clark is the only basketball player to make Sportico's highest-paid women's sports athletes list. (Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

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.

Golfers Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko also made the cut, mirroring the LPGA Tour's expanded purses.

Report highlights endorsements in women's sports

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.

Highest-paid female athlete US tennis star Coco Gauff poses with her 2024 WTA Finals trophy
Tennis star Coco Gauff is 2024's highest-paid women's sports athlete. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Sportico's 15 highest-paid women's sports athletes

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

2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament Hits the Court

Louisville's Anna DeBeer spikes the ball against Pitt during a game.
Both Pitt and Louisville earned No. 1 seeds in the 2024 NCAA volleyball tournament. (Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal & USA Today Network/Imagn Images)

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.

ACC powerhouses take aim at first national title

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.

Nebraska's Taylor Landfair spikes the ball against NCAA volleyball conference rival Wisconsin.
No. 1 seed Nebraska and No. 2 Wisconsin landed in the same NCAA tournament quadrant. (Michael Gomez/Getty Images)

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.

USWNT Pulls Off Wild Win Over the Netherlands in 2024 Finale

USWNT forward Lynn Williams slides in the game-winning goal against the Netherlands.
Forward Lynn Williams' sliding goal gave the USWNT the 2-1 win over the Netherlands. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

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."

The USWNT celebrates their gold medal on the 2024 Olympic podium.
The USWNT finishes 2024 as the reigning Olympic champions. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

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.

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