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Naomi Osaka finds her voice in new Netflix docuseries

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Naomi Osaka is telling her story. 

In a new, eponymous Netflix docuseries, the tennis phenom lifts the curtain on her journey to international stardom. The three-part series, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Garrett Bradley and co-executive produced by LeBron James, follows Osaka’s ascendance after her landmark victory over Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open.

Premiering July 16, Bradley’s refreshingly intimate documentary drops just ahead of Osaka’s return to her sport at the Tokyo Olympics, where she will represent her home country of Japan.

After choosing to withdraw from the French Open in May to preserve her mental health — later announcing she would also be skipping Wimbledon — the world No. 2 has since revealed that she has “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning the 2018 U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam. Although the series does not touch on the current moment, it does quietly color in Osaka’s personal journey leading up to the present, showcasing her progression as both an athlete and a person.

Osaka’s decision to open up about her struggles has transformed the global conversation around athlete mental health and player rights. It also adds a level of depth to her Netflix series, as viewers watch Osaka navigate the wins and losses, as well as the media scrutiny and pressure of celebrity, culminating in the roller-coaster ride that was 2020.

The pressure to win

Like Osaka, the series emulates a warm calmness, or centeredness, even during absorbing retellings of the star’s most difficult times.

Much of the storytelling is left up to Osaka herself, captured through self-recorded videos, which provide candid insight into the tennis star’s life, while also serving as a contrast to the pre-packaged, post-match interviews in which we usually see her.

It’s in one of these selfie videos that Osaka reacts to the death of her mentor, Kobe Bryant, who tragically died during production of the docuseries. The moment feels even more crushing when Osaka reveals she had meant to reach out to the NBA icon to seek guidance amid her recent struggles. Interviews with Osaka’s mother, Tamaki, reveal the lasting gravity Bryant’s death had on Osaka’s emotional state, both on and off the court.

The pressure to win can make it lonely at the top. But in these quiet, private moments, Osaka is remarkably relatable.

Shaped by her heritage and family

“Naomi Osaka of Japan.” — Again and again, viewers hear this echoed as Osaka walks out to meet her competitors.

As the series continues, Osaka explains the significance of being a young woman of mixed heritage. Her father, Leonard Francois, is Haitian, while her mother, Tamaki Osaka, hails from Hokkaido, Japan.

“My dad has always been proud of where he comes from,” Osaka says. “Whenever I’m in hard situations, he’s always told me my ancestors were on a ship for 40 days. I use that as strength.”

Touching home videos of Osaka’s young parents pushing her stroller, as well as clips of Osaka with her younger sister, Mari, practicing their serves as children, help relay the tennis bond that continues to tie this multicultural family together.

Finding her voice

Over the past two years, Osaka has elegantly evolved from a reticent public figure into an outspoken social leader.

At the 2020 U.S. Open, she took a public stand for Black Lives Matter, wearing seven different masks to each of her seven matches. Each mask bore the name of a person of color lost to racial violence, including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Elijah McClain. In order for Osaka to display every mask, she had to make the final. In New York, she came from behind to beat Victoria Azarenka and claim her fourth Grand Slam.

“I always had this pressure to maintain this squeaky image, but now, I don’t care what anyone else has to say,” Osaka says when explaining her newfound voice.

As the 2021 ESPY winner for Best Athlete in Women’s Sports, and with plans to return to the WTA circuit after the Tokyo Olympics, now is the perfect time to reflect on just how far Osaka has come. Still just 23 years old, Naomi Osaka showcases a star in transition, one who is still discovering herself on the biggest stage.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

Gotham, USWNT forward Midge Purce out with ACL tear

(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Midge Purce announced on Wednesday that she has torn her ACL. 

The Gotham FC and USWNT forward went down with the injury on Sunday during Gotham’s 1-0 win after tweaking it earlier in the game. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós did not have any immediate updates following the match, with further evaluation revealing the tear. 

“It’s a reality I’m still struggling with and has left me with not too much to say,” Purce wrote in a statement on social media. “I’m heartbroken to no longer be available for my season with Gotham FC or for Olympic selection with the USWNT – know I’m rooting for you both all year long. 

“Though you may not see it, I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field.”

Purce is just the latest women's soccer star to tear her ACL, and joins USWNT teammate Mia Fishel in having torn her ACL in the last couple of months. Other notable players include Catarina Macario and Christen Press, with Macario only just returning to the USWNT lineup after tearing hers in 2022. 

International stars such as Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson have also suffered ACL tears. 

Purce’s injury caused Amorós to call out the international schedule, which has been a growing point of concern as more players fall victim to injuries and the playing schedule becomes more packed. Kansas City’s Debinha suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opening game, while both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have yet to play for Gotham due to injuries picked up during the W Gold Cup. 

“We lost Midge during the game which for me is a bittersweet flavor,” Amorós told reporters after Sunday’s game. “By the way, it’s another player that came from the Gold Cup. Last week, it was Debinha. We are paying the consequences of a tournament that shouldn’t have happened.”

“We’re talking about protecting the players, [who shouldn’t] go to play an international competition after one week of preseason,” Amorós continued. “We’ve seen the consequences now. We’ve got Rose, Lynn, last week it was Debinha in Kansas [City] and now we have Midge. From my experience, the clubs are going to keep paying for that competition."

In her statement, Purce said that “so many friends, teammates and even players I’ve only ever competed against” reached out to offer support. 

“I am so blessed,” she wrote. “Your messages have meant so much to me throughout this process, you have consoled what, for a moment, felt inconsolable. Thank you for reminding me that our football world is not only full with incredibly talent but also, incredible kindness.”

Lauren Jackson included on Australia Olympics roster

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Lauren Jackson of Australia celebrates with team mates after playing her final Opals game during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 3rd place match between Canada and Australia at Sydney Superdome, on October 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Lauren Jackson has come out of retirement once again to compete for a spot on Australia’s Olympic roster. 

Jackson was included on the 26-player roster named by coach Sandy Brondello on Tuesday that will take part in training camps, tours and games in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics. The roster will eventually be whittled down to just 12 players selected from the 26 named on Tuesday.

Jackson helped Australia qualify for the Olympics with a win over Germany in February. After that, she announced her retirement, revealing that she struggled to spend so much time away from her two young children. 

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Jackson and the basketball federation had come to an agreement in which they would help cover costs for her children to travel with the team for training camps and the Olympics. 

She’s largely expected to make the Opals’ Olympic roster. 

"It's always an exciting time to announce an Olympic squad and I congratulate all the athletes," Opals coach Sandy Brondello said. "They all know what it means to play for Australia and they all want the opportunity to represent their country at an Olympics. Our squad is full of exceptional talent and they will make the decision to pick a final 12 very difficult."

At the 2022 FIBA World Cup, Jackson helped Australia win a bronze medal with 30 points against Canada. She had previously retired in 2016 due to knee injuries, but slowly made a return in a domestic Australian league the last few years.

Jackson has won four Olympic medals, including three consecutive silver medals starting with Sydney in 2000 when she was a teenager. 

First two rounds of NCAA tournament boast record attendance, viewership

(David K Purdy/Getty Images)

The first two rounds of the women’s NCAA tournament broke attendance and viewership records set just last year – and it wasn’t even close. 

The NCAA announced on Tuesday that attendance for the first two rounds of the tournament was more than 292,000 – up from last year’s record, when almost 232,000 fans attended the first two rounds.

Among the host sites, Iowa had the biggest crowds with nearly 29,000 fans packing Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the first and second rounds. 

"We expected the historic success and quality of play and high level of competition from the regular season would carry through into March Madness. Our championship is again delivering," NCAA vice president of women's basketball Lynn Holzman said in a statement. "Record crowds, ratings, incredible performances and evolving storylines will continue to make the next two weeks a must-see for fans across the world."

And for those that couldn’t attend the sold-out Iowa games, they watched on television. Monday’s matchup between Iowa and West Virginia drew 4.9 million viewers, setting a record for a women’s D-I tournament game prior to the Final Four. 

It is also the third most watched tournament game in the last 20 years, behind last year’s national championship between LSU and Iowa (9.92 million) and Iowa’s Final Four win over South Carolina (5.6 million).

Iowa’s game against Holy Cross in the first round drew 3.23 million viewers. 

But it wasn’t just Iowa drawing big viewership. ESPN’s five games on Monday averaged 2.25 million viewers. UConn and Syracuse drew 2.05 million viewers while LSU and Middle Tennessee on ABC drew 2.01 million viewers on Sunday. 

The full, 16-game slate for the second round averaged 1.4 million viewers – a 121% increase from last year and the highest average ever for the second round.

The full tournament so far is averaging 812,000 viewers per game, a 108% increase from last year.

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