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Paralympian Oksana Masters says sports were ‘therapy’ after amputations

Masters reacts after winning the biathlon women’s sprint sitting event in Beijing. (Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Oksana Masters, the winner of 17 medals between the Winter and Summer Games, is the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time.

Before she even became a professional athlete and reached the Paralympic podium, Masters used sports as a way to process a traumatic and challenging childhood.

“Rowing and sports wasn’t competitive for me, it was therapy for me,” Masters tells Kelley O’Hara on the latest episode of The Players’ Pod. “That release I got afterward was my way to kind of let it all out and process things.”

Born in Ukraine, Masters lived in three different orphanages until she was adopted by her mother when she was seven and a half. A moratorium on all foreign adoptions prolonged the process, but Masters’ mother was adamant.

“I just lived what I knew. It was my mom who actually created a life for me and fought for me,” Masters says. “She chose to stick by me, and she never went to see me in real life. She was basing my adoption on a picture.”

After moving to Buffalo, N.Y. with her mom, a trip to the dentist revealed that Masters — who was born just three years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster — had radiation in her teeth. The Paralympian’s congenital issues also stemmed from the radiation, forcing Masters to have both of her legs amputated, her first when she was nine years old and her second when she was 14.

“At 13, I was told they can no longer save it after telling me all these years that I will never have to amputate the second one,” Masters tells O’Hara. “That amputation was a lot harder, and I struggled with it. I just hit this wall of depression and hating life.”

Masters recalls being bedridden for months after the second amputation due to complications with the surgery. She was also resentful after being told her leg wouldn’t be amputated above her knee, only to wake up and see her leg amputated to her waist.

Sports pulled Masters through the dark times, and rowing served as her escape.

“When I was 13, I was terrified to take my leg off, leave it on the dock, and just get in the boat and row,” Masters says. “That was the first time I actually felt in control, and I felt powerful with my body instead of hating my body in a way.”

After her procedure, all Masters could think about was getting back out on the water. “The only thing that really kept me going and kept me motivated and hungry for life was to get back on that boat,” she says.

Masters won her first Paralympic medal in Pararowing, taking home a bronze in trunk and arms mixed double sculls at the 2012 London Games. Earlier this year, she won a record-breaking seven medals at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Listen to the full episode of The Players’ Pod for more on Masters’s incredible journey to Paralympic success.

Holiday NCAA Basketball Sees Notre Dame Lose Two, South Carolina Rebound

South Carolina's Joyce Edwards shoots a basket against Iowa State on Thursday.
The Gamecocks beat then-No. 15 Iowa State by 40 points on Thursday. (Kelly Gavin/Getty Images)

NCAA basketball teams traveled to off-campus mini-tournaments during last week's Thanksgiving break, with results showing that some teams feasted while others fought over leftovers.

Reigning national champions South Carolina went on a redemption tour at the Fort Myers Tip-Off, while Notre Dame struggled at the Cayman Islands Classic.

Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo looks up in frustration during a women's college ncaa basketball game.
The Irish followed a big win against USC with two straight losses. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Notre Dame drops two NCAA basketball games in a row

Following last week's huge win against title contender No. 6 USC, then-No. 3 Notre Dame hit an unexpected skid over the weekend, falling first 76-68 to then-No. 17 TCU on Friday before further stumbling 78-67 against unranked Utah on Saturday.

Star guard Hannah Hidalgo's 27 points weren't enough to topple the Horned Frogs, who saw center Sedona Prince and guards Hailey Van Lith and Madison Connor put up a combined average of almost 20 points in the Friday battle.

Similarly, though Notre Dame junior guard Sonia Citron's 22 points made her the only player on either team to sink more than 16 points on Saturday, the Utes' team effort won the day. Seven Utah athletes drained at least five points, with four notching double-digits.

"I just thought today our depth hurt us with our foul trouble, and consecutive games back-to-back against two really good teams," head coach Niele Ivey said of the Irish's first successive losses since 2021.

South Carolina bounces back in style

On the other hand, then-No. 4 South Carolina bounced back big time from their first regular-season loss since 2022 on Thursday, defeating then-No. 15 Iowa State 76-36 to right the ship after last weekend's UCLA upset.

The Gamecocks' defense controlled the floor throughout the first half, allowing just nine points from the Cyclones while nine different South Carolina players scored.

Only four Iowa State players put up points in the matchup, with sophomore star Audi Crooks shooting far below her season average at just 13 points.

"Obviously, there were some lapses in the UCLA game that weren't characteristic of us," commented South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. "That is our nemesis — to be able to lock in on both sides of the ball and not have as many lapses or put them on the free-throw line as much as we did."

South Carolina continued making a statement on Saturday, when 11 Gamecocks — including seven double-digit scorers — combined to handily defeat Purdue 99-51.

TCU guard Hailey Van Lith drive to the basket during a college ncaa basketball game.
No. 9 TCU jumped eight AP poll spots Monday to their first-ever Top 10 ranking. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Early season losses shake up NCAA basketball rankings

With five teams from last week's AP Top 10 already racking up early non-conference losses, Monday's Top 25 reflected the chaos.

Notre Dame plummeted seven spots to No. 7 thanks to their stalled weekend offense, while South Carolina leveled up to No. 3 with their weekend wins. After suffering the 40-point blowout loss to the Gamecocks, Iowa State took the week's second-biggest tumble, dropping five spots to No. 20.

UCLA maintained their grip on No. 1 after complementing last week's upset over reigning champs South Carolina with three additional wins, with No. 2 UConn holding steady just behind the Bruins.

The week's biggest riser was TCU, whose victory over the Irish launched them eight spots to No. 9 — the program's first-ever Top 10 ranking.

Boosting the Big Ten to a league-leading nine ranked teams this week is poll season debutants and state rivals No. 23 Michigan and No. 24 Michigan State, who make their first AP appearances since 2023 and 2021, respectively.

How to watch NCAA women's basketball this week

Monday's rankings raised the stakes in this week's matchups, with two Top 10 games emerging on Thursday's docket.

First, No. 4 Texas will put their undefeated season on the line against the skidding No. 10 Notre Dame at 7 PM ET. Live coverage will air on ESPN.

Then, No. 3 South Carolina will host new-No. 8 Duke, who'll take aim at the Gamecocks' win-streak recovery at 9 PM ET, also airing on ESPN.

Puck Drops on 2024/25 PWHL Season

The referee drops the puck on the first game of the PWHL's second season between Toronto and Boston on Saturday.
Toronto, New York, and Montreal kicked off the PWHL's second season with big wins. (Michael Chisholm/Getty Images)

This weekend saw the PWHL's second season hit the ground running with new rules, overtime upsets, and a bevy of goals punctuating opening-day wins for Toronto, Montreal, and New York.

With an elongated 2024/25 schedule including a Takeover Tour hitting nine non-market cities, the second-year league aims to harness and build on last season's momentum while eyeing 2025/26 expansion.

New PWHL 'No Escape' rule means more goals

Part of capitalizing on last year's success is an effort to increase excitement via more goals on this season's ice. To do so, the league debuted its "No Escape Rule" over the weekend, which bars players from being subbed off in the first penalty-kill face-off.

By keeping defensive specialists on the bench during early power-play moments, the PWHL is addressing the fact that defense ruled the day last season.

Though too early to properly assess, the weekend's trio of opening matchups served six power-play goals on 19 attempts, fully doubling last season’s efficiency rate.

Boston goalie Aerin Frankel saves a shot in their Saturday PWHL season-opening loss to Toronto.
The first win of the 2024/25 PWHL season went to Toronto on Saturday. (Michael Chisholm/Getty Images)

Sceptres start second PWHL season with Boston beatdown

Toronto and Boston kicked off 2024/25 play, with Fleet captain Hilary Knight registering the league's first goal of the season three minutes into the Saturday afternoon game. Unfortunately, that would be Boston's only tally, as last season's regular-season champs took control to best the Fleet 3-1.

The Sceptres did so without the league's leading scorer, 2023/24 Billie Jean King MVP winner Natalie Spooner, who is still working back from knee surgery following her postseason injury last May.

In her stead, Sarah Nurse notched Toronto's equalizer, with Emma Maltais sending in the eventual game-winner late in the first period. Hannah Miller's power-play goal in the game's waning minutes cushioned the Sceptres' offense-heavy victory.

Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin celebrates her game-winner in Saturday's shootout PWHL win over Ottawa.
Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin secured the Victoire's first-ever shootout win on Saturday. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Overtime takes center ice to open PWHL season

The weekend's other two games needed additional time to decide a winner, with Saturday night's tilt culminating in Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin registering the game-winner in a shootout victory over the Ottawa Charge.

Still locked in a 3-3 tie following a scoreless overtime, Poulin's fifth-round penalty goal broke the stalemate to give the Victoire its first-ever shootout win in franchise history.

"To get that first win, it feels good to be at home, getting to have that shootout win," the 33-year-old star known as "Captain Clutch" noted after the game. "We just gotta keep going and don't take it for granted."

Notably, Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer made a massive season-opening statement in the loss, saving 42 of the 45 shots she faced to put the league's offensive lines on notice.

The biggest upset of the weekend went to New York, who defeated inaugural champions Minnesota 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. After conceding a bullet from Frost forward and 2023/24 Rookie of the Year Grace Zumwinkle 21 seconds into the game — the fastest goal in PWHL history — the Sirens kept answering to end regulation in a 3-3 tie.

With their own blink-or-you'll-miss-it moment, New York clinched the win 19 seconds into overtime, when rookie Sarah Fillier, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, found veteran star Alex Carpenter, who buried the game-winning goal.

How to watch the PWHL this week

The PWHL will be all over the ice this week prior to their mid-December international break for the Euro Hockey Tour.

In the three midweek bouts, Toronto will take aim at hosts Ottawa at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage on the PWHL's YouTube channel.

The puck will also drop on both of Wednesday's matchups at 7 PM ET, when Minnesota will visit Boston as each battles for a season-first win while overtime victors New York and Montreal face-off to remain undefeated. Both games will stream live on YouTube, with additional regional coverage for their respective matchups on NESN in Boston and MSG Network in New York.

Barbra Banda Wins 2024 BBC Footballer of the Year

Orlando's Barbra Banda celebrates her goal in the 2024 NWSL Championship.
Orlando's Barbra Banda is the 2024 BBC Footballer of the Year. (Amy Kontras/Imagn Images)

After stellar performances for both club and country, Orlando Pride star striker Barbra Banda is the 2024 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year, becoming the eighth player across the annual award's 10 editions to earn the trophy on Tuesday.

At just 24 years old, Banda became the highest-scoring African player in Olympic history this past summer, registering four goals — including her third Olympic hat trick — despite Zambia's group-stage elimination.

In her first season in the league, Banda finished the 2024 NWSL season second in scoring with 13 regular-season goals. She led the Pride to their first-ever Shield and Championship wins, claiming the Championship MVP trophy with her title-winning goal. Plus, with four postseason goals, Banda set a new NWSL playoff scoring record.

The fans' favorite footballer

Fans ultimately select the annual BBC Footballer of the Year award by voting on a five-player shortlist. That shortlist is determined by a large panel of international soccer experts, including coaches, players, administrators, and independent journalists. The panel chose this year's nominees based on their performances from September 2023 to August 2024.

Though usually heavy with UK-based athletes, this year's field lacked any club or country connection with the nation. To claim the award, Banda beat out fellow finalists Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen of Barcelona FC, and fellow NWSL standouts Sophia Smith (Portland) and Naomi Girma (San Diego).

Banda is now just the second winner in the award's decade-long history without a connection to England. She joins two-time victor Ada Hegerberg, a Norwegian national and striker for Lyon, in that elite club.

A surprised Banda was quick to share credit with her Orlando teammates upon hearing the news, telling the Pride, "I'm just dedicating this award to every one of you guys who has been there for me."

USWNT Prepares for Saturday Friendly with International Rivals England

A sign at Wembley Stadium reads 'England v USA' prior to the pair's 2022 friendly.
The last time the USWNT played England, the Lionesses booked a 2-1 win at Wembley. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images).

In a clash between the world's best, the No. 1 USWNT will face No. 2 England for the first time in two years on Saturday, kicking off in front of more than 80,000 fans at London's iconic Wembley Stadium.

The first of the USWNT's final two games of 2024, Saturday's US lineup will be without "Triple Espresso" forwards Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman.

The team will also will begin the process of replacing legendary goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher​, who announced earlier this week that this international window will be her last in at US kit.

England defender Lucy Bronze tries to dribble past USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson during their 2022 match at Wembley.
Lucy Bronze hopes to lead England past their US rivals for a second time at Wembley on Saturday. (Erin Chang/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The USWNT and England's transatlantic rivalry

The history between the two standout international squads has fostered a fierce and friendly rivalry.

Saturday's match will be the 20th meeting between the pair, with the US holding the all-time with a 12-5-2 record. Their last showdown — a 2022 tilt at Wembley — ended in a 2-1 Lioness victory. However, the US won the pair's most recent world tournament battle by ousting England 2-1 from the 2019 World Cup.

"We’ve somehow created a rivalry across the ocean," England defender Lucy Bronze commented when the match was announced earlier this year. "We’re always excited when the US come over, the fans are as well.... I’m sure Wembley will be rocking."

England head coach Sarina Weigman looks on prior to a 2025 Euro qualifying match.
Head coaches Sarina Weigman and Emma Hayes both have ties to England and the US. (Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Two of the best bosses in the business

While the top-ranked rosters will star on Saturday's pitch, the sideline will feature two women who are arguably the best head coaches in the women's game — England's Sarina Weigman and the USWNT's Emma Hayes. Even more, both have ties to each of the contending countries.

Former Dutch national team player Weigman, who later coached the Netherlands to the 2017 European Championship and the 2019 World Cup final, spent a season playing in the US for the University of North Carolina. Alongside USWNT legends Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, she helped lead the Tar Heels to their 1989 NCAA Championship trophy.

England lured Weigman away from the Netherlands in 2021, making her the first non-British manager of the national team. She repeated the same success she had with the Dutch, with the Lionesses becoming 2022 Euros champs before advancing to the 2023 World Cup final.

USWNT head coach Emma Hayes stands in front of her hometown Camden pub in London.
Born in London, Hayes will lead the visiting USWNT at Wembley on Saturday. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

USWNT boss Emma Hayes's triumphant return

As for Hayes, who grew up in London, her USWNT tenure is still only a few months old, but she cut her teeth stateside. Hayes coached in the US at the college and pro level, first with the USL and later in the folded WPS. After returning to England, she helmed Chelsea FC, building the club into the championship-winning behemoth it is today.

The return to her old stomping grounds is especially poignant for the 2024 Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year.

"Wembley’s like a second home to me, not just as a kid going there but as a manager [at Chelsea] I had a lot of success there," Hayes told reporters after the friendly was announced. "It’ll be amazing to go back, play 20 minutes from my house and play against some amazing players in England — I’m looking forward to it."

The 2027 World Cup trophy sits on a pedestal before a sign announcing Brazil as the host nation.
Saturday's match is part of Hayes' plan to lead the USWNT to a 2027 World Cup title. (Thananuwat Srirasant - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

US, England eyeing future titles

Though the stakes in any friendly are always relatively low, a win on Saturday offers the victor a significant momentum boost as each look toward upcoming continental and world competitions.

Gearing up to defend their title in Switzerland next summer, the reigning European champs are aiming to bounce back after a 4-3 loss to Germany last month. Meanwhile, the US is already staring down the 2027 World Cup after earning Olympic gold in Paris last August.

"We're coming to win at the weekend," Hayes said ahead of Saturday's match. "But that’s not my overarching goal. I want to qualify for the World Cup and I want to win the World Cup."

How to watch the USWNT vs. England international friendly

The USWNT kicks off against England's Lionesses at 12:20 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage on TNT.

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