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The Defining Moments of Sharapova’s Career

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Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis this week at the age of 32. Since arriving in America with her father in 1994 with less than $1,000 (and speaking no English), Sharapova has won five Grand Slam titles en route to becoming one of the most iconic figures in the world of sports. Below, we remember the moments that defined her career. 

2004: Upsets Serena Williams to win Wimbledon

Seeded 13th and only 17-years-old, Sharapova pulled off one of the greatest upsets in tennis history when she knocked off Serena Williams to win Wimbledon in 2004. Serena was both the defending champion and the tournament’s top seed. The win kicked off “Maria Mania,” as a sharp increase in media attention made Sharapova an overnight celebrity.

2005: World No. 1

Sharapova became the first Russian woman to hold the world No. 1 ranking on August 22nd, 2005, and though her reign lasted only a week, she was able to reclaim the top spot in September of that year. The 2005 season was also notable for the fact that Sharapova lost to the eventual champion in every Grand Slam that she played in, further solidifying her status as an apparent up-and-coming superstar.

2006: US Open champion

After establishing herself as one of the world’s best players in the years since her Wimbledon victory, Sharapova returned to the top of the mountain by defeating top-seed Amélie Mauresmo to win the US Open.

2008: Australian Open champion and lingering shoulder issues 

Sharapova won the 2008 Australian Open without dropping a set all tournament. However, an MRI scan later in the year revealed that Sharapova had been suffering from a torn rotator cuff since April. After a failed attempt to rehabilitate the shoulder, Sharapova had surgery, beginning what would become an ongoing cycle of treatment and injury. Even in a retirement interview with The New York Times, Sharapova said her shoulder hasn’t been fully healthy since before her 2008 surgery.

2012: Career Grand Slam

After multiple years of struggling to return to form, Sharapova had a personal renaissance in 2012. First, she won the French Open, completing a Career Grand Slam and regaining the No. 1 ranking in the world. Then, she became the first female to ever bear the Russian national flag at the 2012 Olympics, where she won a silver medal after losing to Serena Williams in the final.

2013: Off-court feud with Serena 

After Sharapova upset Serena in 2004, many believed the next great tennis rivalry had been born. However, after topping Serena once more in 2004, Sharapova never beat her again, and with her retirement, the all-time record officially stands 20-2 in Serena’s favor. Instead of an athletic rivalry, we were given a personal feud, which officially broke into the public in 2013. Serena opened the exchange by taking an apparent shot at Sharapova’s boyfriend at the time (rumored to be one of Serena’s exes), claiming he had a “black heart.” Sharapova responded by pretending to be above it all before hinting that Serena might be dating her own coach.

2016: Doping charges and sharp decline 

Sharapova released a letter in March of 2016 saying that she had failed a drug test at that year’s Australian Open. In her letter, Sharapova admitted to testing positive for meldonium, which had been added to the WADA’s banned substance list on January 1st, 2016 (and which was illegal in the US, though not in Russia). Sharapova, who had reportedly been taking the drug for 10 years to treat a magnesium deficiency, an irregular EKG, and a family history of diabetes, claimed to have overlooked the multiple warnings she was given in the lead-up to the ban.

The charges kept Sharapova off the court for 15 months and seriously tarnished her reputation among competitors, as following her reinstatement, she was given multiple wild-card invitations to major tournaments despite only just coming off a major suspension. Her subsequent decline in performance also forced fans to reconsider her on-court accomplishments. While age and chronic injuries certainly played a factor, given how long Sharapova had successfully competed with a bad shoulder, it was hard not to notice how quickly her game deteriorated post suspension.

2020: Announces retirement

By announcing her retirement in February, Sharapova guaranteed there’d be no farewell tour for one of the most famous names in the world of sports. Now we can start debating where she ranks all-time. For many, Sharapova is only on the fringes, given her pitiful record against Serena and her great-but-not-amazing final total of five Grand Slams.

The major discrepancies between Sharapova’s on-court accomplishments and off-court celebrity have been a source of controversy for over a decade. She was the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 years straight, which is a testament to not only her personal hustle and brand management, but also her famously marketable appearance. It’s hard to fault Sharapova for maximizing her earnings potential (and bringing attention to her sport while doing so). And yet, it’s also clear that she was able to monetize her image in ways her competitors could not, even as she was continually out-performed on the court.

Summarizing Sharapova’s career in a neat, final judgment is neither possible nor interesting. Whether or not her trophy case ever warranted her endorsement profile, the fact is she won our attention again and again. And in the world of sports, there may be no greater victory.

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."

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