Emma Hruby
Mar 26, 2024
Paige Bueckers’ college career hasn’t been an easy one, but that hasn't stopped her from stepping up in the biggest moments.
On Monday, Bueckers had 32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and four steals to help UConn to its 30th-straight Sweet 16, a NCAA tournament record.
It comes a year after Bueckers missed the NCAA tournament with an ACL tear. On Monday, she said she “prayed so hard a year ago today to be in my shoes where I'm at right now."
Syracuse coach Felisha Legette-Jack said that the Bueckers she saw on Monday – which included an NCAA tournament career-best in points – was better than the Bueckers that led her team her freshman year.
With 60 points to start the NCAA tournament, Bueckers is the first D-I player in the last 25 years with at least 60 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists through the first two games of the tournament.
"Paige was amazing her freshman year ... [Now] she's way better," Legette-Jack said. "I've known Geno since I was a freshman at Syracuse University. Paige is one of the top three that ever came through those doors."
UConn coach Geno Auriemma echoed the sentiment, but went one step higher.
"We have the best player in America," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "The stats will tell you one thing ... But it's when they happen and how they impact the game that's so remarkable. I just think this team will go as far as she's able to carry that kind of a load.”
Now the Huskies will play 7-seed Duke in the Sweet 16, where they lost last year and their streak of 14 straight Final Four appearances was snapped by the Ohio StateBuckeyes.
"We're fortunate," Auriemma said. "We get to go back to where it ended for us last year. I think we're a different team, different mindset, and we're hoping for a different outcome."
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Emma Hruby
Mar 29, 2024
Caitlin Clark received an invite to USA Basketball camp, which will take place in Cleveland on April 3-5.
It could be an even busier weekend for the Iowa star, should the Hawkeyes make the Final Four, which also take place in Cleveland from April 5-7. Should they fall short, Clark would be able to take part in the senior team camp. She’s the lone college player named to the roster, which is filled with WNBA stars.
Clark currently leads Division I in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, and is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft on April 15.
Dates have yet to be announced for when the two women’s basketball Olympic teams will be announced for 5-on-5 and 3x3. The Paris Olympics are set to take place from July 26 to Aug. 11, with the U.S. looking for its eighth consecutive gold medal in 5-on-5. They won the first 3x3 Olympic tournament at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Nine former Olympians are set to take part in the camp in Cleveland, including five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi. Others include Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics); Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces); Brittney Griner (Mercury); Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm); and Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty).
Former No. 1 picks Aliyah Boston (Indiana) and Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream) were also invited to camp.
Emma Hruby
Mar 29, 2024
Barcelona is set to take on Chelsea once again in the Champions League semifinals, and coach Jonatan Giráldez has his sights set on ending Chelsea’s run.
It’s a rematch of last year’s semifinal, only this time both coaches are coaching in their final leg of UWCL matches with their respective teams. Giráldez will depart Barcelona for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit upon the conclusion of the season, while Chelsea’s Emma Hayes is set to take over the USWNT.
While Giráldez has won the Champions League before with Barcleona, it’s the one trophy that has eluded Hayes in her time at Chelsea.
"Emma's legacy is in what she has done at Chelsea and the growth [at the club] over more than 10 years," Giráldez said. "She has done a magnificent job at the club. The next [manager] will have bar set very high because she has done amazing things.
"She will hope to go out with a Champions League [trophy], but we are here to try and make sure that doesn't happen and to bring it home, which is our objective."
In her time with Chelsea, Hayes has won six Women’s Super League titles and five FA Cups. Chelsea has made the UWCL final just once – in 2021, when the team lost to Barcelona. Barcelona then ended Chelsea’s hopes again last year, winning 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinal before winning their second UWCL trophy in four years.
The first leg of this year’s semifinal is set to be played at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium, with Chelsea then playing at home in the second leg.
"It will be a very even tie," Giráldez added. "Chelsea are a great side and the club have invested in the women's game in recent years -- and it shows. They've done well in the Champions League and are in great form, but so are we. I would have preferred to have the second leg at home, but it's not something we can control."
Emma Hruby
Mar 29, 2024
USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert has apologized for past social media activity that appeared to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content and for liking an Instagram post that made light of Megan Rapinoe’s injury in her final professional game.
The posts caused Rapinoe to call out the midfielder, who now wears Rapinoe’s No. 15, on Instagram, addressing her note to “the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’” and saying that “all you believe in is hate.”
Rapinoe’s comments were then shared by USWNT teammate Becky Sauerbrunn, as well as others like Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis and Kristie Mewis.
Among the posts reposted to Albert’s TikTok was a Christian sermon talking about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. The posts surfaced earlier this week and garnered widespread attention among fans of women’s soccer.
Albert started in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League game on Thursday, scoring in the 70th minute. Following the game, and hours after Rapinoe’s post, Albert posted an apology to her Instagram.
"I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media," Albert wrote in a post shared on her Instagram story late Thursday. "Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent. I'm really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended.
“I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s an honor and a privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.”
U.S. Soccer has yet to address Albert’s social media activity, although she is set to join the USWNT next week in camp ahead of the SheBelieves Cup, which starts on April 6.
Emma Hruby
Mar 29, 2024
Former USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe took to Instagram to implicitly call out current USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert’s past social media activity.
Albert, who now wears Rapinoe’s No. 15, came under fire this week for previous social media activity that included her appearing to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content and like an Instagram post that made light of Rapinoe’s injury in her final professional game.
Rapinoe tore her Achilles in the NWSL championship, and Albert, via a screengrab, appeared to like a post from a meme account that read: “God taking time off performing miracles to make sure Megan Rapinoe sprains her ankle in her final ever game.”
Albert’s Instagram handle appeared to have liked the post in the screengrab, although the original appears to have been deleted as of March 28.
On Thursday, Rapinoe posted her reaction to Albert’s activity via an Instagram story.
“To the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’ I would just ask one question, are you making any time of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone?” she wrote. “… because if you aren’t all you believe in is hate. And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake TF up! Yours Truly, #15.”
She signed off her note saying, “For all my trans homies enduring this horrific treatment day in and day out, I see you and hear you and I am WITH YOU.”
USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn reshared the post on Thursday, captioning it, “Well said.” Other former teammates and current USWNT members also shared the post, including Lynn Williams, Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis and Kristie Mewis.
When asked for comment by The Athletic, Rapinoe said the post was a response to Albert’s social media activity, but also noted that her focus is on protecting queer lives and sharing concerns over how online discussions and anti-trans sentiment can have real-world consequences.
Rapinoe isn’t the only USWNT member to have supported trans rights. Long-time captain Becky Sauerbrunn wrote an op-ed for a Missouri newspaper in support of allowing trans girls and women to play sports. In the final game of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, held in Texas, players wore wristbands with the words “Protect Trans Kids” on the same day that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for state employees to report the parents of trans children to the authorities.
Following her Champions League match with club team Paris Saint-Germain, Albert posted an apology to Instagram.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media,” she wrote. “Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent.
“I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s an honor and a privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.”
