Photo leak of Wisconsin volleyball players under investigation - Just Women's Sports (2024)

Emma Hruby

Oct 21, 2022

The University of Wisconsin athletic department is investigating a recent leak of private photos and video of its women’s volleyball players.

While the athletic department did not offer up any details of the leaked material in its statement, it did say that the pictures and video were not intended to be made public. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, one of the photos obtained by the outlet appears to have been taken after the team won the Big Ten title last November, showing members of the team with their sports bras lifted.

Similarly, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that the photos were taken from inside the team’s locker room.

Statement from UW Athletics pic.twitter.com/M2lK2OYg8a

— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) October 19, 2022

“UWPD is not investigating the volleyball student-athletes for wrongdoing in this matter,” the statement said. “Our top priority is supporting our student-athletes and we are providing them with the appropriate services and resources.”

They called the leak a “significant and wrongful invasion” of the athletes’ privacy, with University of Wisconsin police investigating multiple crimes, “including potential violations of university policies and criminal statutes.”

According to the university, the athletes contacted the police upon becoming aware of the leak.

On Thursday, University of Wisconsin police spokesman Mac Lovicott confirmed the investigation.

Wisconsin won its first national title last year, and is currently ranked fifth in the country with a 13-3 record (7-1 Big Ten). The Badgers are set to play Michigan State on Friday.

Dee Lab

Aug 23, 2024

As the WNBA calendar counts downand teams jockey for a placein the postseason,theleague-leaderswill take centerstage this weekend when theplayoff-bound Libertyhost second-place Connecticut on Saturday.

Liberty aim for four-game season sweep

New York will try to complete their 2024 season sweep of the Sun in the pair's fourth and final meeting tomorrow after their tense 79-71 win over 10th-place Dallason Thursdayshowcased just how clutch asidelined Sabrina Ionescucan be for New York.

The Sun, fresh off ahistoric selloutin Boston, are hoping to maintain that momentum with a win over the Chicago Sky tonight before heading to Brooklyn tomorrow.

Middle-table WNBA teams eye race for the playoffs

A series of consequential weekend matchups could further determine the fate of middle-of-the-pack teams eyeing a top-eight playoff berth, including ninth-place Atlanta. The Dream haven't lost a post–Olympic break game yet, and tonight they'll face sixth-place Phoenix, who they bested 72-63 on Wednesday.

Eighth-place Chicago, however, has yet to beat their Friday opponent, Connecticut, this season — daunting circ*mstances considering they'll close out the weekend with a bout againstreigning WNBA champs Las Vegas.

If the Dream win over the Mercury and the Sky drop both weekend games, Atlanta will leapfrog Chicago to claim the league's coveted eighth-place standing.

Other WNBA games to watch this weekend

Las Vegas will take on third-place Minnesota tonight, aiming for a win in the pair’s fourth and final season meeting to split their 2024 series. Then on Saturday, the Lynx will host theseventh-place Fever— a team they’ve yet to beat this year.

At the bottom of the table, 11th-place LA will face two other teams with 6-22 records: 10th-place Washington tonight and 12th-place Dallas on Sunday.

Dee Lab

Aug 23, 2024

With just 10 regular season matchdays left,the NWSL retakes the pitch tonight complete with returning Olympians,refreshed rosters, and anew CBA.The league has a lot to celebrate after a busy Olympic break — and a new club record might just join that list.

Orlando winning streak could make NWSL history

League-leadersOrlandohaven’t dropped a single one of their last 17 games, setting themselves up to book the longest regular-season undefeated streak in NWSL history.A win or a draw tonight against 12th-place Houston will break Orlando's 17-game tie with second-place Kansas City, whose own record unbeaten streak wassnapped by the Pridein July.

Should Orlando’s run extend even longer, they could overtake the Washington Spirit’s overall20-game recordset across 2021-22 — though they’ll have to defeat the Current again in September to do it.

NWSL Golden Boot goal-scoring race heats up

With12 goals each, KC's Temwa Chawinga and Orlando’s Barbra Bandaare inching closer to ex-NWSL striker Sam Kerr’s single-season record of 19 goals as they both lead this season'sGolden Boot race.

Fifth-place Portland's Sophia Smith isn't far behind the pair with 10 goals on the season, and she'll have the chance to tack on a few more when the Thorns play fourth-place Gotham on Saturday.

Other NWSL games to watch this weekend

On Saturday, 10th-place San Diego and 11th-place Angel City will battle to keep their playoff dreams alive, before ninth-place Louisville introduces seventh-place Chicago to their recentlyrevamped roster.

Then on Sunday, the third-place Spirit will take aim at the Current — who top Washington in the standings by a single point — before WSL rivalsArsenal and Chelseameet for a friendly in the second half of the Audi Field doubleheader.

Dee Lab

Aug 22, 2024

The NWSL’s secondtransfer/trade windowopened on August 1st,setting off a flurry of rosters shifts across the league.

The summer's already seen an influx ofoverseas signings, while many recent moves have remained domestic.

Racing Louisville stacks roster in NWSL playoff push

Racing Louisville has emerged as a hotbed of change, adding former Portland forwardJanine Beckieon Wednesday in exchange for rookie Reilyn Turner.

The swap comes a day after Louisville signed Colombian defenderÁngela Barón, and two days after sending midfielderJaelin Howellplus $50,000 in allocation money to Seattle in exchange for Reign striker Bethany Balcer.

Theninth-place clubis evidently gunning for its first playoff berth, as it currently sits just outside the eight-team postseason cutoff with 10 regular season matches left.

10th-place San Diego and 11th-place Angel Cityare also chasing the playoffs — along with Racing, the trio sits within three points of eighth-place Bay FC.

The Wave added six-time UEFA Champions League-winning French internationalDelphine Cascarinoto bolster its front line last month. While last week, ACFC signed English midfielderKatie Zelem, who links up with her former Man United teammateChristen Press.

Top NWSL teams eye their slice of the playoff pie

The top of the tablealso got in on the action,with first-place Orlando welcoming back Louisville importCarson Pickettand second-place KC bringing on longtime Seattle defenderAlana Cook.

Kansas City strengthened itsGolden Boot-leading offensewith Kenyan midfielder Mwanalima Adam Jereko and South African forward Hildah Magaia.

Perennial contender Portland is eyeing the NWSL's top four, tacking on ex-KC forwardAlexa Spaanstraand Australian goalkeeperMackenzie Arnoldalongside Racing's Turner.

Dee Lab

Aug 22, 2024

On Thursday, the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA)and NWSL announced their newcollective bargaining agreement (CBA)‌, with the agreement laying out major implications for the league, itsgrowth, and its players.

Less than two years into the NWSL'sfirst-ever CBA(ratified in 2022), the expanding league invited the NWSLPA to renegotiate last fall. The original CBA raised minimum salaries, introduced free agency, set safety and health standards, and provided player housing and transportation.

The new CBA runs through 2030, with a performance-based reopening trigger to ensure future revenue is equitably shared.

CBA makes NWSL the first pro US league to eliminate drafts

The most significant changesin today's agreement revolve around career choice, starting with the elimination of bothcollegeandexpansiondrafts.

The NWSL is the first pro US sports league to grant incoming athletes control over their placement, establishing a system more akin the college recruiting process. According to the terms, players will automatically becomefree agentsonce their current contracts expire and can no longer be traded without prior consent.

Workload management— including guaranteed breaks and new travel and scheduling models — was also addressed.

In addition to minimum base salary requirements, teams now must divert a percentage of their revenue toward player compensation.

NWSL growth key to new NWSLPA bargaining agreement

Given the NWSL’s $240 millionmedia rights dealand record-breakingteam valuations, the NWSLPA is continuing to ensure the league passes along those gains, from doubling the salary cap last January to today’s renegotiated CBA.

The deal also offers the NWSL the ability to lead the pro sports charge when it comes to transparency and putting players first.