Just Women's Sports

Looking decidedly dangerous, 2020 US Open champ Naomi Osaka — a wild card entry now ranked 88th in the world — beat No. 10 Jeļena Ostapenko in straight sets at the 2024 US Open on Tuesday. After stepping away from professional tennis for mental health reasons and the birth of her daughter, yesterday's victory marked Osaka’s first top-10 win in more than four years. "Last year, I was watching Coco play, and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again and I didn’t know if I could," an emotional Osaka told reporters after the first-round match. "Just to win this match and to be in this atmosphere means so much to me."

In the UK, a promising athlete's road to soccer stardom can start as young as five years old. The academy system was established to guide aspiring young players as they work towards an adult contract, complete with full-time coaches, training facilities, and matches. The goal is to nurture and sustain homegrown talent, with professional team academies producing football icons like Leah Williamson, Lauren James, Lauren and Mary Earps. Last week, JWS sat down with Arsenal Academy products 18-year-old Michelle Agyemang and 17-year-old Vivienne Lia in Washington, DC ahead of Arsenal’s friendly with crosstown rivals Chelsea to learn more about their journeys from childhood Gooners to academy superstars and beyond. https://lnkd.in/e37u3rkw

The Minnesota Lynx retired four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore's number on Saturday, moments after the team clinched a 2024 playoff spot with a win over Indiana and one year after Moore's official retirement "My life is an example of what it looks like when we love a little girl well," Moore told reporters after the event. "There is no way we're watching that [ceremony] without love. So many people having a hand in my life to show me what life is about. That's what I tried to bring every day: life and joy. Because I've been a recipient of life and joy." The 2014 league MVP's No. 23 jersey now hangs with the rest of Minnesota's 2017 starting five in the rafters.

The WNBA has officially returned from the Olympic break, and Sunday’s matchup between the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever became the most-watched WNBA game ever on ABC.

The NWSL Players Association and NWSL announced their new collective bargaining agreement today, laying out major implications for the league, its growth, and its players.   The most significant changes revolve around career choice, with the elimination of both entry and expansion drafts and a salary increase. 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. Players will also automatically become free agents once their current contracts expire, and can no longer be traded without prior consent. Given the league's $240 million media rights deal and record-breaking team valuations, this blockbuster CBA promotes equitable revenue sharing across the board.

WNBA All-Star and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese has signed an endorsement deal with The Hershey Company, Boardroom announced on Wednesday. As a part of the partnership, Reese has dropped a limited edition apparel line in collaboration with candy brand Reese's Pieces. "The fans really made this happen," said Angel Reese in a company press release. "This collection is for my Reese's Pieces — who've been with me every step of the way and the design elements bring together things that I love —basketball, style, and of course, Reese's!" Available via Angel Reese's website, the collection features t-shirts, hoodies, and hats showcasing the slogan "Reese's Angel." A Reese's Pieces-branded basketball jersey is set to join the lineup in the near future.

In a statement released today, the Seattle Storm announced the signing of Paris Olympics Best Defensive Player Gabby Williams to a rest-of-season contract with the team. The French-US dual citizen most recently led France to a silver medal finish at this year's Summer Games, averaging 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals on the tournament. Williams scored 19 points in France's gold medal match against Team USA, including five late in the fourth quarter to come within two points of beating the reigning Olympic champions. Drafted fourth overall by Chicago in 2018, the UConn grad spent five seasons in the WNBA, including stints with the Sky and the Storm, before moving overseas to compete in Europe. "We’re thrilled to have Gabby back with the Storm," said Storm head coach Noelle Quinn. "Gabby is a dynamic player who brings tremendous versatility... Gabby’s Olympic performance showcased her world-class talent, and we’re excited to have her join us as we push for the playoffs."

Grammy-nominated rapper Jack Harlow is the NWSL's latest high-profile investor, having officially joined the ownership group at Racing Louisville this past weekend. According to a club announcement, Harlow — a Louisville native — joins chair John Neace at Soccer Holdings LLC, the group behind both Racing and their men's counterpart, USL side Louisville City FC. An avid soccer fan, Harlow has been attending both men's and women's games at Lynn Family Stadium since the 11,700-seat facility opened in 2020.

After winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the United States Women's National Team has reclaimed their spot at the very top of the latest FIFA rankings. While the team has spent a total of 13 years in the number one spot, the four-time World Cup winners haven't topped the rankings in 12 months. Prior to the Summer Games, they were ranked fifth — their lowest standing since the FIFA Women's World Rankings were introduced back in June 2003.

Our mission at Just Women’s Sports is to make it easy AND fun to be a women’s sports fan. For this year’s Olympics, that meant doubling down on our industry-leading social coverage while rolling out multiple original content series to keep fans engaged. Our social-first news coverage was a hit, driving: —180 million impressions —12.7 million engagements —9.1% cross-platform engagement rate, 23% above our benchmark And our original content delivered as well:  —Our USWNT interview series with Kelley O’Hara featured conversations with future gold medal winners Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw. —The Gold Standard hosted by O’Hara and Lisa Leslie featured interviews with Olympic legends Sanya Richards-Ross and Summer Sanders, racking up 200,000 YouTube views and 4 million social impressions.  —The 91st featuring World Cup winner Jess McDonald and soccer personalities Duda Pavão and Jordan Angeli tracked the entire soccer tournament, racking up 85,000 YouTube views.  —The Late Sub featuring our own Claire Watkins provided bi-weekly updates on all the Olympics action, driving 40,000 YouTube views. When women’s sports are in the spotlight, Just Women’s Sports shows up in a major way. We were thrilled to bring our best-in-class content and coverage to the Paris Olympics, and we’re excited to now turn our attention to the WNBA and NWSL playoff races. On to the next one 🚀