Paige Bueckers leads UConn to 22nd Big East Tournament title - Just Women's Sports (2024)

Emma Hruby

Mar 12, 2024

UConn won its 22nd Big East Tournament title on Monday with a 78-42 win over Georgetown.

Paige Bueckers was named the most outstanding player of the tournament, one year after missing out on the tournament with an ACL tear. It continued what has been a triumphant return from injury for Bueckers, who is set to return next year for the Huskies rather than declare for the WNBA.

Bueckers averaged 27.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and four blocks per game in the tournament, while also shooting above 50 percent field goal percentage.

"A year ago I would have done anything to be in basketball shoes instead of streetwear and to be playing in the most important month of basketball," Bueckers said postgame. "I wanted to embrace it and have fun. I'm extremely grateful and happy to be playing basketball."

The Huskies haven’t lost a conference championship since 2013. But for head coach Geno Auriemma, this title was special.

The team has been once again marred by injuries this season, with five players out for the season. That includes Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme, both of whom were anticipated to factor heavily for the Huskies. Also absent for the last two games was Aaliyah Edwards, who sat out with a broken nose.

"I don't think any of [the other titles] were quite as challenging for this team and these kids," Auriemma said.

For Georgetown, the title game was its first championship appearance in school history, coming off the team's best season since 2011-12. Their semifinal win Sunday also came on the same day as what would have been coach Tasha Butts' 42nd birthday.

Butts died of breast cancer on Oct. 23, and members of the team's staff wore pink for the championship game in honor of their former coach.

"I'm a very spiritual person," forward Graceann Bennett said. "And I have no doubt in my mind that the way things happened for us and that energy was divine."

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

Megan Rapinoe will become just the second NWSL player in history to have her jersey retired, the Seattle Reign announced Thursday.

Rapinoe played every single season of her NWSL career, from 2013 through 2023, with the Reign. The club is set to retire her No. 15 jersey during their match against the North Carolina Courage on Aug. 25 at Lumen Field.

The only other player to have their jersey retired was Lauren Holiday, whose jersey was retired by FC Kansas City in 2015.

"I have lived so much life in this jersey and I'm humbled to see it retire alongside me. It represents so much more than myself -- a team, a city, and a lifetime of memories," Rapinoe said in the team's news release. "Thank you to the Reign and to my teammates for the love, the support and the opportunity to leave a piece of my heart on the field."

Rapinoe made 115 regular season appearances with the Reign, as well as 11 playoff appearances. She had 54 goals across her career as well as 28 assists, winning the NWSL Shield three times.

She was also a member of the USWNT, winning World Cups in 2015 and 2019, and making 203 total international appearances. Throughout her international career, Rapinoe had 63 goals and 73 assists.

She also was a key part in the team’s fight for equal pay, being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

"It's nearly impossible to put into words the impact Pinoe has had in this sport, the league, this city and especially our club," Seattle Reign coach Laura Harvey said in the release.

"She cemented herself as one of the greatest and we're proud to celebrate all that she has accomplished on the field while wearing the number 15. She made an everlasting impact in our locker room through her loyalty, leadership, courage and commitment. We can't wait to celebrate P later this season.”

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

The 2024 NWSL season kicks off on Friday with the Challenge Cup between reigning Shield winners San Diego and and reigning Champions Gotham FC.

Gotham will be without two of its star players, as both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have injuries that will keep them out of the game. Williams reportedly has a thigh injury, while Lavelle is nursing a lower-leg injury.

San Diego, meanwhile, doesn’t have any significant injuries heading into their matchup, though they do have a number of players returning from the USWNT's Gold Cup run, who may be on a load restriction.

San Diego has won all four of the team's previous matchups.

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Makenzy Doniak will be one to watch for the Wave, having scored against Gotham in each of their last two matchups. Alex Morgan, meanwhile, has a club-record 10 goals scored against Gotham.

The reigning NWSL champions reloaded in the off-season, having added Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson, as well as Lavelle.

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

The U.S. women’s national team (USWNT) has fallen to fourth in the latest FIFA rankings. It's the lowest ranking ever for the storied national program.

It comes after the team lost 2-0 to Mexico in the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The team rebounded, beating both Canada and Brazil to win the W Gold Cup title.

The team’s previous low had been third in the rankings, which came after their historic round of 16 exit in last summer’s World Cup.The most recent FIFA rankings, released in December, had the USWNT back up to No. 2.

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World Cup champion Spain remains atop the rankings, having recently won the Nations League, while England moved up two spots to second. France held steady in third, having recently lost 2-0 to Spain in the Nations League final.

Brazil is back into the top 10, while Canada also moved up a spot in the rankings. Korea Republic, which the USWNT will play in a pair of June friendlies, has dropped out of the top 10.

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

San Diego Wave FC is being sold at a record-breaking $113 million valuation, as Sportico first reported on Thursday.

Billionaire owner Ron Burkle is selling the club to the Levine Lichtman family in a two-part deal, which could later result in the transaction sitting at $120 million. It nearly doubles the previous NWSL high of $63 million paid by the Bhathal family for the Portland Thorns in 2023.

It’s also higher than the $90 million valuation that Sportico valued the team at in October of last year, and is second-highest in the league behind Angel City’s reported $180 million valuation.

According to The Athletic, part of the deal includes Burkle remaining as the club’s principal owner through the end of this season.

"We are proud of the unprecedented success we have had as an expansion team and I am confident that [the Levine Leichtman] family's investment will contribute to the growth of our team and the San Diego community," Burkle told Sportico in a statement that confirmed the family coming in as a minority investor.

The number is a massive turnaround for Burkle, who paid a $2 million expansion fee for the club, which began NWSL play in 2022. Burkle had backed out of a bid to bring an MLS club to Sacramento in 2021, instead opting to back San Diego’s NWSL bid.

Since beginning play, San Diego has been a NWSL powerhouse, winning the NWSL shield in 2023 – the fastest that an expansion side has ever earned a top trophy in the league. They also hold the most recent record for NWSL championship attendance, with 25,011 fans showing up in November 2023.

“We are excited to join forces with San Diego Wave FC and help build upon the impressive foundation established by Ron Burkle,” Lauren Leichtman said in a statement. “This investment aligns with our values and vision for supporting initiatives that empower women and foster opportunities for aspiring female athletes.”

The deal has already been approved by league owners. San Diego begins its season on Friday, playing defending NWSL champion Gotham FC in the Challenge Cup.