Although Nneka Ogwumike missed out on the Olympics, the L.A. Sparks forward has accomplished quite a bit in 2021. And she isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon.
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NIL A “Game Changer” For Female Athletes
On June 30, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved an interim policy that allows collegiate athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL). Those rule changes, as well as state laws that went into effect July 1, have opened the door for athletes to earn money for social media posts, autograph signings and endorsements.
Football Was Always In The Cards For Falcons Scouting Assistant
Kjahna O’s lifelong love for football has led her down a winding path in the NFL that led to her closer to her dream role of NFL scout.
Jonquel Jones’ WNBA MVP Case Looks Pretty Good, Even As She Misses Games
After a dominant first 10 games, the Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones is the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award this season, according to DraftKings. But Jones will miss four to six games as she competes for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2021 EuroBasket tournament.
This Rugby Playing Astronaut Is Out Of This World
After serving in Iraq, Anne McClain found rugby a crucial ingredient to her success at NASA.
NWHL All-Star Balances Hockey With Nursing School
Cailey Hutchison balances a packed schedule of classes, labs, coaching, and being a professional hockey player for the Metropolitan Riveters.
Paralympic Partnership: Jessica Long And Haven Shepherd’s Unique Friendship
Jessica Long is one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes there is. As Long prepared for her fifth games in Tokyo, friend and teammate Haven Shepherd was preparing for her first.
‘Ella and the Fellas’: Texas’s Ella Bruning Has Taken the Little League World Series by Storm
A 12-year-old catcher is in a (little) league of her own as the latest in a line of gutsy girls to make history on youth baseball’s biggest stage. But her newfound celebrity has more to do with her stellar play than her gender.
The GoodSport Interview: Justine Siegal
Giving girls a level playing field isn’t just Justine Siegal’s passion. ‘It’s a social justice issue,’ says the barrier-breaking former A’s coach. Her next goal: making women’s baseball an NCAA sport.
Adoptee, Amputee And Multisport Star: How This Paralympian Keeps Beating The Odds
Oksana Masters is one of the world’s most accomplished—and versatile—athletes, having won eight Paralympic medals in three sports. This summer, she has her sights set on reaching the podium in a fourth, cycling.
Catch A Lift Fund Helps Rejuvenate A War Hero
The Catch A Lift fund helps Melissa Leuck overcome the physical and mental injuries she suffered during her military service, while also providing support and a close community.
A Remarkable Paralympian Is Helping Girls On Their Athletic Journeys
Alana Nichols is the only athlete to win gold in the summer and winter Paralympics. She now leads the preeminent women’s sports organization.
Former College Athlete Trades Her Stick For Spikes And A Spot In The Paralympic Games
Noelle Lambert was one of the best lacrosse players at UMass Lowell, but lost her leg in an accident before her sophomore season. Lambert not only battled back to the box, but worked her way to a spot on the U.S Paralympic Track and Field Team.
Perseverance In The Pool Pays Off For Paralympic And Collegiate Swimmer
Cailin Curry competes against some of the best in the nation and doesn’t consider blindness a disadvantage in any way.
Meet The U.S Olympic Women’s Basketball Team Going For Gold In Tokyo
The U.S Olympic Women’s Basketball team will try for a seventh straight Olympic gold medal in Tokyo as they come in as the heavy favorites to win it all.
Olympian Bombette Martin Is Skateboarding Her Way To Success
Bombette Martin talks about having the confidence to compete as a professional skateboarder.
Olympian Focuses On Helping Others Grow Amid Postponed Summer Games
Team USA softball player Valerie Arioto was supposed to compete in her first Olympics this year. Instead, she’s helping others live their best lives.
Two-Time Olympian Hopes to Make Fencing More Accessible Through Fencing in the Park
A few years ago, Nzingha Prescod was training to qualify for her third Olympic games. But this summer, instead of competing in Tokyo, she’ll be teaching the sport to children in and around Brooklyn through her program Fencing in the Park.
From The Olympics To Cobra Kai, Karate Is Having A Moment — And So Is Sakura Kokumai
Sakura Kokumai, the first American to qualify for the Olympic Games in karate, hopes that her inspiring story and performance will help inspire others to fall in love with her sport.
These Women Dominated The Olympics Like No One Else – Ever!
From Katie Ledecky to Allyson Felix to Mary Lou Retton, many women became household names on the world’s biggest stage.
How The 1996 Olympics Changed Women’s Sports
The 1996 Olympics brought us some of the greatest moments in sports history. But more importantly, it changed the landscape of women’s sports in the U.S.
Five American Women With Something To Prove At The Tokyo Olympics
Whether they’re gunning for their first medal — or another gold — one more shot at ultimate glory is the goal for these athletes, who each have unfinished business at the Games.
Four Things To Know About The U.S. Gymnastics Team
As expected, Simone Biles will be leading the charge in Tokyo, joined by three newcomers and two individual specialists on the women’s team.
Rowing Her Way To Stardom While Helping Others
Gevvie Stone is an Olympic medalist who is also training to be an emergency room physician.
10 Things To Know About National Spelling Bee Champion Zaila Avant-garde
Winning the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee could just be the beginning for the multi-talented Zaila Avant-garde, who also has her sights set on Harvard, NASA and the WNBA.
A Game Of Their Own: Meet Six Women Playing College Baseball
Six women who play college baseball explain, in their own words, why they stuck with the sport they love — even if it didn’t always love them back.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Maria Taylor
ESPN analyst and reporter Maria Taylor joined ONYX host Monica McNutt for a conversation about being a Black woman in sports broadcasting.
Celebrating Four Women Nominated For The 2021 Best Female Athlete ESPY Award
The ESPY’s honored athletes who have accomplished greatness during the pandemic in early July. Four women were nominated for the Best Female Athlete ESPY award, which Naomi Osaka eventually took home.
Former Army Sergeant Forgoes Olympics To Pursue A Professional Dream
Rianna Rios, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, has two passions in life: serving her country and her boxing career.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Tori Franklin
Tori Franklin shattered school records at Michigan State University in the triple jump, and is now a two-time American record holder who’s just getting started.
Wounded Veteran Turned Paralympian Inspires Others Through Power Of Choice
Iraqi War veteran Melissa Stockwell found a new passion in sports after her life-changing injury. She tells all in her new book, The Power Of Choice.
Breaking The Grass Ceiling: More Women Are Playing College Baseball Than Ever Before
A record six women suited up for teams at various collegiate levels this season, with more on the way, and a movement to make women’s baseball a college sport is gaining momentum.
From Eastern Michigan University To The 2021 NFL Draft, This College Grad Is Making Moves
As a recent graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Elizabeth Toth is poised to make a name for herself in the National Football League.
16-Year-Old MMA Prodigy Hopes To Continue Family Legacy
Victoria Lee is the latest Lee sibling to join One Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organization. The 16-year-old prodigy has the potential to be MMA’s next big star.
Meet Softball’s Smash Sisters
The hard-hitting Oklahoma Sooners — led by national player of the year Jocelyn Alo and freshman of the year Tiare Jennings — have shattered home-run records and windshields alike this season.
New York Liberty Already On Track For Most Exciting Comeback Season In Franchise History
The New York Liberty had a disappointing 2020 season in the WNBA bubble, only winning two games — their worst season in franchise history. Just a few games into this season, the team already has more wins this year than all of last year as they are making a name for themselves as possibly early title contenders.
How Mizzou Softball Is Finding Success Again Through Championship Culture
Hit with a postseason ban stemming from an academic cheating scandal, Missouri softball was struggling to find motivation and reach its full potential. That is until new head coach Larissa Anderson came in and quickly turned things around.
Rising From The Mat To Make a Name For Herself In MMA
Emily Kwok was one of the first women to compete in jiu jitsu and eventually became a two-time IBJJF World Champion.
Meet The Women Of The Negro Leagues
Several team owners and players in the Negro Leagues were women, and their trailblazing contributions helped keep the league alive for several seasons.
Running To Renewal
Amanda Burrill is a United States Navy veteran who returned to her first love, running, to aid recovery from traumatic brain injury. She was kind enough to share her story with us.
PSK Collective Empowers Female Athletes In Sports And Everyday Life
Women’s Sports Foundation President Phaidra Knight is empowering women and raising money for female athletes through her new fashion line, PSK Collective. The line is dedicated to promoting body positivity by making clothing for women athletes of all shapes and sizes, and donates partial proceeds to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
A Star In Stripes: Football Official Desiree Abrams Is Breaking Into The NFL’s Boys’ Club
Desiree Abrams is rising through the ranks in football officiating, and is showing other women and girls that it’s possible to be involved with all aspects of football.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Collette V. Smith
Collette V. Smith, the NFL’s first Black female coach, opens up about her journey in football, being a survivor, and using her experiences to empower other women.
NJ/NY Gotham FC’s New Look Is More Than Just A Rebrand
As the popularity of women’s soccer grows rapidly in the U.S., Alyse LaHue and the NWSL’s freshly-branded Gotham FC want to stay ahead of the curve.
New York Liberty Rookie And Former UCLA Basketball Star Helps Build A Platform For Positive Change
Before being drafted No. 6 overall by the New York Liberty in the 2021 WNBA Draft, Michaela Onyenwere and her teammates at UCLA set out to make an impact around racial justice by creating the “More Than a D.R.E.A.M” campaign last year.
Women’s Gridiron Foundation Is Bringing Football To A New Generation Of Girls
Women’s Gridiron Foundation CEO Dana Sparling found women’s tackle football when she was 37 years old. She doesn’t want this generation to have to wait that long.
A Look At The Most Dominant Women’s Teams In Stanford History
After winning the 2020-2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, Stanford University kept its streak of winning at least one NCAA team championship each academic year for 45 consecutive years.
National Women’s Soccer League Rises As Investments Soar
With a recent increase in viewership of the NWSL, there has been a rise in investments from many influential women.
USA Fencing’s Tori Isaacson Is A Role Model In Perseverance
The progression of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome threatened to end Tori Isaacson’s fencing career, but after embracing wheelchair fencing, she now has her hopes set on the 2024 Paralympic Games.
High School Athlete Inspires Many For Her Role On The Varsity Football Team
Tristin Keller didn’t expect her Twitter post about her first varsity football start to go viral, but she’s used this as an opportunity to inspire young girls everywhere.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Nnenna Akotaobi
Nnenna Akotaobi, the former executive director of the Black Women In Sport Foundation, discusses how her experience as an athlete has helped prepare her for her professional career.
MMA Legend Continues To Evolve Late In Her Career
The MMA world may know Holly Holm best for her viral knockout of Ronda Rousey in 2015, but the former bantamweight champion still has her best days ahead of her.
Meet The Woman Making A ‘Bold’ Impact For Black Women In Hockey
Blake Bolden won multiple league titles during her professional playing career in the CWHL and NWHL. She’s now the first Black female pro scout in the NHL.
Meet The NYC Fourth Grader Asking ESPN For Change
Olivia Rosenblum, a fourth-grader from New York, is pushing the worldwide leader in sports for more coverage of women’s sports.
This Paralympian Is A Performer Both On And Off The Track
Meet Katy Sullivan, actress, producer, writer and oh, by the way, record-smashing Paralympic track and field athlete.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Shasta Averyhardt
Shasta Averyhardt discusses her love for golf, being a Black woman in a historically white-dominated sport, and more in this edition of ONYX.
From The Football Field To The Front Office: Samantha Goldman Is Paving Her Own Path To The NFL
University of Miami senior Samantha Goldman hopes to inspire women to find their way into the “boys club” through her work in football.
International Star Wide Receiver Is Proving Football Isn’t Just For The Boys
Adrienne Smith was always destined to play football. Today, one of the most decorated female football players is breaking down barriers for the next generation of girls in the game.
Celebrating Black Women In Golf: World Long Drive Champion Knows The Role She Plays In Golf
Alexis Belton is one of the best long drivers in the world, but it wasn’t until she participated in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship that she realized she could make it in a sport that’s not known for its diversity.
Golf Pioneer Continues To Blaze The Trail Her Father Built
Renee Powell’s legacy began with a phenomenal amateur and professional golf career, but it carries on with her dedication to equality and access for all in the sport.
Six Questions For NFL Coach Jennifer King
GoodSport caught up wtih NFL coach Jennifer King before the start of the 2020 NFL season. After the season, King made history as the first full-time Black female coach in the NFL.
Harvard’s Women’s Tennis Coach Understands The Societal Impact Of Role Models
Following in the footsteps of her legendary mother, Traci Green inspires a new generation of players.
Dr. Tomika Ferguson Empowers Black Female Athletes With Creation Of Black Athlete Sister Circle
Black Athlete Sister Circle aims to change the culture around collegiate athletics for black women, who are critically underrepresented in college administrations.
Girls On The Run Inspires Young Girls To Embrace Their Strength
Girls on the Run is an after-school program designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength.
A Show Of Strength
Shaakira Hassell overcame bias and hardship to become the first African-American woman to lead a strength and conditioning program in college sports.
SYSO Girls Flag Football Offers Young Girls Opportunity To Learn, Play On The Gridiron
Jennifer Kisslinger and Katie DiChiaro want to instill confidence in girls by showing that they belong everywhere — even a football field.
Meet The WNBA’s Newest Media Star
At nine years old, Pepper Persley has taken the 2020 WNBA season by storm, shining a bright spot on an unconventional season.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Diahann Billings-Burford
Diahann Billings-Burford is working to improve race relations while inspiring leaders in sports to produce positive change and achieve social justice.
Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Is Bringing The Sport To The US In A New Way
Professional volleyball will finally have a home in the U.S. in 2021. Athletes Unlimited Volleyball league brings 44 athletes to Dallas to compete in a brand new style of league play.
University Of Wisconsin Senior Ready To Tackle The Sports Industry
University of Wisconsin senior Samaria Bruce is poised to make a splash in professional sports following her graduation in May.
Lamoureux Twins Retire, But They Aren’t Quite Done With Hockey Yet
Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson have officially retired from professional hockey, but will continue to fight for the players and for equality in the sport at all levels.
ONYX Presents: A Conversation With Chloe Pavlech
Overtime host and digital content manager Chloe Pavelch joined ONYX host Monica McNutt to discuss being a Black woman in sports, authenticity, and insprining the next generation of female athletes.
Celebrating Black Women In Golf: Tiana Jones Is Helping Mold The Future Of The Game
Tiana Jones first picked up a golf club at age 3, and since then her passion has grown exponentially. Jones is just the 7th African-American female PGA member and continues to strive for greater diversity in golf.
Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks Win Sixth SEC Tournament Title
So much has changed in the year since the South Carolina Gamecocks last won the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, but they still managed to leave the 2021 tournament with another title.
Cornell Coxswain Is Ready To Take On Any Challenge, Even Men’s Heavyweight Rowing
Teevyah Yuva Raju is ready and willing to take on any challenge that comes her way. After moving across the country to transfer to Cornell University, she decided to try a new sport: men’s heavyweight rowing.
Hockey Trailblazer Continues To Give Back To Game That Gave Her So Much
GoodSport caught up with former U.S. women’s ice hockey team member Shawna Davidson to discuss her incredible career and growing the game for the next generation.
A Conversation With Swin Cash
Swin Cash, an NCAA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and WNBA champion, now works as the VP of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans. She discusses all that and more in this edition of ONYX.
The “Original Nine” And The Beginning Of Modern Women’s Professional Tennis
Billie Jean King and eight other women took a risk to form their own professional women’s tennis tour in a fight for equality on the court.
Meet The Army Veteran Who Is Tackling Her Next Life Chapter – Coaching Football
Cherre Marshall moved from the battlefield to the football field thanks to the Soldiers To Sidelines program.
Undefeated Boxer Claressa Shields Looks To MMA For Her Newest Challenge
Claressa Shields is widely considered to be one of the greatest female boxers ever. Now, she hopes to make history by dominating in a second sport.
Ms. Wheelchair America 2020 Found Hope Through Adaptive Sports
Hilary Muehlberger played sports before she was injured in a car crash, but found a community in adaptive sports that led her to Ms. Wheelchair America.
5 Questions For Broadcasting Legend Lesley Visser
Lesley Visser is a sportscaster who has broken all the barriers and has a career defined by firsts.
Why Sarah Fuller’s Emergence As A Football Kicker Is So Important To The Future Of The Sport
Sarah Fuller made history kicking for Vanderbilt’s football team. So how does this affect the future of football?
Scout’s Unwavering Passion For Baseball Led Her To MLB
Robin Wallace grew up playing baseball, but never thought a career in the MLB was possible. She’s now the league’s first female full-time scout.
The Evolution Of A Rugby Star
Phaidra Knight became a rugby legend because of her fierce and physical style ofplay. The hall-of-famer now uses her celebrity to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Meet The Cornell Men’s Heavyweight Rowing Team’s Female Coxswain
GoodSport met with Teevyah Yuva Raju to discuss her journey as a walk-on coxswain at Cornell, her internationally recognized agriculture research, and increasing opportunities for minorities in rowing.
New Grad Ready To Lead The Way As Head Women’s Fencing Coach At Wagner College
Gaby Chau, a former fencer for Boston College, is one of the youngest coaches to lead an NCAA Division I team.
Orlando Pride Defender Wants To Help Other Women Take Control Of Their Health
Orlando Pride’s Toni Pressley defeated breast cancer, and now she’s using her voice to inspire other women to be proactive about getting tested.
This Army Veteran Overcame Disability To Go Gold
Wounded during battle, Elizabeth Marks rises to win a Paralympic gold medal for the country she fought for.
Manon Rhéaume Is The Only Woman To Play In The NHL
Manon Rhéaume is the only woman to ever play in any of the major North American pro sports leagues. In 1992, the goalie played in a preseason game for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Oh, and she was only 20 years old.
Strength Training Is A Key Ingredient For Relentless Athletes
Being relentless is a powerful tool in sports and in life. Emily Pappas is helping young girls optimize their performance in both sports and in life.
Through Decades Of Determination, Kim Ng Makes MLB History As First Female GM
Kim Ng started her career as an intern for the Chicago White Sox. More than 30 years later she’s baseball’s first general manager.
Meet The First Female GM In The Minor Leagues In Nearly Two Decades
Emily Jaenson of the Reno Aces is the first female General Manager in Minor League Baseball’s Pacific Coast League in nearly two decades.
Soccer Legend Still Impacting the Game
Kristine Lilly is one of the most decorated players in the history of US soccer. Sheis on a mission to help girls and women in sports.
Women’s Sports Foundation Celebrates Athletes, Pioneers, And Game Changers In Women’s Sports
The biggest night in women’s sports had a different format for the WSF’s 41st Annual Salute to Women In Sports gala, but that didn’t make it any less inspiring, encouraging, or impactful.
Lola The Illustrator
She is a renowned skater, street artist, and musician. There is very little that Lola can’t do.
Hofstra University Student Athletes Focus On Raising Voter Participation
Hofstra University is prioritizing voting ahead of the 2020 election. GoodSport spoke with two female athletes who discuss why this move is so crucial.
Hockey Pioneer And Former Team USA Captain Announces Retirement
Olympian Meghan Duggan announced her retirement from hockey, but she leaves more than just a successful hockey career behind.
Bruce Arians Named Champion Of Equality By Women’s Sports Foundation
The NFL is unquestionably America’s dominant sports league. Tom Brady’s new head coach is leading by example by giving women a chance to shine.
Passionate NHL Fans Find Community In Black Girl Hockey Club
An NHL experience inspired Renee Hess to create the Black Girl Hockey Club. The community focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black female fans and allies.
This Basketball Icon Turned Broadcaster Continues To Inspire
Hall Of Famer Rebecca Lobo is a guiding light for girls and women who want to chase their dreams in sports.
Women’s Sports Foundation Hosts First Virtual Annual Salute To Women In Sports
The Women’s Sports Foundation hosts their Annual Salute to Women In Sports event on October 14th, which will be broadcasted for free on Yahoo Sports.
