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.

Claire Watkins

Aug 21, 2024

The Connecticut Sun earned a big winin more ways than one on Tuesday, defeating the LA Sparks 69-61 in front of a sold-out crowd at Boston'sTD Garden. Hosted by the Sun — who usually play at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut — it was thefirst WNBA gameever held inside the home of the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics.

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Boston shows out to support New England's WNBA team

While Boston will see women's soccer return in 2026 via anNWSLexpansion team, the Sun currently serve as New England's only WNBA team — and fans came out in force to support their home side. Last night's announced attendance of19,156stands as the largest in Connecticut Sun history, as well as the third-highest WNBA attendance this season.

Fans were treated to an end-to-end battle as the Sparks held a first quarter lead into the fourth quarter when, buoyed by the raucous crowd, DiJonai Carrington led Connecticut to a 14-0 comeback. Her efforts helped the Sun notch their 20th win, becoming just the secondWNBA teamto hit 20 victories this season.

"Hopefully, this is the startof something beautiful," Sun starAlyssa Thomassaid after the game. "This is the kind of atmosphere you want to play in."

Lack of WNBA promotion causes stir ahead of untelevised Boston game

Despite the sellout success, the game wasn't broadcast nationally, with only WNBA League Pass and social media platform X providing live coverage.

"I think that there could have been a lot more publicity or promo from the top," Carrington — whopostedabout the issue early Tuesday — toldreporters. "You know, Connecticut had announced that we were having this game probably almost a year ago."

Other noteworthy WNBA results

The Seattle Storm secured a win for the first time since returning from the Olympic break, taking down the Washington Mystics 83-77 in DC.

On the other hand, theNY Libertylooked as dominant as ever, beating Dallas 94-74 in the first of two matchups between the sides this week.

Claire Watkins

Aug 21, 2024

The league's midseasontransaction deadlinecameand went onTuesday, leaving a flurry of relatively unusual WNBA trades in its wake.

This year marks the first to feature at leastthree in-season tradesleague-wide since 2017, as salary cap and roster space complicate midseason moves.

Seattle Storm signs Olympic silver medalist Gabby Williams

The biggest piece of news was arguably a signing rather than one of the WNBA's many trades, as Paris Olympics Best Defensive Player andFrenchgold medal game hero Gabby Williams returned to theSeattle Storm. Williams missed the first half of the WNBA season, opting to prioritize playing with her European club and the France national team in the run-up to the Olympics.

Similar to her 2023 partial contract, Williams inked a rest-of-season deal with the Storm. The forward played every game for Seattle after being traded by theLA Sparksin 2022.

"I feel more than ready to finally return to Seattle," Williams said in ateam release. "I’ve missed the organization, my teammates, and the fans so much. I absolutely can’t wait to come back and finish the season strong."

She joins an already stacked starting roster featuring Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, and Ezi Magbegor.

WNBA trades, hardship signings rock midseason rosters

The Washington Mysticssent Myisha Hines-Allen to theMinnesota Lynxin return for Sika Koné and Olivia Époupa, before waiving Époupa and Didi Richards, while the Phoenix Mercury sent Sug Sutton to the Mystics in exchange for the rights to Swedish star Klara Lundquist.

These Tuesday WNBA trades come after the Chicago Sky traded Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun in a high-profile exchange for Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham over the Olympic break.

In addition, hardship signings headlinedthe week'sWNBA trades news,as Monique Billings agreed to a seven-day contract with the Mercury and Odyssey Sims landed with the LA Sparks.

While the trade window has officially closed, deals can continue as long as teams have the requisite salary cap and roster space.

JWS Staff

Aug 20, 2024

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, Claire welcomes back the WNBA, as teams battle for postseason positioning in the final month of regular season play.

The New York Liberty look like the team to beat, but how are other teams progressing — and are there teams that should be worried about slipping in the standings?

Then, Claire looks at her wishlist for the rest of the 2024 NWSL season, as teams gear up for their first regular season matchups since before the Olympics.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Claire Watkins

Aug 20, 2024

With the Grand Slam calendar nearing its close,stars flocked to this week'sWestern & Southern Openin Cincinnati to prepare for this year's US Open.ReigningAustralian Open championAryna Sabalenka earned thewinat the WTA 1000 event, taking down US player Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 on Monday.

Fatigue impacts returning Olympic tennis players

With a uniquelycrowded schedulethis summer, partially due to the Paris Olympics, players entered this week with varying levels of fitness and fatigue.

China's newly crowned Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng fell in the Round of 16 and Croatian silver medalist Donna Vekic failed to advance out of the Round of 64.Bronze medalistIga Świątek reached the semifinals before losing to Sabalenka, while Pegula made this week's final match after competing for the US in Paris.

Fellow Team USA Olympians Coco Gauffand Emma Navarro fell in Cincinnati's Round of 32 and Round of 64, respectively.

Rest aided Sabalenka's Cincinnati Open win

On the other hand, Sabalenka missedWimbledondue to a shoulder injury and, as a Belarusian athlete, did not participate in the Olympics. The world No. 3-ranked player returned to the hardcourt looking as sharp as she did at thebeginning of the year, ultimately earning Monday's victory.

"This trophy means a lot,it is a really big achievement, especially coming after injury, with this fear of getting injured again," Sabalenka told press inCincinnati. "My team did everything they could to make sure I felt as good as I can and I am proud of myself I was able to handle all of those emotions."

Tennis stars shift focus to US Open

The 26-year-old, who hit her first No. 1 ranking in September 2023 before relinquishing the title back to Świątek, will be hunting her third Grand Slam title and first at the US Open when play begins at the New York tournament next week. Sabalenka finished the 2023 US Open as the runner-up toGauff, who earned her first major tournament title in three sets last September.

With a short turnaround and major surface change from theParis Games, form and fitness could play a major role at this year's US Open. A number of athletes declined to participate in the Olympics in order to focus on the year's final Slam, and all eyes will be on Queens next week to see if those decisions paid off.