Sports
2025 WCWS
Eli LedermanJun 1, 2025, 08:00 AM ET Close Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World. Open Extended Reactions OKLAHOMA CITY — Party hats. Streamers. Star sunglasses. A bubble machine, a disco ball and a unicorn […]

OKLAHOMA CITY — Party hats. Streamers. Star sunglasses. A bubble machine, a disco ball and a unicorn piñata. The hottest club at the Women’s College World Series? It’s UCLA’s dugout.
“It is absolutely feral in there,” Bruins senior Taylor Stephens told ESPN this week. “This program has been partying ever since my freshman year and long before that, too. It’s tradition. Our team, our dugout, it’s a vibe — it’s an undeniable vibe. We just like to have fun.”
Editor’s Picks

1 Related
UCLA likes to have fun. And seemingly no program is having more of it during the opening weekend of the 2025 WCWS than the No. 9-seeded Bruins, who return Sunday for an elimination game against No. 7-seeded Tennessee (3 p.m. ET, ABC) following a 3-1 loss to No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday.
Ranked third nationally in runs scored (481), eighth in home runs (98) and anchored by a pitching triumvirate of Taylor Tinsley, Kaitlyn Terry and Addisen Fisher, UCLA made plenty of noise en route to its 34th WCWS appearance — a Division I record. But it wasn’t until the Bruins arrived in Oklahoma City this week that their raucous and rowdy party officially spilled back onto the national stage.
For UCLA softball: “The party hats are new. But the party is not.” Brett Rojo/Imagn ImagesPerennially among the loudest dugouts in college softball, the Bruins announced themselves with tinted glasses and disco lights in Thursday’s opener against Oregon. After Jessica Clements launched her two-run, walk-off home run, they celebrated at home plate with blue and gold party hats on their heads. On Saturday, UCLA took things up another notch, flooding Devon Park’s third-base dugout with bubbles and decorating its walls with paper streamers and balloons. A poster taped onto the dugout wall carried a simple message: “It’s party time.”
“The party has always been a part of the culture here,” said junior infielder Jordan Woolery, half of the Bruins’ historic power-hitting duo with Megan Grant this spring. “When we’re kind of tense, that’s not really the best version of ourselves. Having fun in the dugout, having fun on the field, all that chatter makes it easier just to play for each other with a sense of freedom.”
Props, such as the pinata the Bruins hung from the dugout ceiling Saturday night, have long been fixtures of UCLA’s dugout party. Woolery, a first-team All-American, has witnessed many evolutions of them. In the wake of previous Bruins standard-bearers Megan Fariamo and Anna Vines, she recalls pickle jars, boxes of Reese’s Puffs cereal and a parade of stuffed animals among the most cherished props that have popped up in the UCLA dugout in recent years.
Jessica Clements of UCLA sported plenty of dugout props following her walk-off home run against Oregon on Thursday at the Women’s College World Series. Courtesy UCLAWhen the likes of Woolery and Stephens encountered packets of party hats or goofy sunglasses before Game 1 on Thursday, there was no hesitation.”We jumped right on them,” Stephens said. “The party hats are new. But the party is not.”Indeed, UCLA carries a rich history of dugout antics, dating as far as the school’s dynastic softball rise in the 1980s. While the 2025 Bruins battled Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady on Saturday, generations of former players exchanged stories and photos of WCWS dugout parties and props of the past through a WhatsApp group chat of UCLA softball alumni.In some instances, the partying began even before the players left the team hotel.”Every year in Oklahoma City, we would stay at the Embassy Suites and there were these two glass elevators that took you to your rooms,” 2004 national champion Tara Henry said. “On our way to the stadium, we would pile into them and have a team dance party, literally shaking the elevators an hour before a WCWS game.”Even with a decades-long history, the scenes inside the Bruins’ dugout this week seemingly mark a stark departure from past eras of the program and the sport.First under coach Sharon Backus and then Sue Enquist, UCLA built itself into college softball’s first superpower through no-nonsense intensity and stringent program standards. But while the ongoings of Bruins’ dugout celebrations and the generation of players inside them have evolved, former UCLA players like Henry see the same core pillars still propping up the program under 19th-year coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, who played for Enquist from 1989 to 1993 and spent 13 seasons as an assistant before taking over the program in 2007.”It’s always been about how do we manage to stay together as a team and have fun, but ultimately be held accountable,” Henry said. “We’re seeing a more free, lighter type of team and a different expression of it. I think Kelly has been a big part of that. But believe me, they still have standards and still understand what it means to play for UCLA softball.”
Former Bruins Aaliyah Jordan, Taylor Sullivan and Malia Quarles are responsible for the UCLA dugout props in Oklahoma City. “Shoutout to Party City in Moore, Oklahoma.” Eli Lederman/ESPNThe Bruins were quick to throw on their party hats in Thursday’s opener. However, how UCLA’s newest props found their way into the dugout remained a mystery to its players into the weekend before a group of former Bruins led by Taylor Sullivan, Alaiyah Jordan and Malia Quarles showed up with more Saturday, softball alums continuing the party culture.”Shoutout to Party City in Moore, Oklahoma,” said Sullivan, who reached the WCWS three times with UCLA. “The Bruin party is just the epitome of UCLA softball. Playing together, playing for each other, trying to make the Bruin bubble proud.”Inouye-Perez presented a clear message after a pair of late Texas Tech home runs sank the Bruins on Saturday, sending UCLA into an elimination game with Tennessee on Sunday. Less than 24 hours after facing one fireballer in Canady, the Bruins will be tested again Sunday by Lady Vols ace Karlyn Pickens, owner of the fastest recorded pitch in softball history.
“The bottom line is we’re not done yet,” Inouye-Perez said. “Now we just have more time to be able to play more games and get really hot. I’m excited. We can’t wait to get back out there.”
The Bruins, who scratched three runs off Pickens when they faced the hard-throwing junior in February, intend to extend their stay in Oklahoma City on Sunday. As long as UCLA remains in the WCWS field, the dugout party will go on.
“You’ll see more props tomorrow and the next day and the next day,” Stephens said. “The props are everlasting. They’re overflowing. The party doesn’t stop.”
Sports
FOX Sports and Barstool Sports announce content collaboration
July 17 (UPI) — Barstool Sports, a blog, pop-culture and digital multimedia company, is joining forces with FOX Sports to share content. A press release from Fox said the “wide-ranging collaboration” will boost coverage around college football, college basketball and other FOX Sports properties, including unique content with a new daily studio show on FS1. […]

July 17 (UPI) — Barstool Sports, a blog, pop-culture and digital multimedia company, is joining forces with FOX Sports to share content.
A press release from Fox said the “wide-ranging collaboration” will boost coverage around college football, college basketball and other FOX Sports properties, including unique content with a new daily studio show on FS1.
“We’re excited to welcome Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports to the FOX Sports family,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer of FOX Sports. “Dave has built a one-of-a-kind brand that connects with a new generation of sports fans — authentic, bold, and original. Their unique voice and loyal fanbase makes them a natural fit for our evolving multiplatform content strategy.”
Barstool is owned and was founded by Portnoy, a controversial personality.
“Everybody at Barstool is super excited to partner with the FOX Sports Family,” Portnoy said. “In our two-decade history, we’ve never had the chance to work with so much talent and resources. We can’t wait to collab and bring our voice to FOX Sports’ airwaves. See ya soon in Columbus.”
The press release said Portnoy will appear on college football pregame show Big Noon Kickoff. There will also be a new weekly show, The Barstool College Football Show.
Portnoy announced in a tweet: “Emergency Press Conference — Barstool Sports is Proud to announce a new wide ranging partnership with Fox Sports. This is the 1st time in our illustrious and notorious history that we’ve got a Tv partner we believe in and believes in us. I can’t wait to see what we create together.”
Barstool started in Boston in 2003 as a free print publication and has built its brand on bros. It’s often been accused of fostering a misogynistic culture. Portnoy’s strong social media following has helped skyrocket the popularity of the brand.
Barstool Sports also will contribute to FOX Sports’ college basketball coverage, including the College Basketball Crown — a postseason tournament launched by the network in April 2025, the press release said.
Sports
Perez-Snyman, Saldutto Named to CSC Academic All-America Second Team
Story Links COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri track & field’s Kristi Perez-Snyman and Callan Saldutto were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, the organization announced on Wednesday. Perez-Snyman capped off her academic career with a 3.96 grade point average, while obtaining a master’s in natural resources. Saldutto notched a perfect 4.00 […]

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri track & field’s Kristi Perez-Snyman and Callan Saldutto were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Second Team, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Perez-Snyman capped off her academic career with a 3.96 grade point average, while obtaining a master’s in natural resources. Saldutto notched a perfect 4.00 GPA, graduating with a master’s in accountancy. The pair finished the outdoor season in sixth place in women’s high jump after leaping 1.87m (6-1.5) and third place in men’s javelin with a throw of 76.88m (252-3), respectively.
Saldutto is the third Tiger on the men’s side to be named to a CSC Academic All-American and first since Tyler Dailey in 2007. On the women’s side, Perez-Snyman’s honor is the 13th in program history and first since Karissa Schweizer in 2018.
Seven student-athletes were recognized as Academic All-District sections. The women’s team was represented by Rahel Broemmel (general studies), Claudina Diaz (master of science in natural resources), Reagan Kimrey (health science), Nicole Louw (educational studies) and Perez-Snyman. On the men’s side, Saldutto and Sterling Scott (health science) were recognized for their academic efforts.
The Academic All-America recognitions honor student-athletes for their combined achievements in athletic competition and academic performance. Selections are made across four divisions: NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest on Mizzou Cross Country and Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the teams on Facebook, Instagram and X (MizzouTFXC).
Sports
Drake Volleyball Announces 2025 Schedule
Story Links DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake volleyball program has finalized its schedule for the 2025 season. The Bulldogs’ slate features four non-conference tournaments, a Blue and White Scrimmage, one exhibition, and eight tilts from the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs will hold the Blue and White Scrimmage on August […]

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake volleyball program has finalized its schedule for the 2025 season. The Bulldogs’ slate features four non-conference tournaments, a Blue and White Scrimmage, one exhibition, and eight tilts from the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs will hold the Blue and White Scrimmage on August 20 with a time still to be determined. Drake will then take to the court on August 23 for an exhibition from Ames, Iowa against in-state foe Iowa State.
The regular season officially begins on August 29 with the WKU Invitational hosted by Western Kentucky. Other institutions partaking in the tournament include Wright State, and Loyola-Chicago.
The following week the Bulldogs head to Florida for the 305 Challenge, hosted by Miami (FL), which begins on September 4.
The third non-conference tournament the Bulldogs will play in is the Husker Invitational from Lincoln, Nebraska beginning on Sept. 12. Drake will then close out the non-conference slate with the South Dakota Classic starting on Sept. 18.
Missouri Valley Conference play begins with a pair of road contests for Drake. The Bulldogs first head to Valparaiso (9/26) and then travel to Chicago the following day to challenge UIC (9/27).
The month of September closes with the home opener from the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs will look forward to hosting in-state rival UNI on September 30.
October begins with three consecutive contests from Des Moines with the Bulldogs set to host Murray State (10/3), Bradley (10/10), and Evansville (10/11).
Following road tilts at Illinois State on Oct. 17 and Bradley on Oct. 18, Drake returns to Des Moines for back-to-back home matches versus Indiana State (10/24) and a rematch with the Redbirds (10/25).
Drake closes out the month of October with road trip to Southern Illinois (10/30) and starts November with a home match versus the Belmont Bruins (11/1). Drake then will make the trek to the eastern part of the state for a rematch with UNI (11/4) before returning home for the final home contest versus UIC (11/8).
The regular season concludes with the Bulldogs going on a road trip to Evansville on November 14 and Indiana State on November 15.
The entire schedule for the Drake volleyball program can be found at the link provided.
Sports
LE MOYNE COLLEGE NOTIFIES NCAA IT WILL ACCELERATE TRANSITION TO DIVISION I
Story Links Syracuse, N.Y. – Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura and Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation Phil Brown announced today that the College has officially notified the NCAA of its intent to accelerate its transition to full membership in the NCAA Division I. By accelerating its […]

Syracuse, N.Y. – Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura and Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation Phil Brown announced today that the College has officially notified the NCAA of its intent to accelerate its transition to full membership in the NCAA Division I.
By accelerating its reclassification schedule by one year, Le Moyne will have access to DI membership benefits and its 21 teams will be fully eligible for NCAA Championships starting with the 2026-27 academic year following the successful completion of its upcoming third year of the reclassification process. The move will also give the College access to revenue that stems from participation in NCAA tournaments as well as the additional exposure to potential students one year sooner.
Le Moyne accepted its invitation to join the NEC in 2023 and began competing in the conference starting in the 2023-24 academic year.
“This is an important step in our unwavering commitment to competing in all aspects at the D-I level,” said President LeMura. “Over the past two years we have shown by our team and individual performances that we can compete as a DI institution. Getting to compete in NCAA championships one year earlier will enhance our ability to recruit outstanding student-athletes who place a premium on a premier liberal arts education.”
At the NCAA Convention in January 2025, the Division I Council adopted a proposal to revise the process for institutions reclassifying to DI. The revised process, which reduces the reclassification period from four to three years for DII institutions, requires schools to meet academic requirements, including being above the 10th percentile of DI members in the academic progress rate, graduation success rate, or the difference between the federal graduation rates for student-athletes and for the general student body.
“I’d like to thank President LeMura and the entire leadership team for reaffirming our commitment to DI athletics,” said Phil Brown. “Since my arrival in January, our focus has been on positioning the Dolphins for success at the DI level. We have seen many benefits from our move to DI, including a six percent increase in the number of student athletes coming to Le Moyne over the past two years, and this accelerated path will provide earlier access to NCAA postseason championships and strengthen our vision for an exceptional student-athlete experience.”
Reclassifying schools also must meet new financial aid requirements, such as a scholarship offering that exceeds the 10th percentile of active DI members, participate in an academic review, satisfy all DI core guarantees and attestation requirements and complete an NCAA self-study program. Progression through the process is dependent upon meeting each year’s benchmarks. Le Moyne has already completed and passed its NCAA compliance review, another component of the reclassification process.
During its first two years as a member of the NEC and competing at the DI level, the Dolphins have made a total of 32 postseason appearances, including 16 during the 2024-25 academic year. Three programs have posted postseason victories, including women’s basketball each year, while the swimming and diving and indoor and outdoor track and field programs have combined for 11 individual medals. Academically, the department has extended its streak of consecutive semesters with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher to 44 and turned in a 3.345 GPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
While six institutions (five from DII and one from DIII) just completed the accelerated transition process in late June, Le Moyne is the only institution in the nation in its transition “class.” Two institutions are a year behind Le Moyne, while the University of New Haven is the only institution starting the transition this year.
“Le Moyne has been a tremendous addition to the NEC over the past two years and has demonstrated its commitment to elevating its entire athletics enterprise to the Division I level,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “I commend President Linda LeMura and Athletic Director Phil Brown for their leadership in making this decision which aligns with their strategic vision for the future of Le Moyne and its athletics program. The NEC is excited to partner with the Le Moyne Dolphins as they ride the wave into full DI membership.”
Sports
Mulvaney Earns Spot on College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Third Team
Story Links Springfield, Mass. – July 17, 2025 – Springfield College men’s volleyball junior Dylan Mulvaney (Reston, Va.) has earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Third Team for his hard work on the court and in the classroom during the 2024-25 academic year. Mulvaney, now a two-time CSC Academic […]

Springfield, Mass. – July 17, 2025 – Springfield College men’s volleyball junior Dylan Mulvaney (Reston, Va.) has earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Third Team for his hard work on the court and in the classroom during the 2024-25 academic year.
Mulvaney, now a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection and first time CSC Academic All-America honoree, is the fourth student-athlete in men’s volleyball program history to earn the prestigious accolade and seventh overall selection for the honor. Mulvaney joins Bret Stothart (1996, 1997), Kyle Jasuta (2017) and Jarrett Anderson (2021, 2022, 2023) as Academic All-Americans for the Springfield College men’s volleyball program.
The 2025 Academic All-America® At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Honorees must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale and must compete in 90-percent of the institution’s games played. Mulvaney was one of 46 student-athletes from across the country and one of 13 from the New England region to be chosen this year.
Mulvaney, an exercise science major with a 3.71 grade point average, ranked second in the nation with 10.37 assists per set dishing out a total of 861 helpers and powered Springfield College to the second-best hitting percentage in the country at a .354 clip. The junior setter also registered 30 kills, 26 aces, 99 digs, 36 blocks and hit .418. In addition to his third straight All-America award, Mulvaney was tabbed as the FrogJump Volleyball Division III National Setter of the Year and as the Region I Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
Mulvaney guided Springfield to a record of 25-5 and back to the NCAA Division III National Championship match for the first time since 2022 and for the tenth time in program history. The Pride finished the 2025 campaign ranked second in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III national poll and earned seven wins over ranked opponents over the course of the year under the direction of AVCA Region I Coach of the Year Charlie Sullivan.
For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events by subscribing to FloSports.
Sports
Pain for SA women water polo side at Aquatics Championships
Another international tournament, another series of brutal defeats suffered by South Africa’s women’s water polo side. Playing at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, they were drawn in Group D alongside Spain, Great Britain and France. In their opening match, the South African side lost 23-4 (score by quarters: 9-1, 5-0, 4-2, 5-1) to Spain. […]

Another international tournament, another series of brutal defeats suffered by South Africa’s women’s water polo side.
Playing at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, they were drawn in Group D alongside Spain, Great Britain and France.
In their opening match, the South African side lost 23-4 (score by quarters: 9-1, 5-0, 4-2, 5-1) to Spain.
That was followed by a 12-3 defeat against Great Britain (score by quarters: 5-0, 2-2, 4-1, 1-0) and a 13-6 loss to France (score by quarters: 4-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-0).
South Africa finished bottom of the group, scoring just 13 goals while conceding 48 for an average loss of 16-4.
The South African women’s side then entered the 13th-16th place bracket where they lost 16-6 against Croatia.
They will now face hosts Singapore on Saturday, 19 July at 09:00 (SA time) to determine 15th and 16th places overall.
Faired little better
Meanwhile, the South African men’s side faired little better.
They were drawn in Group A alongside Italy, Serbia and Romania.
In their opening match, South Africa lost 27-3 (score by quarters: 8-0, 6-3, 4-0, 9-0) to Serbia.
They followed that up with a 24-5 loss against Romania (score by quarters: 8-0, 3-1, 7-3, 6-1).
In their final group stage match, the South African men’s side were humbled 28-4 by Italy (score by quarters: 6-1, 9-0, 8-1, 5-2).
South Africa finished bottom of the group, scoring just 12 goals while conceding 79 for an average loss of 26-4.
The South African men’s side will now enter the 13th-16th place bracket where they will face Australia on Friday, 18 July at 09:00 (SA time).
Should they lose that match – as is expected – they will face the loser of the clash between hosts Singapore and China to determine 15th and 16th places overall.
Despite being the best in Africa, why do South Africa struggle on the international water polo stage?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
-
Motorsports2 weeks ago
Why Cosmetics are Making Up for Lost Time in Women’s Sports
-
Motorsports2 weeks ago
Team Penske names new leadership
-
Youtube2 weeks ago
🚨 BREAKING: NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signs the RICHEST annual salary in league history
-
Sports1 week ago
New 'Bosch' spin
-
Sports1 day ago
Volleyball Releases 2025 Schedule – Niagara University Athletics
-
Sports2 weeks ago
E.l.f Cosmetics Builds Sports Marketing Game Plan Toward Bigger Goals
-
College Sports2 weeks ago
MSU Hockey News – The Only Colors
-
College Sports5 days ago
Buford DB Tyriq Green Commits to Georgia
-
Fashion3 weeks ago
USA vs. Ireland FREE LIVE STREAM (6/29/25)
-
College Sports3 weeks ago
IU basketball recruiting