Sports

2025 WCWS

Published

7 months ago

June 1, 2025

Eli LedermanJun 1, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
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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.”

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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

Vikings Begin ‘Process’, Open Indoor Season at Silver & Blue Invitational This Weekend

Published

24 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

PORTLAND, Ore. — A new year brings with it a new season for the Portland State track & field program as the Vikings open their 2026 indoor season this Friday and Saturday at the Silver & Blue Invitational in Reno, Nev.

The season opener brings extra excitement for the Vikings, who enter their first track season under new head coach Joseph Blue. The Vikings’ new coach welcomes that excitement, though is quick to contextualize it as the first step in a long process for his team and his athletes.

“We’re just trying to get our feet wet. There are no expectations. I just want them to go out there and race hard, throw hard and execute the things that we’ve been working on,” Blue said of the team’s season opener.

It’ll be the first official action for the non-distance runners in the Viking program since last May’s Big Sky Outdoor Championships. The Vikings’ throwers, jumpers, sprinters and hurdlers worked with their new coaches during the fall. Blue said the team trained throughout October together, then three weeks in November.

The seven-week training period was shorter than Blue would have liked, but productive. The short period of training means the Vikings will be still looking to build through the early part of their season.

“The first half of the season will be us still practicing. As we get through the end of February and we get to outdoor, our team will get more whole. But as we start right now, we’re still in preseason mode,” Blue said.

Some of the Vikings will be ready to go from this weekend’s season opener. Blue said Daniel Coppedge, who broke the school records in the weight throw and hammer last indoor and outdoor season, respectively, should be ready to go.

Coppedge will compete in the weight throw Friday morning. He set the record in the event with a throw of 56-00.00 (17.07m) at the Riverfront Invitational last season, though that isn’t even a personal best for Coppedge. His personal best came when he was competing unattached at the PSU vs. UP Dual Meet where he threw 56-02.00 (17.11m).

Meanwhile, Blue called Tori Forst “the best athlete” across both the men’s and women’s teams at Portland State. Forst should be ready to make noise for the Vikings this weekend. She had her 2025 outdoor season shut down early due to injury, but before then, had entered the top 10 all-time in the indoor 60 meters when she finished in 7.54 seconds at the Big Sky Indoor Championships.

Forst also recorded an overall win in the 200 meters at the Oregon Preview during the outdoor season, finishing in a personal best of 24.40 seconds.

Forst is entered in the prelims of the women’s 60 meters Friday alongside teammates Sienna Rosario and Aida Wheat. Forst will also run the 200 meters Saturday with Rosario, Savannah Beasley and Ashley Peterson.

Some of the Vikings’ distance runners who had strong cross country seasons should also be ready to continue that this weekend. Emma Stolte ranks chief among those after she posted five top 10 finishes this past fall, including a ninth-place finish at the Big Sky Championships to earn all-conference honors.

Stolte is entered in the women’s mile Friday alongside Libby Fox and Sam Sharp. She’ll double back in the 800 meters Saturday, an event in which she ranks eighth all-time at Portland State.

Amir Ahmed returns to the middle distances after running cross country in the fall. He’ll chase a school record in the 600 meters Saturday, an event in which he ranks third all-time after finishing in 1:20.85 at the UW Preview last season. Nate Boyer set the current 600-meter record at 1:19.48 in 2006.

Ahmed will also run in the 1,000 meters Friday. Fellow men’s distance runners Abdinajib Abade, Luke Gillingham and Farhan Ibrahim will also run in the mile Friday.

More Vikings will make either their season or career debuts this weekend. Blue cautioned all of them, no matter where they are in their training, to not overextend themselves.

“All your best PRs are going to happen when you were confident and relaxed. It’ll never happen by running as hard as you can or trying to throw as far as you can. That’s when bad habits creep in. A lot of our sport is reflex, muscle memory and reactive strength. That’s all it is. And mental. If you can do that and do what you trained, it’ll happen,” Blue said.

That can be tough to keep in mind during a season opener when athletes are eager to prove themselves. But no one hits their New Year’s resolutions by the second week of January. If you did, then you chose too easy of a resolution.

“I want them to stay in their process. Because [this meet] is not the result. I don’t care what they finish here. It’s cool to see the result, but that result is just part of the process for the year,” Blue said.

MEET INFO

Jan. 9-10 – Silver & Blue Invitational – Reno, Nev. (Reno Sparks Convention Center)

FOLLOW ALONG
Live Results

MEET SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 9
Time (PT) – Event (PSU Entries)
10 a.m. – Women’s Weight Throw (Flight 1 of 1 – Fisher)
~11 a.m. – Men’s Weight Throw (Flight 1 of 1 – Coppedge, Green)
2 p.m. – Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims (Heat 3 of 3 – Beasley)
2:15 p.m. – Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims (Heat 1 of 2 – Johnson, Sweeney)
2:25 p.m. – Women’s 60 Meters – Prelims (Heat 1 of 3 – Forst; Heat 2 of 3 – Rosario, Wheat)
2:40 p.m. – Men’s 60 Meters – Prelims (Heat 3 of 3 – Brost, Mcdonald)
2:55 p.m. – Women’s Mile (Heat 1 of 1 – Fox, Sharp, Stolte)
3:05 p.m. – Men’s Mile (Heat 1 of 1 – Abade, Gillingham, Ibrahim)
3:15 p.m. – Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Final
3:20 p.m. – Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles – Final
3:25 p.m. – Men’s 60 Meters – Final
3:30 p.m. – Women’s 60 Meters – Final
3:35 p.m. – Women’s 1,000 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Butterfield)
3:40 p.m. – Men’s 1,000 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Ahmed)

Saturday, Jan. 10
Time (PT) – Event (PSU Entries)
10 a.m. – Women’s Shot Put (Flight 1 of 1 – Fisher)
11 a.m. – Women’s 400 Meters (Heat 2 of 2 – Peterson)
11:15 a.m. – Men’s 400 Meters (Heat 1 of 3 – Johnson; Heat 2 of 3 – Payne; Heat 3 of 3 – Cadengo, Jones)
11:30 a.m. – Women’s 800 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Stolte)
11:35 a.m. – Men’s 800 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Abade)
11:40 a.m. – Women’s 600 Meters (Heat 3 of 3 – Butterfield)
11:50 a.m. – Men’s 600 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Ahmed)
11:55 a.m. – Women’s 200 Meters (Heat 2 of 8 – Forst; Heat 4 of 8 – Rosario; Heat 5 of 8 – Beasley; Heat 7 of 8 – Peterson)
~12 p.m. – Men’s Triple Jump (Niyongere)
12:30 p.m. – Men’s 200 Meters (Heat 2 of 8 – Cadengo, Sweeney; Heat 3 of 8 – Jones; Heat 4 of 8 – Payne; Heat 5 of 8 – Mcdonald; Heat 8 of 8 – Brost)
1 p.m. – Women’s 3,000 Meters (Heat 1 of 1 – Fox, Sharp)
1:20 p.m. – Men’s 3,000 Meters (Gillingham, Ibrahim)

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Sports

Seremes named to The Bowerman watchlist

Published

40 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

NEW ORLEANS– Junior triple jumper Jonathan Seremes was named to the 2026 preseason Bowerman watchlist Thursday afternoon. He is the 8^th Texas Tech man to make the watchlist and first jumper to do so since Trey Culver in 2018.

Seremes is in his first season with Tech after transferring from Missouri where he only competed during the indoor season. Despite just one season with the Tigers, Seremes won the 2024 NCAA indoor triple jump crown. The France native leaped 17.04m (55-11), winning the competition by nearly two feet.

This past summer, he represented France at the World Championships where he finished 8^th overall bounding 16.82m (55- 2 ¼). He holds a lifetime best jump of 17.08m (56- ½).

The Red Raiders kickoff the 2026 season next weekend hosting the annual Corky Classic Friday and Saturday inside the Sports Performance Center.

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The 2026 Bowerman Watch List for men’s and women’s NCAA track and field

Published

55 minutes ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

It’s time for a look at potential winners of the Bowerman, an annual award presented to the most outstanding athletes in collegiate track and field.

Here’s the latest on some of the best in DI track and field.

THE BOWERMAN: Complete history of the track and field honor

Watch lists from the season

Check out every 2026 watch list below.

Preseason watch list

The women’s preseason watch list was announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7, with the men’s preseason watch list announced on Thursday, Jan. 8.

**The Bowerman preseason watch list (Jan. 7/8)**
Gender	Athlete	School	Events
Women	Şilan Ayyildiz	Oregon	Mid-Distance
	JaMeesia Ford+	South Carolina	Sprints
	Grace Hartman*	NC State	Distance
	Jane Hedengren*	BYU	Distance
	Axelina Johansson	Nebraska	Throws
	Alyssa Jones*	Stanford	Jumps/Sprints
	Pamela Kosgei#	New Mexico	Distance
	Doris Lemngole!	Alabama	Distance
	Amanda Moll+	Washington	Pole Vault
	Hana Moll+	Washingotn	Pole Vault
Men	Mykolas Alekna+	Oregon	Discus
	Peyton Bair	Oregon	Combined Events
	James Corrigan+	BYU	Mid-Distance/Steeple
	Gary Martin	Virginia	Mid-Distance/Distance
	Ralford Mullings+	Oklahoma	Throws
	Brian Musau+	Oklahoma State	Distance
	Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan	Ole Miss	Throws
	Habtom Samuel	New Mexico	Distance
	Jonathan Seremes	Texas Tech	Jumps
	Ja’Kobe Tharp#	Auburn	Hurdles

*Watch list career debut
+Returning semifinalist
#Returning finalist
! Returning winner

The following athletes received votes:

Women
- Valentina Barrios Bornacelli, Missouri (Javelin)
- Indya Mayberry, TCU (Sprints)
- Madison Whyte, Southern California (Sprints)
Men
- BJ Green, Oklahoma (Jumps)
- T’Mars McCallum, Tennessee (Sprints)
- Chinecherem Nnamdi, Texas A&M (Javelin)
- Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (Sprints)
- Tarsis Orogot, Alabama (Sprints)
- Aleksandr Solovev, Texas A&M (Pole Vault)
- JC Stevenson, Southern California (Sprints/Jumps)
- Tyrice Taylor, Arkansas (Mid-Distance)

PREDICTING: How the Bowerman watch lists predict the award’s final winner

2026 watch list dates

Below you’ll find all of the announced Bowerman watch list dates for 2026.

Update	Women’s Date	Men’s Date
Preseason	Wednesday, Jan. 7	Thursday, Jan. 8
1	Wednesday, Feb. 4	Thursday, Feb. 5

All dates subject to change

Date of the winner of the Bowerman

The 2025 winners will be announced at the 2025 USTFCCCA convention from December 14-17 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

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Sports

Gurnell Promoted to Director of Volleyball Operations – Purdue Boilermakers

Published

59 minutes ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Following her fifth season overseeing operations for the Purdue volleyball program, Carrie Gurnell has been promoted from supervisor to director of operations, announced by Art and Connie Euler women’s volleyball head coach Dave Shondell.

“I’m so pleased to learn that Carrie has been elevated to the position of Director of Volleyball Operations,” Shondell said. “She has earned this promotion with her effort, performance, and unparalleled commitment to our program. It’s very special to have a volleyball alumni as a significant member of our staff. Carrie is creative, assertive, and very loyal to Purdue. I feel extremely fortunate to have her by my side as we battle through every season with the best student-athletes in the land.”

In her role, Gurnell oversees the program’s scheduling throughout the year, team travel, assists in recruiting efforts and more.

Gurnell, who played for Purdue under Shondell from 2006-2009 as an outside hitter/middle hitter, is a member of the program’s 1,000 kill club and led the team’s offense her senior season.

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Sports

‘Dons Open 2026 Season on Arnie Ball Court

Published

1 hour ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball program begins the 2026 season on the Arnie Ball Court, hosting Missouri S&T on Saturday (Jan. 10) and NJIT on Sunday (Jan. 11).

Game Day Information

Who: Missouri S&T

When: Saturday, January 10 | 2 PM

Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court

Live Stats: Link

Watch: Link

Tickets: Link

Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne

Game Day Information

Who: NJIT

When: Sunday, January 11 | 5 PM

Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Arnie Ball Court

Live Stats: Link

Watch: Link

Tickets: Link

Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne

Know Your Foes

Missouri S&T finished the 2025 season 11-14 and dropped a five-set bout to Maryville in the IVA semifinals to conclude the year. The Miners return all seven players from their main rotation for the 2026 season. Three of those players, Nate Meyer (First Team), Tyler Johnwick (Second Team) and Aaron Sallade (Second Team) were 2025 All-IVA selections. Missouri S&T fired off the ninth most nationally in total team attacks per set last season, averaging 28.51 a frame. The Miners also ranked top-10 nationally in digs per set, notching 9.75 a set. Missouri S&T was led offensively by now seniors Meyer and Sallade, both finishing the year with more than 3.00 kills per set. Junior Grant Edmonds ran the offense at the setter position for the Miners a season ago, averaging 8.60 assists per set while starting all 25 matches. Bartosz Chmielewski held a team high 196 digs from the libero position in 2025. Middle blocker Johnwick finished the season fifth nationally in hitting percentage (.448).

NJIT ended their 2025 season at 14-13, 8-4 in EIVA play. The Highlanders’ season ended at the hands of Penn State in the EIVA semifinals. NJIT were able to beat two ranked opponents last year: No. 20 George Mason and No. 19 Penn State. The Highlanders return only one of their four players to average over 2.00 kills per set, sophomore Wiktor Nowak. Sophomore Bruno Figueiredo ran the Highlanders offense in the setter position, averaging 9.24 assists per set. NJIT started the season 0-2 against No. 2 Hawaii. Freshman André Aleixo led the Highlanders with 3.00 kills per set in the two contests.

Series Histories

The ‘Dons won the only meeting between Purdue Fort Wayne and Missouri S&T. The Mastodons swept the Miners in 2023.

Purdue Fort Wayne holds a 15-5 series history lead over NJIT. The Highlanders have closed the gap in the last four meetings, winning all four since 2020.

Preseason All-MIVA

Logan Muir was selected for the Preseason All-MIVA Team on December 15. Muir was named to the 2025 All-MIVA Second Team following last season. The Junior led the Mastodons in points (464.5), kills (391) and service aces (41) last year. He was second in the MIVA in kills per set (4.39), aces per set (0.41) and points per set (5.19) during conference play. Muir’s 5.09 points per set ranked fifth in the nation. The California native also was 10th in the MIVA in hitting percentage with .299. Muir recorded double-digit kills in 19 of the ‘Dons’ 26 matches. He hit a career-high 23 kills in three sets at McKendree, the third most in the program’s rally scoring era.

Fresh Faces

Purdue Fort Wayne begins the 2026 season with a roster refresh, adding five freshmen and two transfers. The additions include Carlo Huisden (OH), Joaquin Jones (S), Vince Spadoni (OH), Jean Paul Gonzalez (OH), Owen Banner (OH/OPP), Ethan Skalski (OH/OPP) and Brody McAfee (OPP/MB).

2025 In a Nutshell

Purdue Fort Wayne finished the 2025 season at 11-15, 4-12 during MIVA play. The Mastodons finished seventh in MIVA standings and took on No. 12 McKendree in the MIVA quarterfinals, falling in three sets.

Coming Up

The Mastodons will travel to Lindenwood for the Under Armour Challenge on January 16 and 17. The Mastodons play Menlo at 5 PM ET on January 16 and then CSUN at 5 PM ET on January 17.

~ Feel the Rumble ~

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Sports

John Cook interview ahead of Supernovas season opener

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska legend and one of volleyball’s most iconic figures John Cook sat down with 10/11 Thursday to talk about the upcoming Omaha Supernovas season.

The former Nebraska volleyball head coach joined the organization as co-owner and general manager in August after announcing his retirement that January.

Cook shared details about his new role and transition from collegiate volleyball to professional volleyball.

“This has been a pretty easy transition for me because this is similar to what I’ve been doing,” Cook said. “If you look at it, you’re just trying to put all this group together, give them everything they need to perform their best I mean that’s the bottom line. That’s my job is to give them every opportunity to be the best that they can become.”

Cook said he was inspired to get involved in the organization when he noticed the amount of mothers and daughters attending Supernovas matches last season.

One of Cook’s goals for the Supernovas was to build a team around great culture. That helped guide the organization during recruitment season.

“It’s a first-class organization and so it was easy to find players that wanted to come here and then also fit what we were looking for in culture and being competitive.”

Fifteen players are on Supernovas roster this season, including two former Nebraska players, opposite hitter Merritt Beason and Leyla Blackwell.

“We wanted to create and built a team that the fans would recognize and relate to and I think that’s one of the reasons why people are so passionate about about the Supernovas,” Cook said.

Watch the Supernovas at 7 p.m. Thursday when they take on the San Diego Mojo at CHI Health Center in Omaha.

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