MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A total of 144 student-athletes from West Virginia University have been named to the 2024-25 Spring and Rookie Academic All-Big 12 Conference Teams, the league announced on Tuesday.
 
The spring team recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at conference institutions who participate in spring sports, including baseball, golf, rowing, tennis and track and field at WVU. West Virginia placed 74 student-athletes on the Spring Academic All-Big 12 Team.
 
The rookie team honors conference competitors who are freshmen or competing in their first year at their respective league institutions. West Virginia placed 70 student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team.

BYU had the most selections across the spring sports with 113 honorees, tallying the most in men’s track and field (27) and baseball (23). On the rookie team, Kansas led all Big 12 members with 81 honorees, followed by Utah with 76.

To qualify for the spring academic team, student-athletes must maintain a 3.20 GPA or higher either cumulative or over the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20% of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

 

Student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team must be new, first-time/incoming freshmen who have completed 24 semester hours of non-remedial coursework and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. Additionally, the student-athlete must have participated in at least one of their team’s scheduled contests and must have been a member of their respective team for their sport’s entire NCAA Championship segment.

 

2025 Spring Academic All-Big 12 Team

 

 
 
2024-25 Academic All-Big Rookie Team
 

DAYTON – The University of Dayton’s women’s volleyball team has five transfer student-athletes joining this season’s squad. Lily Barry, Lejla Sara Hadžiredžepović, Kamryn Hunt, Panna Ratkai and Viktoria Wahlgren bring Division I experience to the 2025 roster.

Barry spent the last two seasons at the University of Illinois after a four-year high school volleyball career at University High School. Last season, she appeared in 26 matches with 17 assists, 14 service aces and 160 digs. At libero, she helped the Illini reach the NCAA Tournament.

“I chose to transfer to Dayton because of the coaching staff and the team culture. I fell in love with the things they value,” said Barry. “I wanted to be a part of a program that is always grinding and working hard, and that is what Dayton volleyball is all about. I’m thankful for the coaching staff for picking me up from the portal and helping me chase my dreams of playing pro volleyball.”

Hadžiredžepović is a sophomore transfer from Reykjavik, Iceland, who played at Clemson last season. She started in two matches with seven total appearances, tallying 32 kills, eight digs and two solo blocks. Hadžiredžepović also played for the Icelandic National Team this summer.

“I chose Dayton because the volleyball was very good and more competitive,” said Hadžiredžepović. “I love the atmosphere in the gym.”

Hunt, a native of Sylvania, Ohio, played the last two seasons at Ohio. She was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team in 2023 and the MAC All-Conference Second Team in 2024. She also had 469.5 points, 28 aces, 19 assists and 29 total blocks last season.

“I chose to transfer to Dayton because I wanted to be challenged both academically and athletically. Dayton has such a strong reputation in both areas, and I felt like it was the perfect place for me to grow, push myself, and to be a part of something great,” explained Hunt. “I’m really excited to be here and be a part of this community.”

Ratkai joins the Flyers from Budapest, Hungary by way of Purdue Fort Wayne. A redshirt junior, she was a two-time Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year with the Mastodons. Additionally, Ratkai earned AVCA All-Midwest Region selection and All-American Honorable Mention last season. This summer, Ratkai played for the Hungarian National Team.

“I decided to transfer because I was looking for more challenges and a truly competitive team. After talking to Coach Tim Horsmon on the phone, I had no doubt that Dayton is the place I was looking for,” explained Ratkai. “I wanted to grow as a player, and I feel like I found the perfect place for that.”

Wahlgren played at Utah in 2022 and 2023 and Virginia Tech in 2024 before coming to Dayton for her senior year. The Burlington, Ontario native appeared in 30 matches with 29 starts, recording 73 kills, 779 assists, 27 aces, 190 digs and 51 total blocks at Virginia Tech last season. Wahlgren represented Canada on the U23 Pan Am Cup team, helping her team win silver.

“I chose to transfer to Dayton because I wanted to come to a program where I would be surround by great volleyball players and humans every day, and I had heard nothing but great things about the program,” said Wahlgren. “As soon as I got on the phone with the coaches, I could tell that Dayton has a very strong team culture and the program has a winning mentality. After spending just one semester here I know I made the right decision to come to Dayton and I am so excited to compete in the A-10 for my senior year.”

Corrie Anderson, Sydney Barrett, Abigail Cresse, Karissa Kaminski, Kaitlyn McNeel, Taylor Russell, Liana Sarkissian and Emily Young have returned to Dayton. Freshmen Morgan Asleson, Addi Gallentine, Claire Logeais, Melina Schrader and Isabel Simmons complete this season’s roster.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference on Tuesday released its Women’s Basketball league schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The University of Texas opens conference action with a road contest against Missouri on Thursday, January 1 and concludes league play with a road game against Alabama on Sunday, March 1.

The schedule consists of a single round robin of home or away (14 games) with one rotating opponent that will be played at home and away (2 games).  Each team will play eight home games and eight away games. The rotating opponent changes annually. This marks the 17th season of the 16-game schedule for women’s basketball.

Texas will play LSU both home and away in the 2025-26 season. Home games will be: Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. Texas will travel to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. 

The regular season concludes with the 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament being held for the ninth time at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.  The tournament, which will include all 16 teams, begins on Wednesday, March 4 and concludes with the championship game on Sunday, March 8.

The women’s basketball television schedule will be announced later, as will the time for all games.

After months of preparation the Shore Aquatics 18-and-under boys’ water polo team capped its summer with a Gold Division championship at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics, finishing the tournament with an undefeated 5-0 run in the Gold bracket.

In the gold-medal match, Long Beach defeated South Florida 13-11 to win the title in the gold division.

It was a memorable summer for the Shore team, which featured athletes from several local high schools including Wilson, Long Beach Poly, Edison, Los Alamitos and Millikan. Shore and Wilson head coach Zac Polmanteer said this was his first full season coaching the 18U level for Shore and it was one to remember.

“We really came together as a unit in about the last month and a half,” coach Zac Polmanteer said. “We had guys working as lifeguards, managing school, swim season — so getting everyone in the water together was tough. But the group stayed focused on building chemistry, and it showed.”

Shore qualified for the championship bracket by finishing fifth in the competitive Southern California zone. At the Junior Olympics, they missed out on the top bracket after a tight 11-10 loss to Diablo of Northern California. But with some stick-to-itiveness after a tough opening day, the team regrouped and made the most of their opportunity.

“We lost two games on Day 1, but the kids didn’t pack it in,” the coach said. “They committed to finishing strong. We treated Gold like it was the championship, and they went out and earned it.”

Shore punched their way to the gold-medal match after a thrilling semifinal win over Irvine in a shootout — their fourth matchup of the season with that team and the first time Shore came out on top.

“Something’s gotta give,” Polmanteer said of defeating Irvine. “Statistically it’s harder to beat a team two or three times a year than it is to just win once.”

Wilson’s Vaugh Baker was the team’s leading scorer, and he wasn’t the only Bruin that made an impact for the Shore team. Baker was joined by teammates Christian Marov-Perez and Fernando Rejon to give the team some existing chemistry.

Along with the Bruins, Edison’s Thomas Emerson and Sebastian Mok were leaders for the team. 

“(Emerson) was important to our offense,” Polmanteer said. “A lot of teams changed their defense based on him being in the water.”

Polmanteer said he had a great time coaching the team and sharing the memorable outcome.

“It felt like a long season,” Polmanteer said. “All the teams are so strong at that level and most of the kids are still playing in our area and they’re all 18 and they all want to play in college or are already committed to play. So, there’s just a really gnarly level of competition and expectation – which is exhausting. But, I had a great time doing it and hope I do it again next year.”

Shore Aquatics Results:

18 and under Boys Gold Division: 1^st, 25^th in nation (Coached by Zac Polmanteer and Luke Malecka)

16 and under boys red team in Gold Division: 3^rd, 27^th in nation (Coached by Louis Hackett)

16 and under boys black team in Classic Division: 4^th, 52^nd in nation (Coached by Alec Johnson and Caleb Francisco)

10 and under boys in Gold Division: 5^th, 29^th in nation (Coached by Yves Medrano and Adam Lee)

14 and under boys in Platinum Division: 6^th, 6^th in nation (Coached by Rober Lynn)

14 and under boys black team in Classic Division: 7^th, 79^th in nation (Coached by Justin Greenwood)

12 and under boys team in Platinum Division: 23^rd, 23^rd in nation (Coached by Ian Escoto and Charlie Pruett)

Wheeling, W. Va. – On the volleyball court, Wheeling Volleyball senior Libero Melia Gorrell is challenged with holding down the back line for the Cardinals. Over the next 18 days, the senior will be taking on a new challenge, the “Power of 18” Challenge supporting the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society. Gorrell’s brother Evan is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 18 P-, and she is working to raise money and awareness for research to help people learn more about the disorder and its effects. 

“It means a lot to know that I am able to help my brother and others with this fundraiser,” said Gorrell. “The Chromosome 18 Registry has done an amazing job with research and events. I am grateful that I am able to help and contribute to their efforts.” 

The Power of 18 Challenge is an annual event run through the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society that runs from August 1st through August 18th. During that time, participants pick a challenge or goal that they want to reach in 18 days and they can do it either solo or as a team. These can include things like running a mile for 18 days straight, practicing a new skill, or posting facts about Chromosome 18 on Social Media. Participants then let their family and friends know about their challenge on social media and try to get people to sponsor them for at least $1 per day for 18 days. Every donation makes a huge different and can help make chromosome 18 conditions the first treatable chromosome abnormality. 

During her Power of 18 Challenge, Gorrell will be running a mile everyday for 18 days in order to raise both money and awareness for those diagnosed with Chromosome 18. It is a cause that hits home for Gorrell and her family, as he brother Evan is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 18 P-. Gorrell and her Cardinal Volleyball team have done their part to help raise awareness, holding an annual Chromosome 18 Awareness weekend in each of the past three seasons to help raise awareness and money for the Chromosome 18 Foundation.  

The Chromosome 18 Foundation helps to serve over 6,000 families across the world who are either dealing with or caring for someone who has a chromosome 18 disorder. Their mission includes three main pillars, nurturing a compassionate community, enhancing education, and driving innovative research. Together they look to offer a shared journey of learning, emotional support, and hope. 

To help support Gorrell’s Power of 18 Challenge, click HERE. To learn more about the Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society, you can visit their website by clicking HERE. 

The 2025 NWSL regular season returned this past weekend after a month-long international break, and the San Diego Wave are already ahead of schedule.

Because after a tumultuous end to 2024 followed by offseason roster and front office shakeups, the club has so far exceeded the soccer world’s — and possibly even their own — expectations.

San Diego entered the second half of the year in third place in the NWSL standings, having lost only one of their last nine games before play suspended in late June. Along the way, the club produced a legitimate 2025 MVP candidate in forward Delphine Cascarino while also leaning hard into the league’s youth movement, becoming the first NWSL club to start three 17-year-olds in the same match.

But as the second season starts to rev up, there are still lingering questions about the team’s ability to create consistency on the pitch — not to mention the club’s big picture plans. 

The Wave know they don’t have everything figured out just yet. But it’s safe to say the light at the end of the tunnel showed up far sooner on the field than expected for a young team riding out a game-changing season.

Veteran Kailen Sheridan sees San Diego start anew

At the end of 2024, all San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan wanted was a break from soccer.

A member of the Wave since their inaugural 2022 season, Sheridan saw her team abruptly plummet down the NWSL table after winning the shield in 2023, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in club history. 

And the trouble wasn’t contained to the field. Amid the skid, the Wave parted ways with head coach Casey Stoney, dealt with allegations of front office toxicity† linked to club president Jill Ellis, and saw USWNT legend and founding Wave star Alex Morgan’s surprise retirement.

“I remember at the end of last season being kind of bombarded with everything, and not sure how we were moving forward,” Sheridan told Just Women’s Sports. “I want to be the best version of myself on the field and off the field. The people who were left felt that as well, and we needed some time away.”

After a disappointing finish, San Diego saw further roster shifts dominate the offseason headlines. USWNT defender Naomi Girma transferred to WSL side Chelsea for a then-record transfer fee, while star-in-the-making Jaedyn Shaw requested a trade to the North Carolina Courage. Change appeared to be chasing the Wave whether the club’s remaining players were ready or not.

“Honestly, it was a really rough couple of weeks,” Sheridan continued. “But once we got out, we could turn our focus onto what this year could look like, how we could have a really strong year but also focus on our growth.”

The growing pains hurt. But as more changes brought a shift in leadership and perspective, a blank slate also began to emerge. The team entered 2025 under new ownership. Ellis left for a role at FIFA while former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall took over as head coach, setting a fresh tone across the franchise.

“For me, it was coming in with less expectation,” said Sheridan. “More just being ready to work and put in the effort to create a new culture.”

Young Wave star Trinity Armstrong takes a leap of faith

After winning a national championship in her first season with UNC, then-17-year-old Trinity Armstrong was looking for a challenge.

She decided to turn professional in 2025. She then entered the NWSL under the U18 mechanism — a legal process that allows underage players to pick their pro teams. The wide-open nature of San Diego’s rebuild spoke to her.

“It felt like the best environment for me. To not only try and earn a spot, but then be a consistent starter,” she told JWS. After Girma’s transfer, the team needed a new cornerstone center-back. Armstrong felt emboldened by conversations with Eidevall about the team’s developing defensive identity.

Armstrong was keenly aware of the legacy left by departed Wave superstars like Alex Morgan and Abby Dahlkemper. She liked the idea of adding to that history while also making her own mark as her star grew.

“It felt like they had their own successes in the past. But from what I was hearing coming in, it was basically a brand new team,” she continued. “I was very excited to be a part of that young group to rebrand ourselves and push forward.”

In January, Armstrong signed a three-year deal with the Wave. And she already has 11 starts under her belt this season. She’s particularly effective in possession, completing nearly 90% of her passes with the ability to cut through lines to spring play forward.

Teen Wave stars write a new chapter

Armstrong became a key component to the Wave’s rebuild. She joined fellow teen talents Melanie Barcenas and Kimmy Ascanio playing Eidevall’s preferred style of purposeful possession. In Eidevall’s game plan, San Diego holds the lion’s share of the ball, executing plays at a tempo that sets defenses on their heels. 

The Wave relied on established internationals like Sheridan and Cascarino to propel them forward with consistency. But transitioning to quickly developing the team’s youngsters also sets the club up for years to come.

“We were unsure of how they would gel at such a young age. And honestly, they’ve blown all of us away,” Sheridan said of her new teammates. “We’ve been really impressed with their mentality — and their desire.”

The respect is mutual. Armstrong credits Sheridan with helping her adjust while adopting the same emphasis on growth that’s become the team’s calling card.

“Kailen, coming in, she’s been such a great mentor to me,” Armstrong said. “She’s been super encouraging. I can only speak good things about her.”

San Diego finds its footing on the pitch

It’s easy enough for confidence-building and good vibes to carry a team through preseason training. But once the regular-season whistle blew, both veterans and newcomers were happily surprised at how quickly they were able to produce.

“It was just so beautiful to see us connecting, seeing our midfield and our forward line have these great combinations and getting really good goals off of them,” said Armstrong. “This could really be something that pushes us all the way to the championship.”

“I honestly wasn’t 100% confident in how successful we would be putting it all together right away,” Sheridan recalled. “It’s great to see that we’ve been able to get through those first couple hurdles of gelling and creating chemistry. We’ll still hit a bunch of bumps going forward, but ultimately, I was confident in the individual talent.”

Much of the credit goes to the homegrown focus Eidevall imparted on his new squad within his first few weeks.

“The drive was, how do I make each player better?” Sheridan said of her coach’s approach. “That was humongous for us.”

Eidevall made headlines during his time at Arsenal, where he won two FA Cups but could never seriously endanger Chelsea FC’s dominant run. When the 42-year-old crossed over to the NWSL after mutually parting ways with the WSL last October, he arrived with a bottom-up perspective.

His players have responded in kind. 

“The mindset to want to grow, to want to develop, that’s been great from the players and from the staff,” he recently told reporters. “The commitment to the team and to the group, that’s such an important aspect. And you can see that these players create something special between them.”

Anchors of the central defense, Sheridan and Armstrong both enjoy playing technical football. They like the ball at their feet, connecting out of the back to set up the dynamic midfield, and setting their frontline free.

With half a season to go, San Diego has already scored more goals than they did in the entire 2024 season. It resulted in the third-best goal differential in the NWSL standings.

“It’s a very tight team,” added Eidevall. “We see that when players are coming on from  the bench. We see how the bench and the starting XI interact. And that’s very important because at the end of the day, this is team sport.”

Marching into the NWSL season’s back half

July’s break allowed players across the league the opportunity to reset. Armstrong spent her days caring for her rescue pit bull mix Mochi — adopted a few months ago from the local Humane Society — going on hikes and taking trips to the beach. She also celebrated her 18th birthday, graduating from the separate U18 locker room shared with Barcenas and Ascanio to join the rest of the team.

But while the Wave’s turnaround looks to be in full swing, the real tests might still lie ahead. No longer a surprise, their opponents can now review tape on the team’s first-half successes. They’re able to better counter San Diego’s new form.

On Saturday, the Wave restarted their 2025 campaign with another positive result, though one tempered with missed opportunities. Despite both out-possessing and generating more attack than the North Carolina Courage, San Diego settled for a scoreless draw. The outcome pointed to a strong performance from the defense, while also showcasing yet another opportunity for growth.

Sheridan doesn’t appear to be too rattled. Returning refreshed, she’s confident in her team’s ability to recapture the continuity they so fluidly created at the beginning of the season. Just so long as they stick together.

“We’ve started with a mindset of ‘Okay, we’re back at zero,'” Sheridan said. “How do we want this to look, and how do we want to go forward from here?”

†An October 2024 lawsuit filed by five former club employees alleging the Wave of workplace misconduct remains active and unresolved.