WSU track and field athletes facing program cuts, uncertain futures
The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately. PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately. WSU said it […]
The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately.
PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately.
WSU said it will focus on keeping distance events competitive, but other core events like sprints, throws, jumps and hurdles are being drastically scaled back or completely cut, leaving many athletes unsure of their future.
“I am going through a very quick transfer portal window. Umm…That I’m finding is extremely stressful,” said Ashley Willems, a sprinter at WSU.
Before the news of cuts, Willems says she had just one season left. Now, she has other factors to consider as she moves forward. Willems says she’s newly married, immersed in her master’s program and just signed an apartment lease in Pullman.
“I just feel bad mainly for the people coming in who put their trust in the program and really did like choose WSU over other prospects,” said Willems. “For me, I am kind of on my way out, so…I would have loved to spend it here.”
Another athlete, Riley Pyeatt, runs mid-distance and says she is lucky to still have her spot.
“I feel happy that I am safe, but then I have all these teammates that have to leave,” said Pyeatt. “I knew big things were going to change just in general with the new NCAA versus house settlement, with the roster changes and NIL, but we had no idea a program cut was going to happen.”
Pyeatt says she’s grateful she can stay, especially after transferring just a year ago from a small school in Texas, but says she’s uncertain about what next season will bring.
“We will probably be competitive in the distance side…But obviously will be lacking in other areas,” said Pyeatt.
WSU says that although cuts are effective immediately, scholarships will be honored for affected student athletes who remain on campus. The university is also providing transitional support for student athletes who want to continue their athletic and academic careers elsewhere.
Women’s pro volleyball leagues’ merger includes San Diego team
SACRAMENTO – In a landmark move for the sport, Pro Volleyball Federation and Major League Volleyball have announced plans for a single, united league poised to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States. The unified league will be branded as MLV. The unification and modernization of the business model will bring new team owners, league governance, […]
SACRAMENTO – In a landmark move for the sport, Pro Volleyball Federation and Major League Volleyball have announced plans for a single, united league poised to elevate professional women’s volleyball in the United States.
The unified league will be branded as MLV.
The unification and modernization of the business model will bring new team owners, league governance, ownership standards, and an innovative approach to off-court player opportunities and fan engagement.
MLV will feature the following team lineup for 2026: Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Omaha, Orlando, and San Diego.
In 2027, the league is slated to expand with two more franchises, with the addition of teams in Washington, D.C., and Northern California. These teams will use 2026 to introduce fans to the league in advance of their inaugural seasons.
The Northern California team is majority-owned by entrepreneur Vivek Ranadivé, and DC is owned by the controlling partners of D.C. United.
“To see the sport continue to grow with the consolidation of these teams and their leaders elevates the excitement level to new heights,” said Jen Spicher, Pro Volleyball Federation’s chief executive officer.
“Our belief in the team-ownership model that we played under for the first two seasons is stronger than ever and will showcase the sport at a greater level throughout the nation.”
MLV will be the longest-running professional women’s volleyball league and the only one operating with independently owned teams in-market, alongside a league structure built to resemble those at the pinnacle of sports. It will build on its first two seasons, which saw digital engagement of more than 80 million social impressions, nearly one million total engagements, and over 250,000 social followers.
In addition, attendance has reached more than 750,000 over the first two campaigns, with 45 nationally-televised matches – including an inaugural All-Star Match that drew a peak viewership of 445,000 on CBS network television.
Scheduled to begin play in January 2026, MLV is an evolution of PVF, and the upcoming campaign will be recorded as the league’s third season. The new structure and brand have been established to provide a centralized, elite platform for the sport, delivering world-class competition. It represents a step forward for women’s pro volleyball, intending to elevate the sport among America’s major leagues.
The 2026 season will start with the opening of the free agency signing period on Thursday, Aug. 7. At that time, teams will begin to construct their rosters in the hopes of capturing the MLV Championship.
“I’m incredibly excited to bring MLV to Northern California,” said Ranadivé. “Women’s volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with fan interest and viewership at an all-time high. We have a unique opportunity to build something special, elevate these phenomenal athletes, and create unforgettable fan experiences.”
The San Diego Mojo women’s professional volleyball team is a founding member of Major League Volleyball. The team is owned by longtime San Diegan and UC San Diego alum Gary E. Jacobs, a co-founder and chairman of the board of the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School and managing director of Jacobs Investment Company.
The draw for the Last 32 of the 2025-26 National Cup has thrown up two big ties to whet the appetite for the new season. Defending champions Malory Eagles – who also won the Women the MAAREE Women’s Super League title in April – will host fellow Final 4 qualifiers last season, London Vinarius, in […]
The draw for the Last 32 of the 2025-26 National Cup has thrown up two big ties to whet the appetite for the new season.
Defending champions Malory Eagles – who also won the Women the MAAREE Women’s Super League title in April – will host fellow Final 4 qualifiers last season, London Vinarius, in a mouth-watering all-London tie.
In the men’s draw, National Cup winners in 2024, Durham Palatinates, will host DYNAMIK Men’s Super League winners in 2025, London Giants.
Both the women’s and the men’s National Cups this coming season will feature England U20 teams, who will play their opening matches away from home.
The women’s team who will be coached by Darren Lewis, will face last season’s National Shield semi-finalists, Northampton.
The men, meanwhile, who will be led into action by Sam Shenton, will make the trip to the capital to take on Division 1 side London Aces.
Other ties of note in the women’s competition see Super League Durham Platinates host Loughborough Students and Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels travel to another top-flight side in Darkstar Derbyshire, who reached the semi-final last season.
Super League sides Essex Rebels and Team SideOut Polonia were among those given byes.
In the men’s section, Richmond Docklands, who preserved their Super League status for this coming season via the end-of-season play-offs visit Tamworth Spartans, while Leeds Gorse, newly-promoted back to Super League for 2025-26, go to Loughborough Students.
Reigning champions Essex Rebels will begin their title defence by hosting Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels.
Byes were handed to the likes of Malory Eagles, who have made the quarter-finals for each of the last 20 years, 2025 National Shield winners Wessex and 2016 and 2017 winners IBB Polonia London.
The Last 64 and Last 32 ties of the National Shield were also drawn among a record 163 teams entering the four competitions.
You can watch the full draws for all of those matches on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel here.
Following three preliminary ties played on 6th and 7th September, Last 64 National Shield ties will be played on 27th and 28th September, while Last 32 matches in both competitions will take place on 1st and 2nd November.
Miah McDonald Earns MAAC's Nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year
Story Links POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Graduate shortstop Miah McDonald of the Marist University softball team has been named one of two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year. McDonald’s remarkable collegiate career was capped by a historic 2025 season, during which she earned the following honors: College Sports Communicators First Team […]
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Graduate shortstop Miah McDonald of the Marist University softball team has been named one of two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year.
McDonald’s remarkable collegiate career was capped by a historic 2025 season, during which she earned the following honors:
College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American (first female student-athlete in school history to be named First Team Academic All-American)
Top 100 nationally by Softball America (#45) and D1Softball (#55), Top 100 in D1Softball Mid-Major rankings (#6), and ranked in D1Softball’s top shortstops nationally (#4)
MAAC Player of the Year (second straight year)
ECAC Player of the Year
First Team NFCA All-Region
First Team All-MAAC
MAAC All-Academic Team
Team captain (third straight year)
McDonald made a lasting impact in the program’s and conference’s record books this season and throughout her career:
Set the single-season program record for home runs (28) for the second straight year, which was also a MAAC single-season record.
Set career program records for home runs, runs, runs batted in, hits, and triples.
Set the MAAC’s all-time records in runs and runs batted in.
Siena’s Grace Dobrzynski was also nominated by the MAAC for NCAA Woman of the Year. Marist also nominated softball’s Kiley Myers for the honor.
Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors female student-athletes who have excelled in their community, athletics, and academics throughout their college careers. The Woman of the Year selection committee will next choose 10 women from each division to announce its Top 30. The top three honorees in each division will then be announced, and the Woman of the Year will be celebrated at the January 2026 NCAA Convention.
Who will be the Athens-area 2025 preseason volleyball player of the year?
It’s time for readers to pick their fall 2025 preseason player of the year for volleyball. Below are the nominees, which have been directly taken from the preseason all-area team list that went out Tuesday, July 29. All players were hand-picked by the coaches. Preseason hot shots: Here are 74 Athens-area high school volleyball players […]
It’s time for readers to pick their fall 2025 preseason player of the year for volleyball.
Below are the nominees, which have been directly taken from the preseason all-area team list that went out Tuesday, July 29. All players were hand-picked by the coaches.
Preseason hot shots: Here are 74 Athens-area high school volleyball players to watch ahead of 2025 season
The poll will remain open until Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m.
Athens-area preseason volleyball player of the year reader poll
Surrey, Delta water polo players with Team Canada at Women’s U20 Worlds
14-player team in Brazil for 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship Surrey’s Madeleine Scarth (with Surrey Water Polo Club) and Isabella Mady of Delta (Fraser Valley) are among 14 young athletes competing for Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, Aug. 10-15 in Salvador, Brazil. Ahead of the tournament, Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Junior […]
14-player team in Brazil for 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship
Surrey’s Madeleine Scarth (with Surrey Water Polo Club) and Isabella Mady of Delta (Fraser Valley) are among 14 young athletes competing for Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, Aug. 10-15 in Salvador, Brazil.
Ahead of the tournament, Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Junior National Team left July 30 to take part in a preparatory invitational tournament in Recife, Brazil, against teams representing Australia, Brazil, Israel, New Zealand and the U.S.
In addition to Scarth and Mady, other B.C.-based players on Team Canada are Natalia Blazevic (Vancouver), Riley Milne (Burnaby), Melania Segulja (Burnaby) and Alexandra Stoddard (Abbotsford), along with alternate Mackenzie Clark (Fraser Valley).
In Salvador, Team Canada starts Aug. 10 against China, also in Group D with South Africa and Australia.
The Canadian team qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship following its fourth-place finish at the 2024 PanAm Aquatics U19 Women’s Championships, in El Salvador.
“This group has been working really hard, especially over the last couple of weeks training with our senior national team talent pool,” head coach Samuel Donoghue said in a news release from Water Polo Canada.
“It’s been a great environment, and the team’s grown a lot. We’re excited to get to Brazil — first to Recife for some final prep, then on to the World Championships. The energy is high, the team’s focused, and we’re proud to represent Canada.”
At the last World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, held in 2023 in Portugal, Canada finished in 12th place.
