Sponsors Announced for 2025 espnW Summit NYC on May 1
ESPN has announced the roster of sponsors for the 2025 espnW Summit NYC presented by Eli Lilly and Company. Taking place Thursday, May 1 at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, the one-day event will once again bring together influential leaders across sports, business, and entertainment for a day of inspiring discussions focused on fostering change […]
ESPN has announced the roster of sponsors for the 2025 espnW Summit NYC presented by Eli Lilly and Company. Taking place Thursday, May 1 at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, the one-day event will once again bring together influential leaders across sports, business, and entertainment for a day of inspiring discussions focused on fostering change and creating new opportunities for women in sports.
Eli Lilly and Company joins as the presenting sponsor of the espnW Summit NYC to continue to highlight their investment and commitment to women’s sports.
Rhone joins as a first-time Summit sponsor, and will provide all attendees and talent with exclusive apparel items from their Course to Court line.
Long time Summit sponsor, Gatorade, returns as the official sports nutrition sponsor of the event, as well as the presenting sponsor of all workout activities on-site. They will provide their portfolio of products to all on-site attendees.
Hosted by journalist, radio host & TV personality, Sarah Spain, the Summit will feature panels led by ESPN Host and SportsCenter Anchor Elle Duncan; ESPN Reporter, Soccer Analyst, and World Cup Champion Julie Foudy; ESPN Host and Reporter Laura Rutledge; and MLB & Softball Analyst Jessica Mendoza. ESPN Studio Anchor & Analyst Christine Williamson will host the livestream of the event, which will be available for free on select espnW and ESPN digital and social platforms. In-person and virtual registration can be completed at nyc.espnwsummit.com.
Featured events and panels will include:
espnWKeynote Conversation | Featuring Jordan Chiles, 2x Olympian, World Champion and NYT Best-Selling Author, in conversation with Elle Duncan
espnW Summit Opening | Featuring a surprise performance and a conversation with Shana Stephenson, Chief Brand Officer at New York Liberty, with Sarah Spain
espnW Keynote | Cori Close, UCLA Women’s Basketball Head Coach, in conversation with Sarah Spain
Women at the Helm: The Seattle Kraken | A spotlight Summit discussion featuring top female coaches and influential figures in the hockey industry, moderated by Julie Foudy
Featured speakers include Jessica Campbell, Assistant Coach, Seattle Kraken; Linda Cohn, SportsCenter Anchor, NHL Reporter and Special Host, Kraken Hockey Network, ESPN; and Namita Nandakumar, Director, Research and Development, Seattle Kraken
Navigating Expansion| Owners and executives at the forefront of expansion in women’s sports discuss the unprecedented growth across leagues and teams, moderated by Sarah Spain
Featuring Kim Miner, Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Officer, Boston Legacy FC and Teresa Resch, President, Toronto Tempo
Athletes Unlimited Softball League Panel | Some of the biggest names in softball discuss the launch of the next major professional women’s sports league and the exciting future ahead, moderated by Jessica Mendoza
Featuring Allie Kleva, AUSL Chief Growth Officer; Cat Osterman, AUSL Advisor, General Manager, Former Professional Softball Playerand 3x Olympian; and Sierra Romero, AUSL Professional Softball Player coach and entrepreneur
Motherhood and Sports | An honest discussion to uncover the common truths and challenges of motherhood from a powerhouse group of women in sports, moderatedby Julie Foudy
Featured speakers include Jenn Hildreth, Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster; Terri Carmichael Jackson, Executive Director of the WNBAPA; and Madison Packer, former professional ice hockey player
Women of ESPN: College Football | Engaging and candid conversations that take you behind-the-scenes with the remarkable women of ESPN covering college football, moderated by Laura Rutledge
Featuring Tiffany Greene, ESPN Play-by-Play Commentator; Molly McGrath,Sideline Reporter for ESPN/ABC Saturday college football games; and Jess Sims, ESPN College Sports Reporter
The Elle Duncan Show: Live from The espnW Summit NYC| Featuring SportsCenter hosts Elle Duncan and Ari Chambers and guests Charlotte Wilder and Madeline Hill, co-hosts of The Sports Gossip Show; Mariah Rose, host of Hoops for Hotties; and Jess Smetana, host on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.The Elle Duncan Show presented by AT&T covers the biggest storylines at the intersection of sports and pop culture.
Interviews, photos and additional content will be posted to espnW.com throughout The Summit. For more information, follow us on X/Twitter with @espnW and #espnWsummit.
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About espnW espnW is a global multi-platform brand dedicated to engaging and inspiring women through sports. espnW.com, the brand’s content home, offers total access to female athletes and the sports they play, takes fans inside the biggest events, and captures the biggest trends in sports life/style. espnW also provides a unique point of view on the sports stories that matter most to women and highlights the crossroads of sports and culture. Founded in July 2010, espnW’s content and voices live across digital, television, radio, films, events, educational platforms and social media.
Historic sub-9 steeplechase by Lemngole leads Alabama at NCAA Championships | Sports
Alabama track and field star sophomore Doris Lemngole from Kenya, East Africa, defended her women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase national title on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The four-time national champion ran a blistering 8:58.15 race, marking the first time in NCAA history that a woman has run a sub-9:00 time, […]
Alabama track and field star sophomoreDoris Lemngolefrom Kenya, East Africa, defended her women’s 3,000-metersteeplechase national title on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The four-time national champion ran a blistering 8:58.15 race, marking the first time in NCAA history that a woman has run a sub-9:00 time, while also capturing this year’s world-leading time in the event.
Katelyn Adelfrom Zurich, Switzerland also made Alabama history on the final day of the heptathlon, as the freshmen used three consecutive personal record setting performances in the long jump (6.18m| 20-3.50), javelin (36.57m| 119-11), and 800m (2:16.85) to secure a school-record 5,834-point total. With Adel’s eighth-place, podium finish, she became the first student-athlete to earn All-American honors (first team) since Kaylon Eppinger in 2012.
High jumperMiracle Ailesfinished things off for the Crimson Tide with a tied-for-13th-place finish to successfully secure Second Team All-American recognition. UA women’s track and field team finished the NCAA championship national meet in Eugene, Oregon, in 19th place with 14 points.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort and determination our team displayed throughout the four days of competition,” Head CoachDan WatersSaid. “Samuel Ogazicapturing his first national title in the 400 meters andDoris Lemngolesuccessfully defending her steeplechase crown in historic fashion were exceptional accomplishments. Across the board, though, our student-athletes rose to the occasion, earning All-America honors in several events, and represented the University of Alabama with great pride and integrity. Their performance is a true reflection of the hard work and commitment they’ve shown all season.”
Story Links
RENO, Nev. – With the 2025 volleyball season quickly approaching, season tickets are now on sale, as announced by the athletics department on Monday. Tickets can be purchased by calling (775) 348-PACK or by clicking here. Fans will not want to miss any of the action inside Virginia Street Gym this […]
RENO, Nev. – With the 2025 volleyball season quickly approaching, season tickets are now on sale, as announced by the athletics department on Monday.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (775) 348-PACK or by clicking here. Fans will not want to miss any of the action inside Virginia Street Gym this season, with new theme nights and giveaways scheduled.
The Pack, led by Head Coach Shannon Wychoff-McNeal, will have 12 home games, including hosting a three-day tournament in mid-September.
Nevada returns multiple standout players from last season, including Bella Snyder, Kinsley Singleton, Sierra Bernard and Masyn Navarro.
After making an appearance in the Mountain West Tournament in the 2024 season, the Pack are ready to once again make a run for the conference title.
Season ticket pricing and home schedule can be found below.
Season Ticket Pricing
Adult Season Tickets – $65
Senior (55+) Season Tickets – $55
Family Four Pack Season Tickets – $150 ($37.50 per ticket)
Youth Season Tickets – $30
2025 Home Schedule
Thurs. Sept. 11, 6 PM – Nevada vs. Eastern Washington
Fri. Sept. 12, 5 PM – Nevada vs. Pacific
Sat. Sept. 13, 12:30 PM – Nevada vs. CSUB
Thurs. Sept. 25, TBA – Nevada vs. Utah St.
Sat. Sept. 27, TBA – Nevada vs. Boise St.
Thurs. Oct. 16, TBA – Nevada vs. Wyoming
Sat. Oct. 18, TBA – Nevada vs. Colorado St.
Sat. Oct. 25, TBA – Nevada vs. San Diego St.
Thurs. Nov. 6, TBA – Nevada vs. Fresno St.
Sat. Nov. 8, TBA – Nevada vs. San Jose St.
Tues. Nov. 11, TBA – Nevada vs. Air Force
Thurs. Nov. 13, TBA – Nevada vs New Mexico
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas is the Union-Tribune’s 2024-25 Girls Athlete of the Year
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Girls Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Mae Kordas, a senior multi-sport athlete at Cathedral Catholic High School. Here’s why Kordas stands as the best in San Diego this year: Mae Kordas High School: Cathedral Catholic Year: Senior Sports: Volleyball and beach volleyball Positions: Outside hitter, opposite […]
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Girls Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Mae Kordas, a senior multi-sport athlete at Cathedral Catholic High School. Here’s why Kordas stands as the best in San Diego this year:
Mae Kordas
High School: Cathedral Catholic
Year: Senior
Sports: Volleyball and beach volleyball
Positions: Outside hitter, opposite hitter and middle blocker (indoor) and blocker (beach)
College: Kordas is headed to Notre Dame, where she will play indoor volleyball.
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas attempts to block against Santa Ana Mater Dei’s Layli Ostovar during the CIF Southern California Regional final match at Cathedral Catholic High School on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Highlights: Two years ago, Kordas stood on the sidelines as a postseason callup from junior varsity. She watched the Dons win a state championship and get crowned mythical national champions. As a junior, she earned court time and finished sixth on the team with 67 kills. This season, the Dons again captured the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title and reached the SoCal Regional championship match.
Positionless player: If you think she’s a six-rotation outside player, Kordas will slide to the middle. If you think she’s a middle, she’ll camp out on the right side and stuff your best attacker. If you think she’s an opposite hitter, she’ll slide right into serve-receive and pass nails. Kordas finished her high school career as one of the most complete volleyball players in section history, earning Gatorade California Player of the Year honors.
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas, center, and teammates celebrate a point scored against Santa Ana Mater Dei during the CIF Southern California Regional final match at Cathedral Catholic High School on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
By the numbers: The Dons won their seventh state title as Kordas finished with 469 kills, 118 blocks and 108 digs. She also won a CIF title on the sand as a senior.
On taking state: “When it first happened, I didn’t process it because I didn’t think we were going to do that well on the season,” she said. “But now, looking back on it, it’s just so crazy to me. Being able to represent my school and my program, it’s just so amazing.”
On her favorite part of volleyball: “How competitive it is,” she said. “Being with my teammates and all fighting for the same thing. My team these past couple years has been really special, and we all got super fired up and wouldn’t let anyone stop us. Being on the court with them and fighting and never giving up has probably been my favorite part.”
Favorite memory of her four years at Cathedral Catholic: “Beating (No. 2 in the nation Santa Ana) Mater Dei this year in the regional final because it was my last game at home,” she said. “You always want to go into a game with a winning mindset, but realistically this might be our last game because Mater Dei was looking really good. We beat them earlier this season, but I knew that maybe that was fueling them. I think we beat them in four (25-20, 22-25,25-20, 25-22). I hadn’t seen that many people at a Cathedral Catholic game in a long time. Having that be my last game was really special.”
She said it: “I can’t think of anybody else that would be better for that nomination,” said Maya Evens, Kordas’ longtime Cathedral and club volleyball teammate who is also headed to Notre Dame. “She’s worked so so hard. I’ve watched her at practice and seen her get better every day. The way she carries herself so incredibly humble. She holds herself high, and it’s honestly so impressive to watch. I’m so proud of her, and I think that no one else deserves it as much as she does.”
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas hits against Torrey Pines’ Marina Vosloo during their game at Cathedral Catholic High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Family tree: Kordas’ parents attended Notre Dame. Mom Brett (Hensel), a Torrey Pines Class of 1992 grad, played volleyball for the Fighting Irish, while dad James played football for the school’s famed football team. Mae Kordas originally committed to Yale but changed her course after club nationals this spring.
On choosing Notre Dame: “If you ask anyone, I’m the biggest Notre Dame fan. I literally wear Notre Dame gear every day to school, so no one was really surprised,” she said. “Growing up in a Notre Dame family, it’s one of the strongest sports fan bases. They have an amazing community there. I feel like I’ve already been a part of it since I was a kid.”
On playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which had three of the top five teams in the final 2024 AVCA rankings: “It’s one of the best conferences in volleyball,” Kordas said. “It will motivate me to be the best version of myself. That’s what I want for myself. I’m going to have to work really hard because there are some really good volleyball players there. The competition isgreat.”
Ray Fisher To Be Inducted Into College Baseball Hall of Fame
Fisher will be inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame this coming February. Story Links Middlebury Hall of Famer and 1910 graduate Ray Fisher has been selected as part of 21 inductees into the Class of 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher, who will be inducted as a coach, was a standout pitcher […]
Fisher will be inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame this coming February.
Middlebury Hall of Famer and 1910 graduate Ray Fisher has been selected as part of 21 inductees into the Class of 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher, who will be inducted as a coach, was a standout pitcher for Middlebury from 1907-10 and had a stellar professional baseball career before transitioning to coaching duties for the University of Michigan.
Born in Middlebury, Vermont, Fisher arrived on campus in 1907 and immediately made an impact, striking out 18 batters in his first collegiate start against Colgate. The Panther accounted for all four of Middlebury’s victories that season, with three coming in shutout fashion.
After his sophomore year, Fisher signed a minor league contract with the Hartford Senators. As a rookie, he posted a .923 winning percentage, a record that stood for more than 50 years. Although he was no longer eligible to play collegiate baseball, Fisher returned to the Panthers as a coach in 1910, graduating alongside his teammates.
Fisher embarked on a 10-year major league career that began with the New York Highlanders in 1910. The right-hander achieved 100 career triumphs and a 2.82 career earned run average in over 1,700 innings on the mound. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 1919, Fisher posted a 14-5 record and helped the squad to the National League pennant and its first World Series Championship.
Retiring in 1921, Fisher accepted an offer from the University of Michigan to be its head baseball coach and re-integrated the squad in 1923. Over 38 seasons at the helm, the Wolverines tallied 661 wins, 15 Big Ten Titles, and defeated Texas for the program’s initial College World Series Championship in 1953. In 1970, the university renamed the baseball field after Fisher.
In addition to Middlebury’s Hall of Fame, the late Fisher is a member of the College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Michigan Hall of Honor, and the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The class will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on February 12, 2026, in Overland Park, Kansas, the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
IMG Academy’s Girls 4x800m Relay Makes History at Nationals
Jun 23, 2025 BRADENTON, Fla. (June 23, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, made history as the Track and Field program girls 4x800m relay team became the first quartet to win all four major track and field meets including their historic win at Outdoor Nationals this weekend, Millrose Games, Indoor Nationals, […]
BRADENTON, Fla. (June 23, 2025) – IMG Academy, the world’s leading sports education brand, made history as the Track and Field program girls 4x800m relay team became the first quartet to win all four major track and field meets including their historic win at Outdoor Nationals this weekend, Millrose Games, Indoor Nationals, and Penn Relays. The team made up of three juniors and one sophomore—Aurora Bertelsen Del Solar, Mackenzie Winning, Danielle Graham, and Anyla Robinson, respectively—is the fastest girls 4x800m relay team in the history of U.S. high school track and field.
The team first won at the Millrose Games, where they ran a Florida No. 1 Indoor all-time 8:55.47. Most notably, they then shattered the National Record at the New Balance Nationals Indoor by two seconds, setting a new all-time indoor national record at 8:46.04. The relay team beat their own time at the Penn Relays and set the new No.1 Florida all-time record in indoor or outdoor 8:40.51. They recorded a time fast enough to have won at the collegiate level in the same event and meet this year. Finally, the girls 4x800m relay team was crowned the New Balance Nationals Outdoor National Champions.
“The girls 4x800m relay team is one of the most talented groups of girls we have seen in the history of high school track and field,” said Mark Napier, Director of Track and Field at IMG Academy. “To have only started training together at the beginning of August to now have broken national records, doing what no one has done before, showcases their strength and dedication and IMG Academy’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of top student-athletes to win their future.”
The girls 4x800m relay swept the season, winning all four major meets throughout the year and breaking two national records. The quartet is the first to do so in a single season and will all be returning to IMG Academy in the fall for the senior and junior seasons. This team will stay together for another season to continue making history.
The track and field program sent 54 student-athletes who qualified for the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, the most from a single high school program. As a whole, the program produced 29 All-
Americans and participated in 20 finals events across eight different event groups at outdoor nationals. In addition to the girls 4x800m relay, IMG Academy’s National Champions include:
Yuliya Maslouskaya was crowned the girls heptathlon outdoor national champion, with a US High School No. 2 All-Time score behind Olympian Anna Hall.
Winston Schroder was named the boys decathlon outdoor national champion, the only freshman in New Balance Nationals Outdoor history to win the decathlon title. IMG Academy was the only high school to produce champions in both boys and girls multis events.
Mikey Swanson and Reegan Clutter earned freshman division champions titles and set meet records in the 400m and javelin, respectively.
At New Balance Nationals Indoor, the girls 4x800m relay broke the national record, and Michael Swanson became the first freshman to go under 49 seconds (48.77) in the 400m and broke the meet record. The boys 4x800m relay was crowned fourth in the nation for All-American. Garrett McNeil earned second place in the championship pentathlon for All-American, and Yuliya Maslouskaya, 2024 Heptathlon National Champion, was second in the nation for the heptathlon and named an All-American.
The track and field program claimed impressive titles and records this year, contributing to a historic milestone for IMG Academy — the most national and world champions achieved in a single academic year. They join a prestigious group of student-athletes and sports programs excelling at IMG Academy, including:
The IMG Academy Girls National Basketball Team secured their first-ever Chipotle National Championship.
IMG Academy Varsity Football team captured its second straight SSIA State Championship.
Tennis student-athlete Wakana Sonobe won the Australian Open Junior Championship and earned a World Junior No. 1 ranking.
The girls lacrosse program made history by securing a spot in the Top-20 rankings of USA Lacrosse.
About IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:
Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches
To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.
Volleyball Alumni Weekend Set for Sept. 18-20 at Jenison Field House
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball will host its annual Alumni Weekend this fall in conjunction with the third annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, set to take place from Thursday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 20 inside historic Jenison Field House. MSU’s 2025 alumni weekend will celebrate the anniversaries of two […]
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball will host its annual Alumni Weekend this fall in conjunction with the third annual Kathy DeBoer Invitational presented by Auto-Owners Insurance, set to take place from Thursday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 20 inside historic Jenison Field House.
MSU’s 2025 alumni weekend will celebrate the anniversaries of two history-making Spartan volleyball teams – the 50-year anniversary of the 1975 AIAW Final Four and first postseason team in program history, and the 30-year anniversary of MSU’s only volleyball team to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, the 1995 team.
Jenison Field House hosted the majority of the Spartans’ home matches from 1993 until the program’s move to the Breslin Center following the 2021 season. MSU ranked inside the top 10 nationally in average attendance from 2015 to 2021 and set a then-program attendance record of 6,838 fans against Michigan in 2016.
MSU hosted NCAA Tournament matches inside Jenison in 1995, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2016.
2025 KATHY DEBOER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY AUTO-OWNERS INSURANCE
Thursday, Sept. 18 – Binghamton vs. Michigan State
Friday, Sept. 19 – Bowling Green vs. Michigan State
Saturday, Sept. 20 – SIUE vs. Michigan State
Match times, as well as a full tournament schedule, will be announced at a later date. Season ticket renewals and new season ticket memberships are available for purchase through the Spartan Ticket Office online or by calling (517) 355-1610.