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ASU athletes thrive with NIL and entrepreneurship support

How the program, in partnership with GoDaddy, is helping student-athletes build businesses and their brands TEMPE, Ariz. — Four years ago, the NCAA started allowing student-athletes to get paid for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). A recent ruling involving a former Arizona State University swimmer will allow universities to pay their student-athletes directly with […]

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How the program, in partnership with GoDaddy, is helping student-athletes build businesses and their brands

TEMPE, Ariz. — Four years ago, the NCAA started allowing student-athletes to get paid for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). A recent ruling involving a former Arizona State University swimmer will allow universities to pay their student-athletes directly with revenue-sharing. 

At ASU, they’re thinking a few steps ahead by creating a space on campus to help athletes navigate the NIL era. Having a summer job and earning money can look different for college athletes but in Tempe, they’re encouraged to leverage sport as an entrepreneurial platform. 

The University teamed up to launch the Student-Athlete Venture Studio in January. The program supports Sun Devils in their entrepreneurial and NIL journeys by providing resources and mentorship to kickstart careers.

The Co-Founders of the Student Athlete Venture Studio are Jeff Kunowski and Kate Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, a former Sun Devil beach volleyball player, also carries the title of Sports Innovation Entrepreneurship Catalyst at the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute. 

Her experience and initiative have helped shape what this program looks like for Sun Devil athletes. Fitzgerald says the Venture Studio resources are in place to help answer the questions someone just starting a business might have such as: “Where do I go with this? How do I organize my thoughts? How do I create media? How do I create content? How do I brand myself?” Fitzgerald said. 

“While I was in undergrad, I launched my own company called VB America. It’s a volleyball lifestyle clothing brand… What I did when working with Jeff is say, ‘okay, this is everything I wish I had as a student-athlete that would’ve helped me. How can we make it possible for other student-athletes to get these same resources?”

Kunowski’s career has led him to work with various sports teams before returning to his Alma Mater to mentor students along their journeys and help drive sports innovation within Sun Devil Athletics. The Venture Studio is like “Shark Tank” for Sun Devils. At the end of the year, there is a Demo Day pitch competition where student-athletes can receive funding for their ventures. The goal is to inspire student-athletes to build their brands now and equip them with the skills they need to excel in business.

“We’re encouraging entrepreneurial mindset, design-thinking principles, things that are applicable while they’re here at ASU as an athlete and while they’re leveraging NIL,” Kunowski said. “To be able to be on the sideline witnessing the confidence levels rising, the ability to public speak, the ability to articulate an idea and put it into a framework that people can understand and gravitate towards, it really is just such an inspiring position to be in.”

Rising sophomore on the women’s lacrosse team, Sierra Ryan, says the support from Sun Devil Athletics has allowed her to focus her energy on getting her venture off the ground. With practices, games, training and all the other time commitments required to participate in sports, it’s often a challenge for athletes to focus on their ventures. Whether it’s through sport or a startup, ASU gives its athletes an opportunity to pursue their passions and tap into their competitive nature through this new program.

“My venture is Fuel Warden. It’s a nutrition and wellness management platform for elite athletes. It’s still in the works right now but I’ve been programming it myself and putting everything together, meeting with investors and things like that,” Ryan said. “Everything that you could need to truly succeed in entrepreneurship, they’re bringing here to athletes at ASU. Like, helping me scale my venture and look with my pitch decks when I’m meeting with investors… Literally an hour before [my lacrosse game] my coach was like ‘hey, you need to go do this pitch I’ll cut out 15 minutes for you to do it in the locker room. Everyone will leave for you so you can do your meeting.’ [My coaches] are flexible and they believe in me and that means the world.”

Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, email Lina at LWashington@12News.com.





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Magnite Powers FanDuel Sports Network Growth with 25% Streaming Ad Surge

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), the largest independent sell-side advertising company, reported significant progress in its partnership with FanDuel Sports Network. The collaboration has yielded a 25% year-over-year increase in total impressions served through Magnite’s SpringServe video platform. The partnership leverages SpringServe’s advanced capabilities including ad serving, programmatic, and mediation […]

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Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), the largest independent sell-side advertising company, reported significant progress in its partnership with FanDuel Sports Network. The collaboration has yielded a 25% year-over-year increase in total impressions served through Magnite’s SpringServe video platform.

The partnership leverages SpringServe’s advanced capabilities including ad serving, programmatic, and mediation tools to help FanDuel Sports Network optimize monetization of live sports streaming content. With digital live sports viewership expected to grow 14% in 2025 according to eMarketer, this collaboration positions both companies to capitalize on the increasing shift toward streaming sports content.

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), la più grande società indipendente di pubblicità lato venditore, ha riportato notevoli progressi nella sua collaborazione con FanDuel Sports Network. La partnership ha portato a un aumento del 25% anno su anno delle impression totali erogate tramite la piattaforma video SpringServe di Magnite.

La collaborazione sfrutta le avanzate funzionalità di SpringServe, tra cui la gestione degli annunci, il programmatic e gli strumenti di mediazione, per aiutare FanDuel Sports Network a ottimizzare la monetizzazione dei contenuti di streaming sportivo live. Con una crescita prevista del 14% nel 2025 per il pubblico digitale degli sport live secondo eMarketer, questa partnership posiziona entrambe le aziende per sfruttare il crescente spostamento verso lo streaming di contenuti sportivi.

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), la mayor empresa independiente de publicidad en el lado de venta, informó un progreso significativo en su asociación con FanDuel Sports Network. La colaboración ha generado un aumento del 25% interanual en el total de impresiones servidas a través de la plataforma de video SpringServe de Magnite.

La asociación aprovecha las capacidades avanzadas de SpringServe, incluyendo la entrega de anuncios, programática y herramientas de mediación, para ayudar a FanDuel Sports Network a optimizar la monetización del contenido de transmisión deportiva en vivo. Con una expectativa de crecimiento del 14% en 2025 para la audiencia digital de deportes en vivo según eMarketer, esta colaboración posiciona a ambas compañías para capitalizar el creciente cambio hacia el streaming de contenido deportivo.

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI)는 최대 독립 광고 판매사로서 FanDuel Sports Network와의 파트너십에서 큰 진전을 보고했습니다. 이번 협력으로 Magnite의 SpringServe 비디오 플랫폼을 통한 총 노출 수가 전년 대비 25% 증가했습니다.

이 파트너십은 광고 송출, 프로그래매틱, 중재 도구 등 SpringServe의 고급 기능을 활용하여 FanDuel Sports Network가 라이브 스포츠 스트리밍 콘텐츠의 수익화를 최적화할 수 있도록 지원합니다. eMarketer에 따르면 2025년 디지털 라이브 스포츠 시청률이 14% 증가할 것으로 예상되며, 이번 협력은 두 회사가 스포츠 콘텐츠 스트리밍으로의 증가하는 전환을 활용할 수 있는 위치에 서게 합니다.

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), la plus grande société indépendante de publicité côté vendeur, a annoncé des progrès significatifs dans son partenariat avec FanDuel Sports Network. Cette collaboration a entraîné une augmentation de 25% en glissement annuel du nombre total d’impressions diffusées via la plateforme vidéo SpringServe de Magnite.

Le partenariat exploite les capacités avancées de SpringServe, notamment la diffusion d’annonces, le programmatique et les outils de médiation, pour aider FanDuel Sports Network à optimiser la monétisation des contenus de streaming sportif en direct. Avec une audience numérique des sports en direct prévue en hausse de 14% en 2025 selon eMarketer, cette collaboration positionne les deux entreprises pour tirer parti du virage croissant vers le streaming des contenus sportifs.

Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), das größte unabhängige Werbeunternehmen auf der Verkäuferseite, meldete bedeutende Fortschritte in seiner Partnerschaft mit FanDuel Sports Network. Die Zusammenarbeit führte zu einem 25%igen Anstieg der insgesamt über Magnites SpringServe-Videoplattform ausgelieferten Impressionen im Jahresvergleich.

Die Partnerschaft nutzt die fortschrittlichen Funktionen von SpringServe, darunter Ad Serving, Programmatic und Mediation-Tools, um FanDuel Sports Network dabei zu unterstützen, die Monetarisierung von Live-Sport-Streaming-Inhalten zu optimieren. Laut eMarketer wird die digitale Live-Sport-Zuschauerschaft im Jahr 2025 voraussichtlich um 14% wachsen, wodurch sich beide Unternehmen gut positionieren, um vom zunehmenden Trend zum Streaming von Sportinhalten zu profitieren.

Insights


Magnite’s partnership with FanDuel Sports Network shows strong 25% YOY growth, positioning it well in the growing digital sports streaming market.

The 25% year-over-year growth in impressions served through Magnite’s SpringServe platform represents substantial momentum in the company’s strategic partnership with FanDuel Sports Network. This growth metric is particularly significant as it comes amid FanDuel’s accelerated investment in live sports streaming, one of the most valuable inventory types in digital advertising.

Magnite’s SpringServe platform is providing critical infrastructure that addresses the unique challenges of monetizing live sports content. The platform’s advanced ad serving, programmatic capabilities, and mediation tools are enabling FanDuel to maximize yield while maintaining viewer experience quality – a crucial balance in the competitive streaming landscape.

This partnership positions Magnite advantageously in the rapidly expanding digital sports streaming market, which according to the cited eMarketer data, is projected to grow by 14% in 2025. As cord-cutting accelerates and streaming becomes the primary destination for sports fans, Magnite’s technology stack appears well-aligned with market trends.

The endorsement from both FanDuel executives and a third-party advertiser (Bayer Healthcare) indicates strong client satisfaction and validates Magnite’s technology effectiveness. Particularly notable is Bayer’s statement about “positive business outcomes” when working with this partnership, suggesting the platform is delivering measurable ROI for advertisers – a key selling point for further adoption.

This collaboration strengthens Magnite’s position in the high-value live sports advertising ecosystem, potentially driving increased platform adoption and revenue growth as more publishers seek solutions for streaming monetization.














25% YOY Growth in Impressions Served Through Magnite’s SpringServe Video Platform

NEW YORK, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), the largest independent sell-side advertising company, today announced strong momentum in its collaboration with FanDuel Sports Network. The network has seen a 25% year-over-year increase in total impressions served through Magnite’s SpringServe video platform as it accelerates its investment in live sports streaming.

As more viewers shift toward streaming live sports content, FanDuel Sports Network is leaning into Magnite technology to boost monetization of its high-value inventory and preserve the high-quality viewing experience that live sports audiences expect. SpringServe’s advanced ad serving, programmatic, and mediation capabilities help FanDuel Sports Network more effectively manage direct and programmatic demand, maximizing yield and helping advertisers reach engaged sports fans, while Ad Quality and Live Stream Acceleration tools help deliver smarter, more relevant ad experiences.

“Live sports are one of the most powerful formats for engaging audiences, but they also present unique monetization challenges. Magnite’s SpringServe empowers us with the sophisticated tools we need to stay ahead of audience expectations, and has been instrumental in our digital evolution,” said Kevin Connelly, Senior Director, Programmatic Sales and Business Development at FanDuel Sports Network. “FanDuel Sports Network is building a smarter, fan-first platform with unmatched scale and flexibility, and that requires ad tech partners who can move just as fast, and Magnite’s SpringServe is doing just that,” added Jim Keller, Executive Vice President, Head of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales at FanDuel Sports Network.

“As live sports consumption continues its rapid shift to digital, publishers need agile infrastructure purpose-built for streaming monetization,” said Chris Signore, Group VP, Business Development at Magnite. “FanDuel Sports Network is raising the bar for what innovative, data-driven sports streaming can look like, and we’re proud to continue helping power their growth as they expand their premium streaming footprint.”

“FanDuel Sports Network and Magnite have demonstrated through their collaboration that when biddable live sports is done right, we consistently see media contribute to positive business outcomes. We are constantly seeking out high-quality and direct supply, which the teams have built here,” said Gary Guarnaccia, Head of Investment and Ad Tech at Bayer Healthcare.

According to eMarketer, digital live sports viewership in the U.S. is projected to grow more than 14% in 2025, driven by cord-cutting and the rise of streaming as the primary destination for sports fans. FanDuel Sports Network’s collaboration with Magnite ensures they are well-positioned to capitalize on this momentum.

About Magnite
We’re Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising company. Publishers use our technology to monetize their content across all screens and formats including CTV, online video, display, and audio. The world’s leading agencies and brands trust our platform to access brand-safe, high-quality ad inventory and execute billions of advertising transactions each month. Anchored in bustling New York City, sunny Los Angeles, mile high Denver, historic London, colorful Singapore, and down under in Sydney, Magnite has offices across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.

About Main Street Sports Group
Main Street Sports Group owns FanDuel Sports Network, the nation’s leading multiplatform provider of local sports, offering fans widescale availability and optionality to view their local teams. FanDuel Sports Network serves as the local media partner and home to select MLB, NHL and NBA teams and produces over 3,000 live sports events year-round. Main Street Sports Group harnesses its powerful partnerships, in-house direct-to-consumer streaming product and innovative strategies to reach audiences and deliver programming seamlessly across streaming platforms, connected devices and leading pay TV providers.

Its 15 owned-and-operated networks include FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City, FanDuel Sports Network Indiana, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, FanDuel Sports Network North, FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma, FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, FanDuel Sports Network Southwest, FanDuel Sports Network Sun, FanDuel Sports Network West, and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. Main Street Sports Group also has a minority interest in YES Network, the local destination for the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets.

Media Contact:
Purpose Worldwide
Alexis Gold
magnite@purposenorthamerica.com










FAQ



What growth has FanDuel Sports Network achieved through Magnite’s SpringServe platform?


FanDuel Sports Network has achieved a 25% year-over-year increase in total impressions served through Magnite’s SpringServe video platform.


How is Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI) helping FanDuel monetize live sports content?


Magnite’s SpringServe platform provides advanced ad serving, programmatic, and mediation capabilities to help FanDuel manage direct and programmatic demand, maximize yield, and deliver smarter ad experiences.


What is the projected growth for digital live sports viewership in 2025?


According to eMarketer, digital live sports viewership in the U.S. is projected to grow more than 14% in 2025, driven by cord-cutting and streaming adoption.


What technology does Magnite provide to FanDuel Sports Network?


Magnite provides SpringServe video platform with advanced ad serving, programmatic, mediation capabilities, Ad Quality, and Live Stream Acceleration tools to enhance monetization and viewer experience.








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Video of youth pushing homeless man into fountain sparks outrage in Greece

[Screengrab] A video circulating on social media showing a young man pushing an elderly man into a fountain in the Old Town of Rhodes, apparently as a joke, has sparked public outrage in Greece. The footage shows the youth approaching the older man before forcefully shoving him into the water. He then walks away, laughing. […]

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Video of youth pushing homeless man into fountain sparks outrage in Greece

[Screengrab]

A video circulating on social media showing a young man pushing an elderly man into a fountain in the Old Town of Rhodes, apparently as a joke, has sparked public outrage in Greece.

The footage shows the youth approaching the older man before forcefully shoving him into the water. He then walks away, laughing.

Locals told state broadcaster ERT that the victim is a homeless man known in the area who often collects coins from the fountain to survive.





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As TV Collapses, Digital Firebrands Are Suddenly In Demand

Earlier this summer, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks jetted into Nantucket for a three hour meeting that would reshape the lineup of Fox Sports 1, and shake up its Big Noon Kickoff college football show. Shanks’ brief visit to the New England vacation destination was to help close a deal with Dave Portnoy and his […]

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Earlier this summer, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks jetted into Nantucket for a three hour meeting that would reshape the lineup of Fox Sports 1, and shake up its Big Noon Kickoff college football show.

Shanks’ brief visit to the New England vacation destination was to help close a deal with Dave Portnoy and his digital media brand Barstool Sports. Portnoy’s $42 million compound on Nantucket (the most expensive home ever sold in the state of Massachusetts when he bought in 2023) overlooks the harbor, where ferries bring visitors and residents in and out from the mainland all day. All paid for by his self-described “pirate ship” of a media brand, which he had sold to Penn Entertainment for $551 million, and bought back just a couple of years later for $1.

Shanks’ visit underscores how the sands have shifted in media. It wasn’t that long ago that talent would be summoned to meet with execs in their New York offices or Los Angeles studio lots. Now when there is talent in demand, the executives will go where they need to, even an island 30 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean.

Fox had been chatting with Portnoy for “five or six months,” the Barstool founder said on his company’s Unnamed Show on July 17, culminating in the deal announced the same day, which will see Portnoy appear weekly on Big Noon Kickoff and Barstool creating a live two hour show for FS1, as well as social content.

“We had that ESPN deal, they didn’t even want to talk to me, right? They couldn’t stomach the sight of my face,” Portnoy said on the podcast, referencing Barstool Van Talk, the ESPN2 series that was canceled after one episode after the network became uncomfortable with comments made by talent on social media. “[Fox] wants our audience, they know what audience we have, and we’re going to try to come up with a bunch of things with them. And it’s a wide-ranging relationship.”

Dave Portnoy & his dog Miss Peaches during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on July 16, 2025.

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The world of media has changed, and authenticity rules. Being outspoken is even better, and with cord-cutting wreaking havoc on TV viewing, traditional TV players that used to develop their talent in house are increasingly turning to outsiders to help give them relevance to an audience that might otherwise bypass their content.

“Dave has built a one-of-a-kind brand that connects with a new generation of sports fans – authentic, bold, and original,” said Shanks in a statement. “[Barstool’s] unique voice and loyal fanbase makes them a natural fit for our evolving multiplatform content strategy.”

A lot has changed since ESPN canceled its Barstool show in 2017. Look no further than ESPN’s deals with NFL player turned radio and podcast host Pat McAfee (who cut his teeth in digital media at Barstool, no less).

McAfee has occasionally found himself in hot water, like when he accused ESPN executive Norby Williamson of “sabotaging” his show, or when recurring guest Aaron Rodgers made unfounded claims about Jimmy Kimmel and Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier in July, McAfee apologized to an Ole Miss student who was named in a viral but false internet scandal (Portnoy also apologized for some of Barstool’s talent spreading the false report).

Pat McAfee is seen on the set of The Pat McAfee Show along Radio Row on February 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Sitting on a panel in ESPN’s commissary in Bristol, Connecticut last year, McAfee exuded confidence as he parried questions from skeptical journalists about his deal, which sees ESPN license The Pat McAfee Show, an unusual arrangement for a daily program.

“We haven’t been kicked off ESPN yet, I view that as a success. Now, granted, we would still just continue doing business on YouTube and on our TikTok and everything like that, and we’re very lucky to be on ESPN,” McAfee said. “Whenever people in here have tried to get me fired for taking clips out of context or quotes out of context, and misrepresented everything that I’ve said, and the human that I am and the deal that it is, we know that we’re good. So you can fire us, you can try to kill us, you can do whatever you need to do. But our success is the fact that we have a following, and they’re going to ride with us.”

ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro said that he has been laser focused on the problem of “how can we resonate with younger people?”

“If you look at my kids, Netflix, Instagram, TikTok, Fortnite, they’re incredibly distracted. So how is it that we can make programs like Get Up and First Take resonate with younger people? Obviously, Pat McAfee is very, very helpful there,” Pitaro said. “I was just in a research meeting where our folks presented to me the response that younger people have had to Pat McAfee, and it’s been staggering and really helpful to our brand in its entirety.”

The talent benefits too. Portnoy told his company’s podcast that they are already thinking about how Fox talent like Greg Olsen and Tom Brady could participate in Barstool segments, while McAfee says that “we got legitimized by ESPN.”

“Some suits that wouldn’t let their clients come on our show before, because we were just an internet show,” he said.

Sports media, with its hot takes, fierce debates and big personalities has been a natural proving ground for TV’s digital creator era (consider Omar Raja, the House of Highlights founder who also joined ESPN in 2020), but there are signs that TV news is the next frontier. Brett Cooper, a popular YouTube creator who blends entertainment and cultural commentary with conservative values, was signed as an on-air contributor to Fox News.

“It’s about connecting with the audience, first and foremost,” says Lauren Petterson, president of the Fox Nation streaming service and head of talent development for Fox News. “Brett does that through her cause – which is culture. And the way she does it is also unique, through thoughtful discussion and persuasion. She is also a very direct person: she’s consistent with what she says and what she’s doing in her own life. She’s the same person on the screen as she is in person. That kind of authenticity appeals to people of all ages.”

Fox also recently cut a deal to license the Ruthless podcast, with executive Porter Berry adding oversight of new media as the company seeks out other digital deals.

And Skydance has held conversations with Bari Weiss about possibly acquiring her Free Press, perhaps bringing the outspoken former New York Times columnist into the CBS News fold when it takes over Paramount, in a bid to expand its digital footprint (or maybe to comply with promises made to the FCC).

“Skydance has made written commitments to ensure that the new company’s programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum,” FCC chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement approving the deal. “Skydance will also adopt measures that can root out the bias that has undermined trust in the national news media.”

Weiss, a frequent critic of the mainstream media, could fit that bill.

And both CNN and MSNBC are in the midst of a podcast expansion push, with MSNBC hiring executives to beef up its digital business ahead of its spinout into Versant later this year.

Both cable news channels are leveraging their own talent, of course, but there are signs they are looking elsewhere too.

Last year, podcast hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway (someone also known for his hot takes) held talks with CNN about moving their show into its orbit, before reupping with their current partners Vox Media.

There is connective tissue between all of these conversations and deals. Cultural currency is more likely to be found these days on YouTube or Spotify, and viewers of live linear TV tend to skew older. With news and sports the last content standing, bringing over some of that more youthful audience could be a way to extend the lifespan of linear TV as executives grapple with a saturated and splintered streaming environment.

And with YouTube increasingly taking over the TV set, news executives are beginning to grapple with a world where the shows are just one of thousands being fed algorithmically to viewers. Perhaps its better to have those creators that figured out how to make that model work inside the house, before the whole thing collapses into itself.

This story appeared in the July 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe



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US-China youth water polo exchange begins in Guangzhou

The US Southern California Chinese American Youth Water Polo Team embarks on a five-day visit to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The US Southern California Chinese American Youth Water Polo Team arrived in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Monday and started a five-day friendly visit in the southern […]

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The US Southern California Chinese American Youth Water Polo Team embarks on a five-day visit to Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The US Southern California Chinese American Youth Water Polo Team arrived in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Monday and started a five-day friendly visit in the southern metropolis.

On Wednesday and Thursday, they will have two Double-Fish Cups matches against the Guangzhou Youth Water Polo Team each day.

They will also join table tennis competitions, experience Lingnan (South China) intangible cultural heritage projects, visit the headquarters of science and technology companies in Guangzhou and the Los Angeles Garden in Yuexiu Park, as well as plant friendship trees with Guangzhou youths.

The visit aims to further develop youth exchanges between China and the United States.

Guangzhou, known as a millennium commercial capital, became a sister city with Los Angeles in 1981.

Over four decades, the two cities have maintained close exchanges and cooperation in various fields of economy, trade, culture, education, and sports.

The US polo team will also visit other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area after ending the Guangzhou visit.



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World Athletics introduces SRY gene test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category

The World Athletics Council has approved new regulations concerning eligibility conditions to compete in the female category for world ranking competitions. The new regulations come into effect on 1 September 2025 and will be applied to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 that begins on 13 September. All athletes wishing to compete in the female […]

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World Athletics introduces SRY gene test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category

The World Athletics Council has approved new regulations concerning eligibility conditions to compete in the female category for world ranking competitions.

The new regulations come into effect on 1 September 2025 and will be applied to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 that begins on 13 September.

All athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the World Championships are required to undergo a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene – a reliable proxy for determining biological sex. This is to be conducted via a cheek swab or blood test, whichever is more convenient.

The testing protocol will be overseen by Member Federations as they prepare their athletes and teams for the Championships in Tokyo. 

Commenting on the new regulations and SRY test, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “The philosophy that we hold dear in World Athletics is the protection and the promotion of the integrity of women’s sport. It is really important in a sport that is permanently trying to attract more women that they enter a sport believing there is no biological glass ceiling. The test to confirm biological sex is a very important step in ensuring this is the case.

“We are saying, at elite level, for you to compete in the female category, you have to be biologically female. It was always very clear to me and the World Athletics Council that gender cannot trump biology.

“We particularly want to thank our Member Federations for their support and commitment in the implementation of these new regulations.”

The new regulations follow recommendations from the Gender Diverse Athlete Working Group approved by Council in March 2025. The Working Group spent over a year studying developments in law, science, sports and society concerning gender-diverse athletes and made the following recommendations which were widely consulted on earlier this year:

• Formally affirm the design of and goals for the female category.
• Revise the eligibility regulations so that they are consistent with the design and goals.
• Merge the DSD (differences of sex development) and Transgender Regulations, and, if the effect is to restrict opportunities for DSD athletes, adopt measures to address the reliance interest of those who are currently in the pipeline.
• Adopt a pre-clearance requirement for all athletes competing in the female category.
• Consider forward initiatives, including to support elite gender diverse XY athletes.

The female athlete category is defined in the Eligibility Rule 3.5, which states that only the following athletes may compete in this category:

a. Biological females.

b. Biological females who have used testosterone as part of male gender-affirming treatment further to a Therapeutic Use Exemption granted in accordance with World Athletics’ Anti-Doping Rules may not compete in the female category until the passing of a period of time after their last use of testosterone (the period of time will be not shorter than four years and will be determined by World Athletics on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration all relevant factors including the timing, duration, dosages and effects of the male gender-affirming treatment).

c. Biological males who have Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and therefore have not gone through male sexual development including any type of male puberty.

d. Biological males with a difference of sex development who satisfy the transitional provisions issued by World Athletics.

The transitional provisions do not apply to transgender women as there are none competing at the elite international level under the current regulations.

The new female athlete category regulations, which come into effect on 1 September, will be implemented with the following standing commitments:

• World Athletics does not judge or question gender identity;
• World Athletics respects and preserves the dignity and privacy of individuals;
• World Athletics strictly observes confidentiality obligations and complies with data protection laws;
• World Athletics never has and never would impose any obligation to undergo surgery.

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UTSA’s Taussig, South Florida’s Brown Highlight American Scholar-Athletes of the Year

Story Links IRVING, Texas – UTSA baseball standout James Taussig and South Florida soccer star Georgia Brown have been chosen as the 2024-25 American Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, as chosen by the conference’s Academic Committee.   Taussig, who was chosen as the American’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Brown, the American’s […]

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IRVING, Texas – UTSA baseball standout James Taussig and South Florida soccer star Georgia Brown have been chosen as the 2024-25 American Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, as chosen by the conference’s Academic Committee.
 
Taussig, who was chosen as the American’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Brown, the American’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, will each receive a $4,000 postgraduate financial scholarship.
 
Taussig and Brown were chosen from a group of 22 individual sport Scholar-Athletes of the Year who received $2,000 postgraduate scholarships. The 23 Scholar-Athletes of the Year include 16 individuals who won individual conference titles or earned all-conference accolades during the 2024-25 season.
 
Taussig, a native of Houston, becomes the first UTSA student-athlete and the fifth baseball player to be named as the American Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Taussig led the Roadrunners to their most successful season in program history in 2025 as he hit .344 with 10 home runs and 65 runs batted in to help UTSA to a win in the NCAA Austin Regional and its first appearance in the Super Regionals. He was named as Most Outstanding Player of the Austin Regional and was a first-team all-conference selection in the American.
 
Taussig graduated with a 3.94 grade-point average as a double major in finance and real estate finance and development. He was a four-time Dean’s List selection, a three-time President’s List honoree and was named the Will and Mary Hathaway Male Academic Athlete of the Year in 2025.
 
Brown, who hails from Highworth, England, becomes the third South Florida student-athlete to be chosen as the American Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, joining 2021 winner Georgina Corrick (softball) and 2023 winner Dulcy Fankam- Mendjiadeu (basketball). She is the first women’s soccer player to earn the American’s top academic honor. 
 
Brown is a two-time College Sports Communicators. Academic All-America selection, including a first-team choice in 2024, when she earned first-team all-conference honors. A standout defender, Brown also contributed four goals and two assists in 2024 on her way to a second consecutive all-conference selection
 
Brown earned a 4.00 grade-point average as an undergraduate, completing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences.
 
Selections for the 22 Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, as well as the Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, are made by the Academic Committee on the basis of academic credentials and athletic performance. Each conference school may nominate one student-athlete per sport who has achieved senior academic standing as determined by the institution. A winner is chosen from each of the conference’s 20 sponsored sports in addition to at-large selections from sports not sponsored by the conference. 
 

Scholar-Athletes of the Year

The American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards are among of a number of scholarships presented by the conference during the academic year.

 

The conference has presented individual sport Scholar-Athletes of the Year in baseball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball since the 2013-14 season. The conference has presented individual awards in all other sports beginning with the 2017-18 season.

 

2025 American Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

James Taussig, UTSA (Baseball)

 

2025 American Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Georgia Brown, South Florida (Soccer)

 

2025 American Scholar-Athletes of the Year


























Sport Student-Athlete School Highlights
Baseball James Taussig UTSA First-team all-conference; NCAA Austin Regional Most Outstanding Player
Men’s Basketball Xavier Bell Wichita State First-team all-conference; averaged 15.2 ppg in 2024-25
Women’s Basketball Synia Johnson East Carolina 112 career games; Most Outstanding Player of 2023 American Championship
Men’s Cross Country Ryan Adkins Tulane Member of 2024 American Championship team; placed 29th
Women’s Cross Country Amelie Attenborough Rice Registered top-25 finish at 2024 American Championship
Football Bryson Daily Army American Offensive Player of the Year; Sixth in Heisman Trophy voting
Men’s Golf Jake Peacock South Florida Two-time American Player of the Year and conference champion
Women’s Golf Lovisa Gunnar Tulsa Two-time all-conference; member of 2025 American championship team
Women’s Lacrosse Gianna Cutaia Charlotte First-team all-conference; led the American in ground balls per game
Men’s Soccer Logan Longo Memphis All-conference second team selection for 2024 regular-season champion
Women’s Soccer Georgia Brown South Florida First-team all-conference in 2024; 2023 Academic All-America selection
Softball Lauren Lucas Wichita State Three-time first-team all-conference; 2023 All-America selection
Women’s Swimming and Diving Andrea Zeebe Tulane American champion in 800 freestyle relay in 2025
Men’s Tennis Danijal Muminovic UTSA Runner-up at American Individual Championships
Women’s Tennis Darya Schwartzman Rice All-conference selection for nationally ranked Owls
Men’s Indoor Track and Field Hudson Bailey Wichita State 2025 American heptathlon champion
Women’s Indoor Track and Field Destiny Masters Wichita State Most Valuable Performer at 2025 American Championship
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Joakim Genereux Wichita State Honorable mention All-America in 4×400 relay at 2025 NCAA Championships
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field McKyla van der Westhuizen Rice Two-time American champion in javelin throw
Women’s Volleyball Lara Kretschmer Charlotte Played 127 career matches; named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Men’s At-Large (Gymnastics) Joseph Buselmeier Army USA Gymnastics All-America; All-ECAC selection on floor and rings 
Women’s At-Large (Beach Volleyball) Olivia Stant UAB First-team all-conference after going 26-7 on top court



 



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