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What makes a video game an esport? Competitive titles explained

A game’s status as an esport rests on its popularity and organized leagues. Well-balanced and fair multiplayer games are the most likely to reach esports status. PvP games are often esports, whereas single-player titles are rarely considered esports. Sustained popularity and community engagement are critical in esports, especially through influential streamers and pro players. The […]

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What makes a video game an esport? Competitive titles explained


Two gamers wearing headsets sit at computers, focused on their screens with a vibrant, cheering crowd in the background.
  • A game’s status as an esport rests on its popularity and organized leagues.
  • Well-balanced and fair multiplayer games are the most likely to reach esports status.
  • PvP games are often esports, whereas single-player titles are rarely considered esports.
  • Sustained popularity and community engagement are critical in esports, especially through influential streamers and pro players.
  • The line between games and esports is fluid; unconventional formats like speedrunning and niche titles (e.g., Farming Simulator, GeoGuessr) are increasingly recognized as esports.
  • Esports is projected to grow in popularity in 2025, possibly introducing leagues for more competitive games.

Despite its growing popularity and cultural relevance in 2025, esports is still hard to define. The relationship between gaming and esports – where one stops and the other begins – is often murky. As a result, there are many interpretations of what counts as esports. To define what makes a video game esports material, we must go back to the basics.

Esports, or electronic sports, is sometimes colloquially referred to as competitive gaming. However, not all competitive gaming is considered esports. Despite its popularity with FPS gamers, the Titanfall franchise has never had a major esports league, for example. 

This article will dive into what makes a video game an esport and how leagues are started.

What defines an esports game?

Even in video games considered esports, like League of Legends and Counter-Strike, online ranked matches played between ordinary gamers are typically not considered esports. This stands in contrast to traditional sports, where even friendly matches between amateurs are widely considered to be a sports activity.

While exact wording differs, esports is most commonly defined as organized video game competitions played for spectators. These are usually online virtual tournaments or in-person events, played for online viewers or a crowd.

However, not all games that feature competitive gameplay are considered esports titles in popular conception. Rather, the label of esports is typically reserved for games that have sustained established esports scenes surrounding them.

This usually takes the form of regular leagues, tournament circuits, or other competitions that attract large audiences. Games that get updated regularly are prime material for a new esports league, as balancing patches are essential for any multiplayer title.

Athletes can make or break esports

Though the game itself and its popularity are both important factors in becoming an esport, the way athletes and coaches interact with fans can have a huge effect, too. Games with athletes and streamers who interact with their audiences may help increase viewership for a potential esports league.

Professor Jason Chung is a sports researcher who offered unique insight about the development of competitive video games during the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit in 2022. Chung explained that North American esports are centered around popular personalities, who may help grow the esports industry as a whole. He said:

“In North America, esports is all about gamers’ personality and how they engage their audience.”

Game industry expert Alan Chou explained how he believes esports was born in a LinkedIn post from 2019, which includes the addition of popularized story arcs for athletes and teams. He wrote:

“Established sports do a great job of painting a story arc for viewers. There is a beginning, middle, and end. There are heroes and villains, and there are ups and downs. In today’s short-form dominated media, it is harder to do storytelling in a compressed amount of time. But if done correctly, this leads to an emotional payoff at the end. People like that.”

If a community of online personalities can bring a multiplayer game to the forefront of platforms like YouTube and Twitch, viewers can easily transition between watching their favorite streamers casually and rooting for them in a competitive setting.

Examples of esports games

Minecraft allows for player-vs-player combat, which can become competitive, but Minecraft is not generally considered an esports title because the competitive scene in the game is minor. Though individually-owned servers might host the Hunger Games or other casual tournaments, this still isn’t enough to earn esports status in 2025.

Gambling and betting, while not an essential criterion for esports, are another factor that helps solidify a game’s presence on the global stage. The most notable leagues will typically appear on esports gambling sites, which bolster their popularity.

Another common criterion is whether the video game has a core focus on competitive game modes. Counter-Strike, Dota 2, VALORANT, Street Fighter, and other leading esports titles all have competitive player-vs-player modes as their core gameplay, for which numerous popular tournaments and leagues exist. 

Nonetheless, modest esports scenes have developed around some games without competitive PvP game modes at their core.

How big does a game’s competitive scene need to be to count as an esports?

Ultimately, the question of how big an esports scene has to be before it is considered an esports title is subjective and varies according to the whims of popular opinion. While the subjective elements above are informally agreed upon by many, the consensus of which games count as esports changes over time. 

As esports has grown as an industry and phenomenon, the concept has broadened to become more inclusive. These days, many games that are not considered esports titles are developing competitive communities of their own

Unconventional forms of competition, like speedrunning, are increasingly seen as esports. Speedrunners compete to complete a game or piece of in-game content in the quickest time possible. An example is World of Warcraft’s Race to World First, where players race to beat computer-controlled characters rather than each other.

Niche, not-traditionally-competitive games are developing dedicated esports communities, including Farming Simulator and even GeoGuessr. As chess is more frequently played and broadcast online, the 1500-year-old game is also increasingly seen as an esport.

Is esports’ popularity on the rise?

Yes, esports popularity is on the rise internationally. More viewers are tuning in to each competition, especially for popular games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike. 

According to Esports Charts, the League of Legends Worlds in 2024 reached a peak viewership of 6.94 million, up from 2023’s Worlds, which reached around 6.4 million.

A near 10% increase in viewership is massive if it occurs each year. As esports grow in popularity, we may see the creation of additional leagues for less-popular competitive titles, like anime fighters and Nintendo games. Overall, esports viewership is projected to increase in 2025, so this phenomenon should only keep getting bigger.

DemandSage reported that the esports audience is expected to reach a new high of 640 million in 2025, as the total viewership has increased each year. Smaller esports leagues still retain limited viewers, but they’ll likely grow with the industry.

Conclusion

Technically, competitive PvP video games with significant tournament infrastructure form the core of what are considered esports titles. However, players have found ways to make almost any form of video game competitive. 

Speedruns are becoming a solid way to compete against other players, while games like League of Legends still occupy the forefront of the esports industry.

Ultimately, it is up to the fan bases that surround each game to decide whether it meets esports criteria, but organizers also need to be involved for new leagues to gain popularity. 

Many more games may be considered esports in the future, but for now, they are generally titles that have a large multiplayer scene for solo or team-based competition.

What makes a video game an esport?

Regular competitive tournaments and the organization of leagues internationally typically help mold a multiplayer video game into an esport. Other factors include popularity and the presence of a large online community.

What are the key features of esports?

The key features of esports usually include immense popularity, online multiplayer, and regular updates by the game’s developer. Esports games also often have support from their developer or publishers.

What classifies a game as esports?

The features of an esports title are different from its classification. Typically, an esports game should be well-balanced so that every competitor has a fair chance to win. In addition to skill-based gameplay, an esports game must have an organized structure for its leagues and teams.

References

  1. https://www.newhaven.edu/news/blog/2022/jason-chung.php (New Haven)
  2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-makes-game-esport-title-alan-chou (LinkedIn)
  3. https://escharts.com/tournaments/lol/2024-world-championship-lol (Esharts)
  4. https://escharts.com/tournaments/lol/2023-world-championship (Escharts)
  5. https://www.demandsage.com/esports-statistics/ (DemandSage)

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Meghan Hunter (BYU) and Travis Hunter (Colorado) Named 2025 Bob Bowlsby Award Winners

Story Links FRISCO, Texas – BYU’s Meghan Hunter (track and field) and Colorado’s Travis Hunter (football) were selected as the recipients of the third annual Bob Bowlsby Award. Established by the Big 12 Board of Directors, the Bob Bowlsby Award is the Conference’s highest individual honor. Named for former Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, […]

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FRISCO, Texas – BYU’s Meghan Hunter (track and field) and Colorado’s Travis Hunter (football) were selected as the recipients of the third annual Bob Bowlsby Award.

Established by the Big 12 Board of Directors, the Bob Bowlsby Award is the Conference’s highest individual honor. Named for former Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the award recognizes one male and one female student-athlete who exemplify excellence and leadership both on and off the field.

The winners were determined by a vote of the league’s athletics directors.

This marks the second consecutive year a BYU student-athlete has received the honor, while Colorado celebrates the award in its first season back in the Big 12.

Hunter, a track and field standout at BYU, maintained a 3.95 GPA while earning a graduate degree in communications disorders. She earned 2024 Academic All-Big 12 honors.

The 2024 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award honoree won the 2025 Big 12 title in the 800m, setting both a meet and school record (1:58.99). Hunter also contributed to a Distance Medley Relay team that broke NCAA and BYU records (10:37.58) in the 400m leg.

The Provo native procured First Team All-America recognition in the 800m after placing third at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

In 2019, shortly after signing her letter of intent with BYU, Hunter was involved in a devastating car accident that resulted in a broken neck. Doctors initially said she would never run again. A CWSA Honda Inspiration Award finalist, she defied expectations through intense physical and mental rehabilitation, eventually returning to become an All-American. Hunter’s experience is viewed as an inspiration to her teammates and coaches.

 

Colorado’s Travis Hunter delivered one of the most decorated individual seasons in college football history, being named the consensus National Player of the Year while becoming the Buffaloes’ second Heisman Trophy winner.

The native of Suwanee, Georgia, was named the National Defensive Player of the Year (Bednarik, Lott IMPACT Trophy), became the first repeat winner of the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile) and captured the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. He was a unanimous first-team All-American, earning seven first team honors across major publications.

A psychology major, Hunter was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and remains on track to graduate in December.

The cover star of EA Sports College Football 25 was named the Division I Football Academic All-American of the Year and is a two-time first-team Academic All-America honoree. A frequent member of CU’s 4.0 GPA Club, he has balanced elite athletic performance with a deep commitment to academics.   

Off the field, Hunter is the epitome of a teammate and a good citizen. He regularly visited schools and community centers and helped families in need by purchasing Christmas gifts. After sustaining an injury during the Colorado State game his sophomore season, he reached out to support the opposing player – who had received online threats – by recording a joint video to defuse the situation.

Each Big 12 institution was permitted to nominate one male and one female student-athlete of any classification who compete in a Conference-sponsored sport during the 2024-25 academic year.

During his tenure as Commissioner from 2012-22, Bowlsby successfully navigated television rights deals, protected student-athletes’ well-being and innovated the field of college athletics. Most recently, Bowlsby led the way for BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston to join the league, while his inaugural year saw him successfully navigate the addition of TCU and West Virginia into the Conference.





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Volleyball players excel at USA Junior Volleyball Nationals

Wylie High School incoming junior middle hitter Aubrey DeGrate helped to lead her club team, Madfrog 16 National Team, to a national title in the 16U Open Division at the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship, held June 25-July 3 at Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas. Photo by Maddie Smith / C&S […]

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Wylie High School incoming junior middle hitter Aubrey DeGrate helped to lead her club team, Madfrog 16 National Team, to a national title in the 16U Open Division at the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship, held June 25-July 3 at Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas. Photo by Maddie Smith / C&S Media

By David Wolman

[email protected]

Three volleyball players from Wylie High School and eight from Wylie East competed in the 2025 USA Volleyball Girls National Championship, held June 25-July 3 at Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas.

Wylie incoming junior middle hitter Aubrey DeGrate helped to lead her club team, Madfrog 16 National Team, to a national title in the open 16U division. Madfrog dominated to a 10-1 record, losing 21 sets against just seven sets lost. They went 3-0 in gold bracket play, capped off with a 2-1 come-from-behind win (21-25, 25-23, 15-13) over Arizona Storm 16 Thunder in the championship game.

Outside hitter Keelyn Green, an incoming junior at Wylie, helped to guide Premier 16 Black G (NT) to a 10-1 record and national runner-up finish in the 16U Freedom division.

Another incoming junior at Wylie, Julia Hudgins, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, was named to the all-tournament team after she helped to lead Arete 16 Navy Telos (NT) to third place in the 16U USA division.

Wylie East rising sophomore setter Norah Hicks played a key role in leading TAV Black Jason (NT) to second place in the nation in the 15U Open division. Hicks’ club team went 9-2 overall at junior nationals and won 19 sets against just five set losses.

Reagan Johnson, an incoming sophomore at Wylie East and outside hitter, delivered a solid performance for Madfrog 15’s N White (NT), which finished in 14th place in the 15U Liberty division. Raegan Jeffers, a sophomore middle blocker, left Dallas with a top 25 finish. Her club team, Premier 15 Black (NT), captured 21st place in the 15U Liberty division.

Rlieigh Brown, a sophomore middle hitter, competed for UEPA 15D (NT), which captured 23rd place in the 15U USA division. Tess Adamic, an incoming freshman, led Drive Nation 14-Red (NT) to 26th place in the 14U Open division.

Jordan Turner, an incoming senior setter and University of Memphis commit, earned 33rd place with Excel 17 National Red (NT), which competed in the 17U Open division. Siena Scholz helped to lead Arsenal 17 Blue (NT) to three wins and a 79th-place finish in the 17 Patriot division.

To read the full story, stay informed and support local journalism, subscribe to your community newspaper The Wylie News today!



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Cal State LA golfer Morgan Sjoerdsma earns unprecedented fourth Academic All-America Award

Golfer Morgan Sjoerdsma became Cal State LA’s first four-time Academic All-American when she was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women’s At-Large third team on Tuesday, July 8. Sjoerdsma, who graduated with a Master of Arts in Educational Technology this spring, previously earned first-team honors in 2024, second-team honors in 2023, and third-team honors […]

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Golfer Morgan Sjoerdsma became Cal State LA’s first four-time Academic All-American when she was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women’s At-Large third team on Tuesday, July 8.

Sjoerdsma, who graduated with a Master of Arts in Educational Technology this spring, previously earned first-team honors in 2024, second-team honors in 2023, and third-team honors in 2022. She achieved the first three awards as an undergraduate.

“Morgan’s legacy will live forever within this program. Her impact both on and off the golf course is immeasurable,” said Hans Kersting, Cal State LA golf head coach. “To be named an Academic All-American for the fourth time is far beyond what any other student-athlete has ever achieved at Cal State LA. I’m proud to know that I was able to coach a young lady who has made such an incredible impact not only on our golf team, but also the entire university.”

The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. To be eligible in golf, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and must have competed in 70 percent of the team’s total events.

Sjoerdsma carried a 4.00 grade point average as a graduate student and a 3.96 GPA while completing her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

The At-Large team includes the sports of golf, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, water polo, bowling, fencing, rifle, crew/rowing, skiing, gymnastics, and beach volleyball. The Division II At- Large teams honored 53 student-athletes.

Sjoerdsma earned CSC All-District honors last month for a fourth straight year, which put her on the ballot for All-America recognition. She was joined by two other California Collegiate Athletic Association student-athletes: golfer Madison Murr of Cal State San Marcos (first team and CSC Academic All-American Team Member of the Year) and water polo player Autumn Day of Cal State Monterey Bay (second team).

Sjoerdsma was one of 10 student-athletes who were repeat selections from the 2023-24 Academic All-America Division II At-Large team and one of 16 who earned a GPA of 4.00 as either an undergraduate or graduate student. She was also a three-time winner of the CCAA Elite 13 Award for top academic achievement during her career.

“It is truly remarkable that Morgan is the first in the history of the university to achieve the distinction of being a four-time Academic All-American,” said Cal State LA Executive Director of Athletics Daryl Gross. “This is an incredible accomplishment for an outstanding student-athlete.”

Sjoerdsma completed her remarkable Cal State LA career with another outstanding 2024-25 season. She had five top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at the LA Invitational and a third-place finish at the Swan Memorial. She also tied for 10th at the NCAA West Regional and was 16th in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. Sjoerdsma had a scoring average of 75.32.

Sjoerdsma earned first-team All-CCAA honors for a fourth straight season and was ranked 94th in the final national individual rankings. She finished her career with three wins, two runner-up finishes, seven top-three finishes, 14 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes.

“Her character is exemplary, and her leadership has been evident since her freshman year,” Gross said. “As our captain, Morgan embodies everything we aspire to cultivate at Cal State LA. She excels as a scholar off the course and is a champion golfer, making her one of the most decorated athletes in our history. Without a doubt, she will be a future Hall of Famer. Morgan has laid the groundwork for our women’s golf program, and her legacy will be cherished forever.”

Sjoerdsma played in the NCAA West Regionals for a fourth time after qualifying as an individual in 2022 and 2023 and with the team in 2024 and 2025. She finished in a tie for 10th at the NCAA West Regionals in the final tournament of her career.

The CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America award earned by Sjoerdsma is the 20th all-time for Cal State LA. She and two-time honoree Christie Lau (women’s tennis) are the only student-athletes to earn multiple Academic All-America awards.

CAL STATE LA ALL-TIME CSC/CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA AWARDS 

2025 – Morgan Sjoerdsma, Women’s Golf, 3rd team 
2024 – Morgan Sjoerdsma, Women’s Golf, 1st team 
2023 – Iane Henke, Women’s Volleyball, 2nd team 
2023 – Morgan Sjoerdsma, Women’s Golf, 2nd team 
2022 – Morgan Sjoerdsma, Women’s Golf, 3rd team 
2021 – Daniel Simonis, Men’s Soccer, 3rd team 
2018 – Samuel Croucher, Men’s Soccer, 2nd team 
2018 – Ingvar Moseley, Men’s Track & Field, 1st team 
2015 – Iona Lofrano, Women’s Volleyball, 2nd team 
2014 – Dane Nielsen, Men’s Soccer, 2nd team 
2014 – Shane Panther, Men’s Soccer, 2nd team 
2014 – Heather Williams, Women’s Soccer, 3rd team 
2013 – Christie Lau, At Large – Women’s Tennis, 2nd team 
2013 – Lisa Ohberg, Women’s Track/CC, 3rd team 
2012 – Waleed Cassis, Men’s Soccer, 3rd team 
2012 – Christie Lau, At Large – Women’s Tennis, 2nd team 
2011 – Sergio Cedano, Men’s Soccer, 3rd team 
2000 – Kasey Jungwirth, Women’s Volleyball, 1st team 
1995 – Marisol Cossio, Women’s Track/CC, 3rd team 
1987 – Robert Briglia, Men’s Track/CC, 3rd team



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GCU moves to Mountain West this fall

Story Links Grand Canyon University will enter the Mountain West Conference on July 8, 2025, and immediately participate in regular-season competition and conference championships beginning this fall. The conference’s board of directors approved GCU’s entry, jump-starting the Lopes’ move to one of the nation’s premier conferences.   GCU joins a […]

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Grand Canyon University will enter the Mountain West Conference on July 8, 2025, and immediately participate in regular-season competition and conference championships beginning this fall. The conference’s board of directors approved GCU’s entry, jump-starting the Lopes’ move to one of the nation’s premier conferences.
 
GCU joins a high-profile conference that consists of competitive institutions with national brands, passionate fan bases and first-class facilities. GCU will become the 12th member of a powerful conference that includes the United States Air Force Academy, University of Nevada, Reno, University of New Mexico, San José State University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Wyoming, as well as, for one more year, Boise State University, Colorado State University, California State University, Fresno, San Diego State University and Utah State University. In 2026, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa will move from football only to full member status and new members University of California, Davis, University of Texas at El Paso and Northern Illinois University (football only) will join the Mountain West.
 
Lopes teams will immediately compete for conference championships in 17 sports, beginning in less than two months when fall sports including women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and cross country get underway. Conference schedules that have been released previously will be amended for GCU’s inclusion.

“The addition of Grand Canyon for the 2025-26 academic year is a significant win for the student-athletes at GCU and in the Mountain West,” Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said. “Grand Canyon brings elite recruiting, a passionate fan base, and state-of-the-art facilities, elevating the Mountain West’s competitiveness and national profile. In a time when the student-athlete experience is of utmost importance, we felt it was in the best interest to allow them to compete for conference championships and the NCAA postseason immediately. GCU is a great addition to the Mountain West and positively raises the competition level in the league.”

 

The Mountain West is coming off yet another strong year where it ranked sixth in conference strength in men’s basketball and softball, seventh in women’s volleyball, eighth in women’s basketball, 11th in women’s soccer and 14th in baseball out of over 30 Division I conferences. Four teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament in men’s basketball, continuing a strong history of sending several teams to March Madness. The Mountain West has sent at least four men’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament in four straight years, highlighted by six qualifying teams in 2024.

 

GCU has experienced remarkable success in its first 12 years at the Division I level and as members of the WAC, claiming 76 conference championships. The university also won seven WAC Commissioner’s Cups including the last five consecutively, given to the league’s top-performing athletic department.

 

“The strong support of President Brian Mueller and the entire university community has led to tremendous competitive success, positioning GCU for this move to a conference as strong as the Mountain West,” GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. “We are thankful to the coaches, student-athletes and staff, with the backing of the Havocs, the greatest student section in college sports, that have worked tirelessly to build a nationally competitive athletic department to earn this opportunity. We want to thank Commissioner Nevarez and the member institutions, and we are eager to compete for championships with our new peers in the Mountain West.”

 

GCU is coming off another successful athletics year in 2024-25. The men’s and women’s basketball teams combined to go 58-11 (.841), win conference tournament championships and appear in the NCAA Tournament. The men’s basketball program has appeared in four of the last five tournaments and advanced to the second round in 2024 with a win over Saint Mary’s. On the softball diamond, GCU made its debut in the top 25 and won a game in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Men’s golf and women’s tennis each returned to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, while men’s indoor track and field won its eighth conference championship in its last nine tries.

 

The move marks another step in GCU’s remarkable transformation as the largest private Division I university in the nation. Residing in the heart of Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the U.S., GCU has gone from nearly closing its doors 20 years ago to having an enrollment this fall of over 25,000 on its campus and over 100,000 students studying online. With over 17,000 students living in its 32 on-campus residence halls, GCU is also the largest residential campus among private universities in the country and is ranked No. 21 for best college campuses in America by Niche.com. The enrollment growth reflects significant expansion in academic offerings, growing from 4 to 10 distinct colleges and from 100 academic programs, emphases and certificates to over 350.

 

“I think, holistically, what has transpired at GCU over the last 15-16 years has been one of the most remarkable transformations I have ever seen,” said Jerry Colangelo, GCU Board of Trustees member, former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks and former chairman of USA Basketball. “GCU is doing it the right way on every level – in the classroom, in the community and on the playing field.”

 

As previously announced, GCU will be an affiliate member of the WAC in men’s soccer, an affiliate member of The Big West in men’s swimming and diving, and will remain in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for beach volleyball.

 



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Twin Cities volleyball coach charged with sexually assaulting 17-year-old player

Twin Cities volleyball coach charged with sexually assaulting 17-year-old player originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A volleyball coach from Burnsville has been charged with sexually assaulting one of her underage players. Brooke Reinhardt, 24, of Rosemount, is charged with three counts 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct by someone in a position of authority, with […]

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Twin Cities volleyball coach charged with sexually assaulting 17-year-old player originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

A volleyball coach from Burnsville has been charged with sexually assaulting one of her underage players.

Brooke Reinhardt, 24, of Rosemount, is charged with three counts 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct by someone in a position of authority, with the victim a 17-year-old boy.

Reinhardt is listed as the coach of the Burnsville High School varsity boys volleyball team.

According to the charges, a man found the 17-year-old’s wallet in his apartment after returning from being out of state between June 23 and 29. The man said Reinhardt had been looking after his home while he was out of town, and that the victim “had never been in [his] home and had no reason to be,” the complaint states.

Dakota County Jail

Dakota County Jail

When he called Reinhardt about the discovery and told her he was upset with what he found, she allegedly said “okay” and “okay, bye.”

The 17-year-old was interviewed and said he’d forgotten his wallet and that his coach, Reinhardt, had sent him a text saying he’d forgotten it in her car, saying that she had given him a ride to practice in Maple Grove on June 28, before bringing him home.

The teen initially told police that his relationship with Reinhardt was that of a “coach and athlete” and that she was nice, but they had not spent any time together other than for playing volleyball.

When the victim allowed officers to check his phone, they allegedly found texts from Reinhardt telling him “he had a lot of things to delete,” the complaint states, as well as texts about condoms.

The victim then told officers Reinhardt had been helping him with a social situation that led to them hanging out more often. This allegedly led to them getting food together, and then “kissing,” with the teen saying they had started “dating” two to three months earlier.

After initially saying it had not progressed beyond kissing and watching TV, the teen allegedly admitted when asked about the condom texts that “they had penetrative sex,” per the complaint.

He claimed the first time happened at Reinhardt’s Rosemount house about a month earlier, with the second time at the Burnsville apartment on June 28. The teen also said Reinhardt had sent him nude pictures.

Reinhardt was arrested on July 2 and during interview, she claimed the boy had left his wallet in her car after she drove him to practice, and described their relationship as coach and player.

She later allegedly admitted that in May she had engaged in sexual acts in her vehicle with the boy, and admitted to having sex with him at her house, the boy’s house, and the Burnsville man’s apartment. She also admitted sending the boy nude pictures.

WCCO reports Reinhardt was hired in September 2023, with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District saying that while it can’t release personnel information, it is fully cooperating with police on the matter “and will take appropriate actions as dictated by district policies and state law.”

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.



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LSU Gymnastics Assistant Strength Coach Suffers Jet Ski Accident

LSU Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball assistant strength and conditioning coach Katie Guillory also played softball for the Tigers. (LSU photo). The LSU Nation is offering prayers for the recovery of LSU Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball assistant strength and conditioning coach Katie Guillory of Lafayette. Guillory suffered a lower left leg injury in a Jet Ski […]

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LSU Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball assistant strength and conditioning coach Katie Guillory also played softball for the Tigers. (LSU photo).

The LSU Nation is offering prayers for the recovery of LSU Gymnastics and Beach Volleyball assistant strength and conditioning coach Katie Guillory of Lafayette.

Guillory suffered a lower left leg injury in a Jet Ski accident on the Fourth of July on Friday, and doctors amputated her lower left leg just below the knee on Saturday after they could not restore blood flow.

“Please keep her in your prayers,” Katie’s mother Cindy Guillory said on Facebook on Saturday. “Katie’s surgery went smooth, as the doctor predicted. She is resting comfortable now. Thanks for all the concerns, well wishes and prayers.”

Katie played outfield for LSU’s softball team from 2009-13 out of Carencro High. She has been at LSU as a strength and conditioning coach since 2022 after previously coaching at Illinois and Liberty.

“Unbelievable support,” she said in praise of the well wishing she has received in an Instagram story.





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