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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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LBCC Alum, Super Bowl Champion Bryan Braman Dies of Cancer – The562.org

The Long Beach football community suffered a shocking loss earlier this month with the sudden passing of LBCC alum and Super Bowl LII champion Bryan Braman at the age of 38. Braman was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in February and despite aggressive treatment, declined rapidly before passing away on July 17. […]

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The Long Beach football community suffered a shocking loss earlier this month with the sudden passing of LBCC alum and Super Bowl LII champion Bryan Braman at the age of 38. Braman was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in February and despite aggressive treatment, declined rapidly before passing away on July 17.

“We’re saddened by the passing of LBCC alum and Super Bowl champ Bryan Braman,” reads an LBCC official statement. His strength and spirit inspired many. Rest in peace.”

Braman leaves behind two daughters, aged 11 and 8. A GoFundMe posted earlier this year raised over $90,000, including a $10,000 donation from JJ Watt, Braman’s teammate on the Houston Texans.

Braman underwent several surgeries in Seattle as well as a form of cell therapy as part of the efforts to save his life.

Braman was a star with the Vikings who went on to a role player career in the NFL with the Eagles and Texans, winning a Super Bowl in Philadelphia.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bryan Braman,” the Eagles said in a statement. “During his four seasons in Philadelphia, Bryan was a loyal teammate, a supporter of the community, and a valuable member of our Super Bowl LII-winning team. More importantly, he was a devoted father who passionately loved his family and everyone around him. We extend our deepest condolences to Bryan’s family and all who are grieving his loss during this difficult time.”

Braman was an Eagle for four seasons from 2014-17 as a core member of the team’s special teams, including a critical play during a division round playoff game against the Falcons in the 2017 playoffs. The Super Bowl win that year was the final game of his career, and he had a special teams tackle in the win over the Patriots.

Braman was signed undrafted by the Texans after completing his collegiate career at West Texas A&M, and played three years with the Texans before his four years with the Eagles.

Braman came back and talked to the Vikings team after his career finished. He said that he had come from a blue-collar background in Spokane, WA and planned on getting a railroad job out of high school.

“I actually got a job making concrete railroad ties for a company named CXT. It was backbreaking work for $10 an hour and it was about 75 hours a week. I decided that I deserved an education over a broken back,” he said.

“I decided to go back to school and found my way to Long Beach City College, played two years. There was a real great guy, Bobby King, he came and found me from West Texas A&M from Long Beach City. He recruited me to the panhandle of Texas. I played there for two years. Coach King, fortunately enough, he was brought up onto the staff with Wade Philips when he came to Houston from Dallas and Coach King did a great thing for me and I feel like I owe him a lot. He stood up for me, put his name on the line, told the Houston organization that I’m a good quality guy, that I work hard. I’ve always worked hard for everything I have. So that’s kind of why Houston sits close to my heart, because they gave me a shot when nobody else was really batting an eyelash.”

Braman’s return to LBCC in 2018 was a special day for the Vikings.

“Bryan was just an all-around athlete,” said Jerry Jaso, the coach who recruited him to LBCC. Braman told LBCC’s track coach he could throw javelin and proceeded to throw a state-leading mark on his first try, going on to win a state championship that year. He also cleared 6-foot-11 on his first try at the high jump.

Braman took time to pose for pictures and sign autographs, including one for Vikings lineman Mitchell Kay, a lifelong Eagles fan who came in a jersey, wearing an Eagles Super Bowl champion hat.

Braman said that LBCC was an important stop on his journey.

“The coaches here helped me to focus on my goal and to get my grades right and get ready for life at the next level,” he said. “I would never have made it without them.”



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UA announces inductees into Sports Hall of Honor

Eight former University of Arkansas student-athletes have been selected as members of the 2025 class of the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, the university’s athletic department announced Monday (July 28). Makeba Alcide (women’s track & field), Brian Baker (men’s track & field/cross country), Zack Cox (baseball), the late Ryan Mallett (football), C’eira Ricketts […]

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Eight former University of Arkansas student-athletes have been selected as members of the 2025 class of the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, the university’s athletic department announced Monday (July 28).

Makeba Alcide (women’s track & field), Brian Baker (men’s track & field/cross country), Zack Cox (baseball), the late Ryan Mallett (football), C’eira Ricketts (women’s basketball), James Rouse (football), Dwight Stewart (men’s basketball) and Clint Stoerner (football) will be inducted in a ceremony to be held Sept. 26, 2025, at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

Mallett will be inducted posthumously.

The ceremony is set for the night prior to the Razorbacks’ first-ever meeting with Notre Dame at 11 a.m. inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Inductees are elected to the UA Sports Hall of Honor based on a vote by former Razorback letterwinners in conjunction with the A Club.

“Every year it is a privilege to induct our Razorback greats into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, and this year is no exception,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “Our 2025 class represents individuals whose achievements, character and legacy have forever shaped the proud tradition of Razorback Athletics. It will truly be a fantastic weekend honoring them in September.”

Following are brief notes on the 2025 UA Sports Hall of Honor inductees.
Makeba Alcide
A St. Lucian native, Alcide competed for the Razorback women’s track and field team from 2009 to 2013, excelling in the pentathlon and heptathlon. She set a then-collegiate record in the pentathlon with a score of 4,569 points to win the 2013 SEC Indoor title and then finished third at the NCAA Championships.

Brian Baker
A distance runner and member of the Razorback dynasty in the 1990s, Baker was part of nine national championship team titles accumulated by Arkansas from 1990 to 1993, which included a pair of national triple crowns in 1992 and 1993.

Zack Cox
Cox spent two years as the third baseman for the Razorbacks in 2009-10 and proved himself as one of the best hitters in school history. His season batting average of .429 and hit total of 102 in 2010 still lead all Arkansas hitters over a decade later.

Ryan Mallett
One of the most prolific passers in Razorback history, Mallett came to Arkansas after playing his freshman season at the University of Michigan. In two years as a Razorback, Mallett completed 491 of 814 pass attempts for 7,493 yards and 62 touchdowns.

C’eira Ricketts
Ricketts was an All-Southeastern Conference guard for the Razorbacks from 2008-12. The Louisville, Ky.-native’s name is sprinkled throughout the Arkansas record books, including being eighth in total career points.

James Rouse
Rouse played football for four years for the Razorbacks (1985, 1987–1989), rushing for 2,887 yards and 39 touchdowns. In the 1987 season, Rouse ran for 1,004 yards and 17 touchdowns, giving the Razorbacks their first 1,000-yard rusher since Ben Cowins in 1978.

Dwight Stewart
Stewart was a three-time letterwinner for the Razorbacks from 1993 to 1995, after transferring to Arkansas from South Plains Junior College. The big man helped the Hogs to 85 victories, three Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights, two Final Fours, two consecutive NCAA Tournament Championship Games and the 1994 NCAA National Championship.

Clint Stoerner
Stoerner was a Second-Team All-SEC quarterback in 1998 and 1999 leading the Razorbacks to a share of the SEC Western Division title in 1998. Stoerner was Arkansas’ offensive leader in each of three years – 1997-1999 – as well as Arkansas’ total offensive leader – 528 passes completed and 57 touchdowns.



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Women’s Volleyball to Host Volley & Vibes Fundraiser

Story Links FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton women’s volleyball team invites family, friends, fans, and alumni to attend their 2025 Volley & Vibes Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, in Titan Gym. The scrimmage will take place at 10:00 a.m., and the fundraiser will begin at 11:30 a.m. Guests at the […]

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FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton women’s volleyball team invites family, friends, fans, and alumni to attend their 2025 Volley & Vibes Fundraiser on Saturday, August 16, in Titan Gym. The scrimmage will take place at 10:00 a.m., and the fundraiser will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Guests at the fundraiser will enjoy food, beverages, both silent and live auctions, and the opportunity to mingle with new head coach Nicky Cannon, her staff, and the student-athletes. Attendees are encouraged to wear their Titan gear and come ready to celebrate the upcoming season!

All proceeds from this event will directly benefit the Titans Women’s Volleyball program.

Please register for Volley & Vibes by August 15 

Register Here

EVENT DETAILS

DATE:

Saturday, August 16, 2025

10:00 a.m. Blue vs White Scrimmage

11:30 a.m. Program & Brunch 

LOCATION:

Titan Gym KHS 268

800 N State College Blvd, 

Fullerton, CA 92831

PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES:

Platinum Sponsor – $5,000

Includes a table for 10 guests, food and 2 drink tickets for each guest, signage at the fundraiser, sponsor recognition in the practice gym, Pre Game locker room experience for one home game, Access to Practices, Q&A with Coaching Staff, and a complimentary gift basket (contains Titan gear, and wine)

Cost of Goods & Services: $169.95

Gold Sponsor- $1,250

Includes a table for 10 guests, food and 2 drink tickets for each guest, signage at the fundraiser, sponsor recognition on the Donor Wall in the practice gym, Q&A with Coaching Staff, and a complimentary gift basket (contains Titan gear, and wine)

Cost of Goods & Services: $158.96

Silver Sponsor – $1,000

Includes a table for 10 guests, food and 2 drink tickets for each guest, signage at the fundraiser, Q&A with Coaching Staff

Cost of Goods & Services: $89.00

Individual Ticket- $75

Includes food, 2 drink tickets, and dessert

Cost of Goods and Services: $8.90

Titans Volleyball Alumna Ticket- $40

Includes food, 2 drink tickets, and dessert for a Titans Volleyball Alumna

Cost of Goods and Services: $8.90

Unable to Attend but Wish to Donate – $175

Please accept my donation to the Women’s Volleyball program. Value of goods & services: $0.00

Register Here

If you are unable to attend the event but would still like to show your support with a donation in any amount, click here to give a gift to the Women’s Volleyball Fund. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Athletics Development Team at 657-278-7034 or athleticevents@fullerton.edu

SUPPORT THE TITANS!

Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitansTickets.com. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan Baseball ticketing office and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday. 

FOLLOW THE TITANS!

Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), X (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (@FullertonTitans), YouTube (FullertonTitansAthletics) and TikTok (@FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Instagram (@Fullerton_WVB) and X accounts (@Fullerton_WVB).

WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+

Titans fans can now watch every home event exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Titan Stadium. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.





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VB | Gaels Release Full 2025 Schedule

Story Links MORAGA, Calif. — The Tyler Hildebrand era of Saint Mary’s Volleyball inches closer and closer, with the program’s exhibition scheduled for August 16, and their season opener on August 29. The slate will feature some top competition for the Gaels in non-conference play, featuring three early season tournaments and a […]

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MORAGA, Calif. — The Tyler Hildebrand era of Saint Mary’s Volleyball inches closer and closer, with the program’s exhibition scheduled for August 16, and their season opener on August 29. The slate will feature some top competition for the Gaels in non-conference play, featuring three early season tournaments and a two day trip to Oklahoma. This should gear the Gaels up to full strength by the time of their conference opener on September 25. Here’s a breakdown of the 2025 Saint Mary’s Volleyball Schedule.

HOME FOR THE ROADRUNNERS

The Gaels loan non-conference foe to come to UCU Pavilion will be the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, who will make their way to Moraga for an exhibition clash on August 16. This will be fans first chance to get a look at Coach Hildebrand’s Gaels, and admission will be free to the public for the match slated to start at 5:30 PM. 

A TRIO OF TOURNAMENTS

The Gaels will take part in the NDSU/UND Tournament (Aug. 29 – 31) split between Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota, the Baylor Classic (Sep. 5 – 6) in Waco, Texas, and the SLO Classic (Sep. 18 – 20) in San Luis Obispo, California. The season opens in Grand Forks on August 29, when the Gaels take on one of their two tournament hosts, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on August 29 at 4 PM PST. It will be a quick turnaround for Saint Mary’s, who will get a 25 win Bowling Green team from a year ago just 17 hours later at 9 AM PST, before making the trek 80 miles south to Fargo. There, they will finish off the tournament with the Bison of North Dakota State at 9 AM PST on August 31. 

A week later, the Gaels will find themselves in Waco, Texas, as competitors in the Baylor Classic. The two day tournament will see the Gaels open with Northwestern on September 5 at 12:30 PM PST, their first Power Four opponent of the Fall. That evening, the Gaels will get their second P-4 opponent, host Baylor at 5 PM PST, a team that made the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Saint Mary’s will close their Texas trip with another Lone Star opponent, the Owls of Rice, finishing things up on September 6 at 12 PM PST. 

Saint Mary’s final non-conference tournament of the Fall will be their closest to home, heading to San Luis Obispo for the SLO Classic for the third straight year. Opening up against the host Mustangs at 6 PM on September 18, the Gaels will look to exact revenge after falling to their host each of the last two seasons in this tournament. Saint Mary’s will then get Cal Baptist on September 19 at 1:30 PM, before closing out with their final NCAA Tournament foe from a year ago, Utah, at 11 AM on September 20. 

STORMIN’ INTO NORMAN

On September 12 and 13, the Gaels will spend a pair of days in Norman, Oklahoma, taking on the Sooners for a pair of 4 PM PST matches. Like Baylor and Utah, Oklahoma made it to the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament. This will be the first all-time meeting between the Gaels and Sooners. 

PUTTING THE “W” IN WCC

The Gaels will quest for their first WCC Title since 2009 in a conference that will have a gaudy 12 teams with the addition of Seattle University. The Gaels are coming off of a ninth place finish in WCC play a year ago, but have finished in the top five in the conference in four of the last seven seasons. Saint Mary’s will open conference play with a roadtrip to Oregon, taking on Oregon State (Sep. 25, 6 PM) and Portland (Sep. 27, 1 PM). The month of October will kick off with the Gaels home opener against conference co-runner up San Diego (Oct. 2, 6:30 PM), followed two days later with a meeting against defending conference champs LMU (Oct. 4, 1 PM). The Gaels will ride a three game winning streak against Pacific into Stockton (Oct. 9, TBA) before coming home for a Saturday night marquee showdown with rival Santa Clara (Oct. 11, 5 PM). After seven days off, the Gaels will head to Spokane to take on Gonzaga, (Oct. 18, 12 PM) now under first year head coach JT Wenger. The Pacific Northwest duo of Seattle (Oct. 23, 6:30 PM) and Portland (Oct. 25, 2 PM) will make their way to UCU Pavilion, followed by another seven day break before the Gaels make the return trip to conference newcomer Seattle (Nov. 1). Oregon State will make their first trip to Moraga since 2003 (Nov. 6, 6:30 PM) followed by the Gaels trekking south to San Diego (Nov. 8, 12 PM). Saint Mary’s will then get four straight games in the Bay Area, a road contest at San Francisco (Nov. 13, 6 PM), followed by three straight at home against Gonzaga (Nov. 15, 2 PM), Pacific (Nov. 20, 6:30 PM) and Washington State (Nov. 22, 2 PM). The matchup with the Cougars will be the Gaels Senior Day matchup. The final roadtrip of the season will feature defending WCC champs LMU (Nov. 26, 2 PM) and the Gaels only look at 2024 WCC co-runner ups Pepperdine (Nov. 29, 12 PM). 

OVERALL OUTLOOK

The Gaels should be tested early and often in non-conference, seeing a trio of NCAA Tournament teams (Baylor, Oklahoma and Utah) and two other 20+ win teams (Bowling Green and Cal Poly). On top of this, the Gaels will play exclusively on the road from August 29 through September 20. This grueling non-con schedule should prepare the Gaels to make some noise in conference play. In the WCC slate, the Gaels will see two of the conference powerhouses (San Diego and LMU) at home in week two of conference play, and will see a pair more (LMU and Pepperdine) in the final week of the season, a good barometer for the team’s growth through WCC play. The full schedule can be found here.

DON’T MISS OUT ON HOME VOLLEYBALL ACTION. TICKETS INFORMATION HERE.

#GaelsRise

 



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“Not Ready to Give Up Water Polo Yet,” Christina Mullane Embarks on Professional Career in Greece

Christina Mullane is taking her passion for water polo to the professional arena in Greece, after a standout college career at UC Santa Barbara. Ending her collegiate journey scoring three goals in an overtime victory in April, Mullane expressed her commitment to continue playing, ultimately securing a spot with NO Rethymno. The team is seeking […]

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July 29, 2025

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Christina Mullane is taking her passion for water polo to the professional arena in Greece, after a standout college career at UC Santa Barbara. Ending her collegiate journey scoring three goals in an overtime victory in April, Mullane expressed her commitment to continue playing, ultimately securing a spot with NO Rethymno. The team is seeking international players to enhance their competitiveness against top Greek clubs like Olympiacos. Mullane’s journey underscores her deep roots in the sport, nurtured from a young age and bolstered by family support. She is excited to embrace the challenges of European water polo this coming season.

By the Numbers

  • Mullane scored 33 goals and provided 23 assists in her final college season.
  • She was UC Santa Barbara’s third-highest points scorer in both 2024 and 2025.

State of Play

  • Mullane will commence her professional career in Greece with NO Rethymno in October.
  • She aims to enhance the team’s performance amid strong competition in the A1 League.

What’s Next

Mullane is expected to adapt quickly to the fast-paced European style of water polo, providing her with opportunities to further develop her skills and compete at a high level. Her success could inspire younger players and elevate the profile of the Gauchos’ water polo program.

Bottom Line

As Mullane embarks on this next chapter, her journey symbolizes the fusion of talent and perseverance, reinforcing the notion that passion for one’s sport can propel an athlete to new heights, both personally and professionally.





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Four Nebraska volleyball players named to preseason All-Big Ten team

Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team. Juniors Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, and Bergen Reilly were unanimous selections. Senior Rebecca Allick rounded out the quartet. All four had outstanding seasons. Jackson was named to the 2024 AVCA All-America first-team and was a unanimous All-Big Ten first-team selection. Murray was an […]

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July 29, 2025

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Four Nebraska volleyball players were named to the preseason All-Big Ten team. Juniors Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, and Bergen Reilly were unanimous selections. Senior Rebecca Allick rounded out the quartet.

All four had outstanding seasons. Jackson was named to the 2024 AVCA All-America first-team and was a unanimous All-Big Ten first-team selection. Murray was an AVCA second-team All-American selection and was named the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player.

Reilly made history in her own right. She would become the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore. She, too, was named to the AVCA All-America second-team.

Allick finished 2024 with a .357 hitting percentage, which was the best in her career. She also had one point for three blocks per set, which was a team-high. This ranked third among Big Ten players and No. 14 overall nationally.

All in all, this roster is shaping up nicely for Dani Busboom-Kelly. The Huskers should be in a position to compete for a national championship once again.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.





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