Wisconsin volleyball extends win streak amid photo leak investigation - Just Women's Sports (2024)

Kate Yanchulis

Oct 25, 2022

The No. 5 Wisconsin women’s volleyball team will face off against No. 1 Nebraska on Wednesday in the midst of an eight-game winning streak — and an ongoing photo leak investigation.

The University of Wisconsin police department is investigating a leak of private photos and videos of Badgers women’s volleyball players, which were then shared on the internet, the athletic department announced on Oct. 19.

One of the photos appears to have been taken after the team won the Big Ten title last November and shows members of the team posing with their sports bras lifted, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The athletic department called the leak a “significant and wrongful invasion” of the athletes’ privacy.

Despite the turmoil of the leak and the investigation, the Badgers keep winning. They swept Michigan State at home Friday and beat Michigan 3-1 on the road Sunday, improving to 15-3 overall and 9-1 in Big Ten play.

Still here. 😤 pic.twitter.com/A8a3bTwyMh

— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 24, 2022

Wisconsin outside hitter Sarah Franklin, who transferred from Michigan State in the offseason, stepped up against her former team. She recorded eight kills and four blocks in the win over the Spartans.

Against Michigan, middle blocker Devyn Robinson led the team with 17 kills. The Wolverines took the first set, but the Badgers won the next three to come away with the win.

“After set one, I felt like we just needed to stay calm and loose and it felt tense in the huddle, but we just had to realize that we have to take a deep breath and get back to our game,” Robinson said after the match.

Next up: a national championship rematch against top-ranked Nebraska (18-1, 10-0) in front of a sold-out crowd at UW Field House at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. The match will air on Big Ten Network.

The Badgers bested the Cornhuskers in five sets to take their first NCAA title in program history last December. They’ll look to hand the Cornhuskers their first Big Ten loss of the season and extend their winning streak to nine matches.

JWS Staff

Aug 5, 2024

On today's Olympics recap episode, host Claire Watkins takes a deep breath after the USWNT’s 1-0 win over Japan in extra time, where mistakes were made, but one brilliant moment from Trinity Rodman put things away.

She discusses some of the negative tactics from both teams that led to a 0-0 draw in regulation, how the US is going to have to get used to fighting against a low block, and ultimately how instilling confidence in a group can carry you a long way.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

JWS Staff

Aug 5, 2024

Welcome to The Gold Standard, hosted by WNBA and Team USA basketball legend Lisa Leslie and NWSL and USWNT great Kelley O'Hara.

In today's episode, our hosts recap Trinity Rodman's late winner against Japan, Simone Biles in the all around final, USA Basketball's Olympic run so far, Katie Ledecky's record-breaking performances, and so much more.

Watch along for expert insight from gold medalists, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and pure enjoyment of the Summer Games.

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

Claire Watkins

Aug 2, 2024

USA Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles furthered herOlympics legacyon Thursday, taking gold in the individual all-around final for the second time in her storied career.

Brazil's Rebeca Andradewonher second-straightOlympic silver, while Biles's USA gymnastics teammate and Tokyo all-around gold medalistSuni Leetook bronze.

Lee is the first Olympic all-around gold medalist to medal in the same event twice in a row since since Romanian gymnastics icon Nadia Comaneci in 1980.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Biles makes triumphant comeback in Paris

Three years afterthe twistiesthreatened to end her career, Biles managed to put her Olympic stamp on what is likely the greatest women's gymnastics career of all time and a true comeback storyfor the ages.

Biles is the only US gymnast to win twoOlympic individual all-around golds, as well as the first women's gymnast to take gold in two non-consecutive Olympic Games (2016, 2024).

She is now the most decorated US gymnastof all time with six gold medals, one silver, and two bronze — not to mention the opportunity to add to her haul inapparatus finalslater this week.

USA Gymnastics finds a formidable competitor in Andrade

Biles has not lost an all-around competition she's competed in since 2013, but her friendly rivalry with Andrade dialed up the heat on Thursday.

Biles landed her signatureYurchenko Double Pikevault in her first rotation — the only woman able to do so — but her lead waned after a slipup on uneven bars. But with Andrade leading after two rotations, Biles hit clean routines on balance beam and floor, pulling back in frontwith a close 1.199 winning margin.

"I don't want to compete with Rebeca no more.I'm tired," Biles said with a laugh in her post-eventpress conference. "She's way too close. I've never had an athlete that close, so it definitely put me on my toes and it brought out the best athlete in myself."

Claire Watkins

Aug 2, 2024

After a number of days of pool play,USA Basketball's 5×5and 3×3 teams find themselves on very different trajectories at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Team USA 5×5 is rolling, notching two wins in two games including a 87-74 win over medal contendersBelgium. But the 3×3 team hasstruggled early, beginning pool play 0-3 before rattling off three straight wins to earn a 3-3 record.

Chemistry remains key for both US basketball teams

Both teams are still trying to find their Olympic footing, with each squad having had very little practice time as a unit before shipping off to France.

The 3×3 team has been further affected by injury, with LA Sparks rookie Cam Brink tearing herACLin June and Atlanta's Rhyne Howard sidelined with an ankle injury for a number of weeks leading up to the Olympics. Tasked with defending theTokyo gold medal, the team's relative inexperience with 3×3 and lack of cohesion has shown, as the US fell to Germany, Azerbaijan, and Australia before grabbing their first win.

While the US 5×5 squadare also still building chemistry,they have performed well ahead of the pack againstJapanand Belgium.

They've already qualified for the quarterfinal round with one game left in pool play, led by the dynamic offense of Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. Stewart led all scorers against Belgium with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Wilson added 23 points and 13 rebounds of her own.

What's next for Team USA basketball at the Olympics?

Team USA closes out 5×5 pool play against Germany this weekend, with eyes firmly on the prize as they look to continue an epic Olympicwinning streakthat dates back to 1992.

Despite the early losses, Team USA's 3×3 squad is bouncing back, going 2-0 on the day after a walk-off shot from behind the arc secured the overtime win over Canada.

Where to watch USA Basketball games at the Olympics

Team USA 3×3 tips off against France in their final pool play game at 1:05 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage onNBC networks.

Team USA 5×5 will face Germany at 11 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage onNBC networks.