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Nevada softball coach Victoria Hayward among eligible players in Athletes Unlimited draft
Nevada head softball coach Victoria Hayward and Wolf Pack assistant Delanie Wisz are among the 80 players eligible for the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League draft that will be held Wednesday night.
Hayward is a former All-American outfielder at Washington who went on to win an Olympic medal as the captain of Team Canada. Wisz was an All-American corner infielder at UCLA.
The Athletes Unlimited Softball League, which will be run by former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, will host a reallocation draft for its four teams, including the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts. The team will play a 30-game schedule in six to eight cities in 2025 before moving to a fixed-city format the following season. The draft will include 48 picks (12 per team) to comprise their 16-player rosters, which also will include one free agent and three players from the 2025 college class per team.
The AUSL’s inaugural draft will be broadcast live Wednesday at 5 p.m. on ESPN App and the Athletes Unlimited YouTube page with ESPN’s Andraya Carter hosting the show with analysis from former All-Americans Amanda Scarborough and Danielle Lawrie. ESPN is expected to broadcast 30 AUSL games this season, which starts in June.
Hayward played for Washington from 2011-14 and hit .338 in her career, including a .405 average as a senior. A left-handed hitter, she stole 50 bases in her career and posted a .801 career OPS. The 32-year-old won a bronze medal for Canada in the Tokyo Olympics and has played in the National Pro Fastpitch and Athletes Unlimited as a professional, winning the NPF’s Jennie Finch Award in 2019 when she was made the All-NPF Team.
Wisz played for Loyola Marymount (2018-19) and UCLA (2020-22). During her three seasons with the Bruins, she hit .352 with 35 homers in 141 games, driving in 127 runs and slugging .702 during her All-American career. In two years at LMU, she hit .284 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 107 games. Wisz was an assistant coach at San Diego State before being hired by Hayward, who accepted the Wolf Pack job in May after most recently being an assistant at Washington. Like Hayward, Wisz has played in Athletes Unlimited.
Athletes Unlimited started its softball league in 2020 with the reformed league starting in 2025 including more structure. The league’s 2025 head coaches include Stacey Nuveman-Deniz (Bandits), Alisa Goler (Blaze), Howard Dobson (Talons) and Kelly Kretschman (Volts). The league’s general managers include big names like Lisa Fernandez and Cat Osterman.
Softball America’s mock draft has Hayward being a 10th-round draft pick (40th overall) by the Bandits, who are led by Nuveman-Deniz, the head coach at SDSU where Hayward was one of her assistants from 2022-23. The mock draft has Wisz going in the 11th round (44th overall) to the Blaze.
The average salary for a player is expected to be $40,000-$45,000 with salaries up to $75,000 through bonuses.
Exciting news for Nevada softball fans! Head coach Victoria Hayward has been named among the eligible players in the upcoming Athletes Unlimited draft. This is a huge honor for Coach Hayward, who has shown exceptional leadership and talent throughout her career both as a player and a coach.Athletes Unlimited is a revolutionary professional sports league that puts a unique twist on traditional team sports. In this player-driven league, athletes earn points based on their individual performance rather than team wins, creating a fast-paced and dynamic playing environment.
Coach Hayward’s inclusion in the draft is a testament to her skill and dedication to the game of softball. As a former Canadian national team player and a successful coach at Nevada, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.
We can’t wait to see Coach Hayward compete alongside some of the best softball players in the world in Athletes Unlimited. Stay tuned for updates on the draft and show your support for Coach Hayward as she continues to make waves in the world of softball! #GoPack
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Nevada softball, Victoria Hayward, Athletes Unlimited draft, eligible players, softball coach, draft picks, Athletes Unlimited softball, women’s sports, professional softball, athlete draft, player rankings
#Nevada #softball #coach #Victoria #Hayward #among #eligible #players #Athletes #Unlimited #draftSources: Maya Brady to join Athletes Unlimited Softball League
Shortstop Maya Brady agreed to join the Athletes Unlimited Softball League on Tuesday, adding a significant presence to the burgeoning league that will hold its inaugural draft Wednesday night, sources told ESPN.
23-year-old Brady, a left-handed slugger who also plays outfield, is a two-time first-team All-American and Pac-12 Player of the Year who ranks second all-time in home runs at UCLA, a preeminent college softball program.
The AUSL, being run by former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, will have four teams playing a 30-game schedule in six to eight cities — including suburban Chicago and Wichita — this summer before a planned transition to a fixed-city format in 2026. Each of the four teams — the Bandits, Blaze, Talons and Volts, who will choose in that order in the first round — will draft a dozen players and fill out their 16-woman roster with one free agent and three players from the college class of 2025.
The draft, which will be broadcast live on the ESPN app at 8 p.m. ET, will include two-way player Rachel Garcia, outfielder Amanda Lorenz, right-hander Megan Faraimo, right-hander Georgina Corrick, infielder Tiare Jennings and right-hander Montana Fouts in addition to Brady.
While a number of top softball players opt to play in the top-tier Japan Diamond Softball League, Brady chose the new league that includes all-time stars Lisa Fernandez (Talons) and Cat Osterman (Volts) as general managers. Other advisers to the league include Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza, also an ESPN analyst.
Brady, the niece of Tom Brady and former Major League Baseball All-Star Kevin Youkilis, finished her career at UCLA hitting .384/.464/.757 with 71 home runs and 246 RBIs in 249 games.
Athletes Unlimited previously has run four-week events and crowned individual champions based on a scoring system that awards players for on-field production. With an expected 30 games this summer broadcast on ESPN networks, the league is hoping to find more success than National Pro Fastpitch, which disbanded in 2021, and two other four-team leagues, Women’s Professional Fastpitch and Association of Fastpitch Professionals, which played in the summer of 2024.
“Softball is poised for tremendous growth at the professional level, and the AUSL is meeting the moment by creating the action-packed, world-class softball league that this sport has deserved for so long,” Ng said. “The caliber of players vying to be drafted tomorrow — Olympians, Team USA veterans, All-Americans and NCAA champions — further exemplifies that the world’s best players are here together as a unit of founding members who will make the AUSL the next big thing in women’s sports.”
Sources: Maya Brady to join Athletes Unlimited Softball LeagueAccording to sources close to the situation, standout softball player Maya Brady is set to join the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The league, known for its fast-paced and competitive play, will provide an exciting new challenge for Brady as she continues to hone her skills and compete at the highest level.
Brady, who is the niece of NFL superstar Tom Brady, has already made a name for herself as a talented infielder and power hitter. Her addition to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League is sure to bring even more excitement and star power to the already impressive roster of players.
Stay tuned for more updates as Maya Brady prepares to take the field in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League! #MayaBrady #AthletesUnlimited #SoftballLeague
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Maya Brady, Athletes Unlimited Softball League, Maya Brady news, Softball League updates, Athletes Unlimited, Maya Brady softball, Athletes Unlimited news
#Sources #Maya #Brady #join #Athletes #Unlimited #Softball #LeagueTwo World Cup Golds and One Silver For Australian Snow Athletes on the Weekend
Scotty James on his way to back to back wins at the Laax Open in Laax, Switzerland on January 18, 2025. Photo: Lorenz Richard / Red Bull Content Pool Mountainwatch | Press Release
Scotty James has produced one of the best runs of his impressive halfpipe career, to claim the gold medal at the Laax Open in Switzerland, the tenth World Cup victory of his career and fourth win at the prestigious event.
In the best-of-two run night final, the two-time Olympic medallist opened with a score of 88.75 points, then stepped it up in the final run to put down a spectacular performance that included a massive switch frontside triple cork 1440 on his way to a huge score of 95.75.
James took the win ahead of Japanese rider Ruka Hirano’s score of 93.75, while compatriot and reigning Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano was third with a run one score of 87.00.
Scotty James, stoked with a score of 95.75 and the gold medal ahead of Ruka Hirano, (93.75pts) left, and Ayumu Hirano, third, with a score of 87. Photo: FIS Snowboarding “I think it might be one of the best moments of my competitive career” said the 30-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria. “It’s always challenging to win, but this year I feel like I have been put on the ropes quite a bit from the other competitors, especially the Japanese, they are riding incredible.
“Not for a second did I think it was a done deal until the last rider went because any rider could have won.
“It’s always been a super important detail for me to spin in every direction, and try and keep a bit of soul in there with the switch McTwist at the start before it gets into a lot of spinning, really happy to get the triple in there this year as well which was a big goal of mine.
“It’s one of the best pipes in the world, there are no excuses but to go 110% on this thing, so you’ve got to bring your best if you want to stand on top, or even on the podium for that matter.”
The victory puts James move into equal first place on the World Cup standings alongside Yuto Totsuka of Japan on 230 points.
Competing in the women’s event for Australia was two-time Olympian Emily Arthur, who finished in 24th place.
American riders took the top two places in the women’s final with two-time Olympic gold medallist Chloe Kim victorious ahead of Maddie Mastro in second and Gaon Choi of Korea in third.
James will now head to Aspen, USA, to compete in the X-Games on January 23, where he will be aiming to win an incredible fourth straight and seventh career X-Games gold medal.
Silver for Danielle Scott In Season-Opening Aerials World Cup
Danielle Scott has made a great start to the FIS Aerial Skiing World Cup season with a silver medal performance at the first event of the year in Lake Placid, USA, claiming the 22nd World Cup medal of her career.
The back-to-back defending World Cup Champion performed well in all three stages of the competition, placing second in the opening qualifications, and then secured her spot in the medal round by leading the first round of finals with an impressive full-full double twisting double back somersault that scored 92.29 points.
Danielle Scott, left, silver in the first World Cup of the season with Olympic Champion Mengtao Xu,centre winning the gold medal with Canada’s Marion Thenault third. Photo: Snow Australia In the super-final medal round, Scott increased her degree of difficult to perform a triple twisting double back somersault, scoring 95.17 points, falling agonisingly close to victory by the small margin of 0.35 points, giving 2022 Olympic Champion Mengtao Xu of China the gold medal on 95.52. Rounding out the podium in third with a score of 90.94 was Canadian Marion Thenault.
“Pretty stoked, it was awesome to get back in the start gate again, this year has been a pretty big ride on a rollercoaster, so grateful to just be here,” said the 34-year-old Scott from NSW, who trains in Brisbane at the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre water jump facility.
Danielle Scott put down a big score of 95.17, 0.35 short of the winning jump, “Today had everything weather wise, head winds to tail winds to falling snow, to everything changing on us in such small windows, very grateful and happy for my coaches for getting all the attention to detail right and trusting everything out there.
Abbey Willcox also qualified for the final in fifth place and went on to finish in eighth in the first round of finals. Missing out on the final was Airliegh Frigo in 20th and double World Champion Laura Peel in 21st.
Also competing for Australia in their World Cup debuts were Sidney Stephens in 28th, Elise Coleiro 29th and Reilly Flanagan 29th.
Ben Tudhope Back on Top
After Saturday’s racing was cancelled due to weather, Ben Tudhope returned on Sunday to claim his first Para Snowboard SBX World Cup win of the season at Pyha in Finland.
Ben was the third fastest in qualifying and then went to win the semi and final. Canada’s Alex Massie took the silver ahead of Emanuel Perathoner, Italy, in third.
Ben Tudhope celebrates his win with silver medalist Amex Massie (left) and Emanuel Perathoner Aaron McCarthy also scored a podium finish with a bronze medal in just his third European Cup start! Strong runs also in the European Cup from Sean Pollard with a 4th place finish and Kiwi training partner Ben Johnston scored a 5th.
Stay across our athletes results this Northern Hemisphere season and check dates and time for events and live streaming at snowaustralia.org.au
Over the weekend, Australian snow athletes showed their skills and determination on the world stage, bringing home two gold medals and one silver medal in the World Cup competitions.In the ski cross event, Australian athlete Sami Kennedy-Sim claimed the gold medal, showcasing her speed and agility on the course. This victory marks a significant achievement for Kennedy-Sim and solidifies her position as one of the top ski cross athletes in the world.
Meanwhile, in the snowboard cross event, Australian athlete Jarryd Hughes also secured a gold medal, demonstrating his skill and precision on the slopes. Hughes’ victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport.
Additionally, Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff put on a stellar performance in the snowboard cross event, earning a silver medal for her impressive run down the course. Brockhoff’s accomplishment highlights her talent and determination as she continues to compete at the highest level.
Overall, the weekend was a successful one for Australian snow athletes, with two gold medals and one silver medal adding to their impressive collection of achievements. Congratulations to Sami Kennedy-Sim, Jarryd Hughes, and Belle Brockhoff on their outstanding performances! #AustralianSnowAthletes #WorldCupGold #SilverMedal #SkiCross #SnowboardCross
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- Australian snow athletes
- World Cup golds
- Winter sports
- Australian athletes
- Snowboarding
- Skiing
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- Weekend sports news
- Australian winter sports success
- Competitive snow athletes
#World #Cup #Golds #Silver #Australian #Snow #Athletes #Weekend
Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends ( – VERY GOOD
Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends ( – VERY GOOD
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Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends – A Must-Read for Young AthletesAre you a young athlete looking for inspiration and motivation to achieve your sports dreams? Look no further than “Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends.” This book is filled with captivating stories of some of the greatest athletes in history and their humble beginnings in the world of sports.
From Michael Jordan to Serena Williams, these sports legends started their journey to greatness at a young age, facing challenges and setbacks along the way. Through hard work, determination, and sheer passion for their sport, they overcame obstacles and became champions in their respective fields.
Reading these stories will not only entertain you but also teach you valuable lessons about dedication, perseverance, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Whether you’re a basketball player, a tennis player, a soccer player, or any other type of athlete, you will find inspiration in the pages of this book.
So if you’re looking for a dose of motivation to fuel your athletic pursuits, pick up a copy of “Kid Athletes: True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends” today. Who knows, you may just be reading the stories of the next sports legend in the making!
#Kid #Athletes #True #Tales #Childhood #Sports #Legends #GOOD,ages 3+Dept. of Education says Title IX applies to payments to athletes
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Paula Lavigne
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- Winner, 2014 Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award; finalist, 2012 IRE broadcast award; winner, 2011 Gannett Foundation Award for Innovation in Watchdog Journalism; Emmy nominated, 2009.
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The plans that many major college athletic departments are making for how they will distribute new direct payments to their athletes would violate Title IX law, according to a memo published by the U.S. Department of Education on Thursday.
The memo provides some long-awaited guidance about how gender equity laws will apply to a new era of college sports that is on track to begin this summer. It’s not clear if the Department of Education will interpret Title IX law the same way when incoming President Donald Trump’s administration installs new officials in the near future.
The NCAA and its power conferences have agreed to allow each school to share up to $20.5 million in direct payments to its athletes via name, image and likeness deals as one of the terms of a pending antitrust settlement. Many schools from those power conferences have developed plans to distribute the majority of that money to athletes in sports that generate the most revenue — mostly football and men’s basketball players.
In some cases, athletic directors have publicly shared that they intend to provide upward of 75% of that money to their football players.
However, the Office for Civil Rights — the division of the Department of Education that enforces Title IX law — said in its memo Thursday that those future payments should be considered “athletic financial assistance” and therefore must be shared proportionally between men and women athletes.
“When a school provides athletic financial assistance in forms other than scholarships or grants, including compensation for the use of a student-athlete’s NIL, such assistance also must be made proportionately available to male and female athletes,” the memo said.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs. The law requires that schools provide opportunities to play a varsity sport that are proportional to the student body’s overall gender makeup. It also requires schools to provide financial assistance that is in proportion to the number of students of each sex who play sports on campus. If 50% of a school’s athletes are women, then 50% of the school’s financial aid for athletes must be allotted to women.
The memo is not as clear in providing guidance on how payments from booster collectives closely associated with their schools are impacted by Title IX law. It states that the department does not consider money provided by a third party in an NIL deal as athletic financial assistance like the future revenue sharing payments or scholarship dollars. But if money from private sources ends up creating a disparity in an athletic program, it is possible that NIL agreements could “trigger a school’s Title IX obligations.”
Male and female athletes also deserve equivalent publicity, including in sports information personnel, the amount and quality of promotion, and even in social media postings. If a school fails to provide equitable publicity, those students risk losing out on NIL opportunities, the memo states. ESPN reported a little over a year ago that 55 athletic departments — or 84% of the then-Power 5 — mentioned men’s teams more often than women’s teams on their main accounts on what was then Twitter, and women’s teams were more likely to have to share social media managers with other teams.
While the Department of Education has the authority to punish schools for failing to meet Title IX requirements, historically all cases regarding how the law applies to college sports have come from athletes who sue their school and allege unequal treatment. There are multiple pending Title IX lawsuits related to NIL compensation from third parties. The memo published during the final two days of this department’s time in power could provide some fodder for future potential lawsuits if any athletes sue their school over the way future direct payments are made to athletes.
“I’d be astonished if schools that have announced they are planning something other than proportional distribution continue with those plans,” said attorney Arthur Bryant, who is the midst of a Title IX lawsuit against the University of Oregon. “They would be knowingly and intentionally planning to violate the law.”
Bryant said he thinks the clarifying language laid out by the department also has the potential to derail the pending antitrust settlement. A hearing to finalize that settlement is scheduled for April.
The Department of Education has recently declared that Title IX, the federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in education, also applies to payments made to college athletes. This decision marks a significant shift in how the law is interpreted and enforced, particularly in the realm of collegiate sports.Title IX has traditionally been associated with ensuring equal opportunities for male and female athletes in terms of scholarships, facilities, and resources. However, this new interpretation expands the scope of the law to include compensation for athletes, particularly in the wake of the growing trend of athletes receiving payment for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
This ruling has the potential to have far-reaching implications for the world of college athletics, as it could impact how schools allocate funds to athletes, as well as how they comply with Title IX regulations. It remains to be seen how colleges and universities will navigate these new guidelines and what impact it will have on the landscape of collegiate sports.
Overall, this decision signals a significant development in the ongoing debate over athlete compensation and gender equity in sports, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the coming months and years.
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- Title IX
- athletes
- payments to athletes
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- NCAA
- student athletes
- gender equity
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- college sports
- gender equality
- Title IX compliance
- Department of Education
- student athlete rights
- gender in sports
#Dept #Education #Title #applies #payments #athletes
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NCAA Considering Rule Change Giving Athletes in All Sports 5 Years of Eligibility | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
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The NCAA is considering changing a rule that would permanently add a fifth year of eligibility for athletes in all sports.
Per Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today, the NCAA is looking into the change but there’s no timetable for a decision and “the topic will continue to be discussed in the early part of 2025.”
The 2024-25 academic year marks the final season for players who were granted an extra year of eligibility if they played in college during the 2020-21 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is also an ongoing legal situation involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and the NCAA over eligibility. Pavia filed a lawsuit in November, alleging the NCAA bylaws that limit the number of seasons junior college players can compete at Division I schools are unlawful and restrict players’ ability to earn NIL money.
William Campbell Jr., chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, denied Pavia’s request for a temporary restraining order that would grant him an additional year of eligibility.
Campbell later granted Pavia an injunction that keeps open the possibility he could play for Vandy again in 2025, but it is not a final ruling.
Per ESPN’s Eli Lederman, the NCAA board of directors approved a blanket waiver granting an additional year of eligibility to junior college transfers for the 2025-26 academic year.
Lederman also noted the NCAA said in the same memo it has filed a notice of appeal to the ruling in Pavia’s case.
Pavia played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute from 2020 to ’21 before transferring to New Mexico State in January 2022. He played two seasons for the Aggies, then transferred to Vanderbilt in January 2024.
The implementation of NIL rules has incentivized non-elite pro prospects to remain in college. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has reportedly been offered $6 million from an unnamed school to transfer rather than enter the NFL draft.
Ewers hasn’t made an official statement about his plans, but Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods noted on Dec. 13 the Longhorns star intends to declare for the draft.
The additional year of eligibility has also allowed college players who may not have been on the NFL’s radar early in their career to significantly increase their value. Michael Penix Jr. went from suffering season-ending injuries in each of his four years at Indiana to two stellar seasons at Washington that catapulted him to being the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft.
The NCAA is considering a rule change that would give athletes in all sports five years of eligibility, according to sources close to the situation. This potential change could have a significant impact on college athletics, allowing athletes more time to compete and develop their skills.The current rule allows athletes in most sports to have four years of eligibility to compete at the collegiate level. However, the NCAA is looking into extending that window to five years, giving athletes an extra year to compete and potentially earn a degree.
This proposed rule change has sparked discussion among coaches, players, and administrators, with some supporting the idea of giving athletes more time to compete and others expressing concerns about the potential ramifications.
If the NCAA does decide to implement this rule change, it could have a ripple effect across college athletics, impacting recruiting, scholarship allocation, and roster management.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the NCAA continues to consider this potential rule change. In the meantime, be sure to follow along with all the latest news, scores, highlights, stats, and rumors in college sports.
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#NCAA #Rule #Change #Giving #Athletes #Sports #Years #Eligibility #News #Scores #Highlights #Stats #Rumors
Bill to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports is top priority in new House rules package
The 119th U.S. Congress has indicated that taking legislative action to ban trans athletes from women’s and girls’ sports will be a top priority this month.
The House rules package for the 119th Congress was posted this week, and the first step in its order of business is a bill that would bring about Title IX revisions that would only allow athletes to compete in the gender category that they were assigned at birth.
“A bill to amend the Education Amendments of 1972 to provide that for purposes of determining compliance with title IX of such Act in athletics, sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” the first point in the final section of the package reads.
The package stated that the bill would be the first of 12 bills under separate consideration, with one hour of debate.
Republicans re-took control of the White House and Senate while retaining the House of Representatives in November’s election after a heated campaign season in which trans inclusion in women’s sports became a key issue.
President-elect Donald Trump pledged to instill a full-on ban on trans athletes in women’s sports to the near unanimous support of Republican allies.
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Currently, 25 states in the U.S. have laws in place to restrict or prevent trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. But the other 25 states have no such laws and many, like California, even have laws in place to specifically enable trans athletes to compete against women or girls.
But even the states with laws in place to prevent trans athletes in women’s sports have had their laws overridden by federal judges this year. Judges Landya McCafferty of New Hampshire and M. Hannah Lauck of Virginia each passed rulings in 2024 that enabled biological males to play on high school girls’ soccer and tennis teams. Both judges were appointed by former President Obama in the early 2010s.
Meanwhile, Democrats have endorsed multiple bills that would allow trans inclusion in women’s sports at the national level, including the Equality Act and the Transgender Bill of Rights.
HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE
It was an issue that prompted fierce criticism against Democrats and the Biden administration from the day President Biden took office in January 2021.
On his first day in office, he issued an executive order on “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.” The order included a section that read, “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”
The administration then issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on “sex” discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and “pregnancy or related conditions,” in April. The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women’s sports.
Multiple states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address this issue, and then the Supreme Court then voted 5-4 in August to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce its sweeping changes in those states.
The issue proved to be one of the key campaign vulnerabilities for Vice President Harris and Democrats across the nation in the past election.
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A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of “Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls’ and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls’ and women’s bathrooms” as important to them.
And 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was “very important.”
Multiple Democrats have since withdrawn their support for it. Biden’s Department of Education gave up on a proposed rule change that would have punished schools for preventing trans athletes from competing in women’s sports in December. The rule was proposed in April 2023, but it is now just a failed venture as Biden prepares to leave office.
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The new House rules package includes a top priority bill aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports. The bill, which has sparked heated debate and controversy, seeks to establish guidelines for determining an athlete’s eligibility to compete in women’s sports based on their biological sex.Supporters of the bill argue that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports creates an unfair advantage and undermines the integrity of women’s sports. They believe that biological differences between males and females give male-to-female transgender athletes an edge over their female counterparts.
On the other hand, opponents of the bill argue that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in the sports category that aligns with their gender identity, not their biological sex. They argue that excluding transgender athletes from women’s sports is discriminatory and goes against the principles of fairness and inclusion.
The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports is likely to continue as the bill makes its way through the legislative process. Stay tuned for updates on this controversial issue.
Tags:
- Transgender athletes
- Women’s sports
- House rules package
- LGBTQ+ rights
- Gender identity
- Inclusivity in sports
- Transgender rights
- Equality in athletics
- Gender diversity
- Sports policy legislation
#Bill #trans #athletes #womens #sports #top #priority #House #rules #package
FBI issues warning about organized crime groups targeting pro athletes
The FBI is warning sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes following a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent NFL and NBA players.
The athletes’ homes are targeted due to the perception they may contain high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News.
The NFL and NBA already have issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which have come when players were away with their teams for road games. The NFL’s alert says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. Lara Beth Seager, the star guard’s business manager, told multiple media outlets Saturday there was a break-in at Doncic’s home. Seager said nobody was home at the time of the incident Friday night, and Doncic filed a police report.
Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati, along with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, have been victims, as have NBA players Bobby Portis of Milwaukee and Mike Conley Jr. of Minnesota.
Organized theft groups from South America use publicly available information and social media to identify athletes’ habits and track their comings and goings, the FBI report said. The groups use technology allowing them to bypass alarm systems, block wireless internet connections and disable devices, cover security cameras and hide their identities.
Athletes are encouraged to report suspicious activity, keep records of valuables and where they are kept, employ extra security and use caution on social media. The FBI also suggested athletes avoid posting pictures of valuables, the interior of their homes and real-time posts when on vacation.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to professional athletes about the increasing threat of organized crime groups targeting them for illegal activities. These criminal organizations are known to exploit athletes’ wealth, fame, and influence for their own gain.The FBI has identified several ways in which organized crime groups may target pro athletes, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and fraud schemes. These groups often use the athletes’ status to gain access to high-profile events and influential people, making it easier for them to carry out their illegal activities.
With the rise of social media and the digital age, athletes are more vulnerable than ever to being targeted by organized crime groups. The FBI is urging athletes to be vigilant and cautious about who they associate with and what opportunities they pursue.
Professional athletes are advised to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement and to carefully vet any business partnerships or investment opportunities. By staying informed and taking proactive measures to protect themselves, athletes can help prevent themselves from falling victim to organized crime groups.
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- Athlete safety
- Organized crime warnings
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FBI issues warning about burglaries of pro athletes’ homes
The FBI has issued a formal warning to sports leagues about organized theft groups targeting professional athletes.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) watch the action against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 25, 2024.
Barry Reeger/Reuters
The warning follows a rash of burglaries, beginning in September, at the homes of professional athletes while they were playing games or traveling.
“These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash,” the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News.
The report stated that “organized theft groups allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes” between September and November 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 28, 2024.
Jeff Dean/AP
“While many burglaries occur while homes are unoccupied, some burglaries occur while residents are home. In these instances, individuals are encouraged to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted,” the report further stated.
In a string of robberies, burglars have recently targeted the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, along with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and, most recently, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić. In addition, the homes of NBA guard Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis have been burglarized. The FBI report does not specifically note or refer to any of these incidents.
According to the FBI, organized theft groups from South America conduct physical and technical surveillance in preparation for these burglaries, using publicly available information and social media to identify a pattern of life for a prospective victim. They often know in advance where valuables are kept in a home.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic runs during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Dallas, Tex., Dec. 23, 2024.
LM Otero/AP
“These preparation tactics enable theft groups to conduct burglaries in a short amount of time. Organized theft groups bypass alarm systems, use Wi-Fi jammers to block Wi-Fi connections and disable devices, cover security cameras, and obfuscate their identities,” the FBI report said.
The FBI encouraged more reporting by athletes of suspicious activity and suggested athletes keep records of valuables, inventorying items and their whereabouts, employ additional security and use caution on social media, to include refraining from posting pictures of valuables, the interior of one’s home, and real-time posts when on vacation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning about a concerning trend of burglaries targeting the homes of professional athletes. These high-profile individuals are often targeted due to their wealth, expensive belongings, and frequent travel schedules.The FBI is advising pro athletes to take extra precautions to protect their homes and possessions, including installing security systems, changing up routines, and being mindful of what they share on social media. It is also recommended that athletes work with their teams and security personnel to ensure their safety and security.
The FBI is urging anyone with information about these burglaries or suspicious activity to come forward and report it immediately. By working together, we can help protect our athletes and prevent these crimes from happening in the future. Stay safe, stay vigilant, and stay informed. #ProtectOurAthletes #FBIWarning #HomeSecurity
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- Pro athletes
- Home burglaries
- Athlete safety
- FBI alert
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- Professional athlete homes
- Crime prevention
- Home security measures
- Athlete burglary risks
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