Paige Bueckers scores 1000th career point in UConn’s win over UNC - Just Women's Sports (2024)

Katie Manganelli

Dec 10, 2023

Paige Bueckers took the court for the second half of No. 17 UConn’s game with No. 24 North Carolina with 998 career points to her name. Fifteen seconds later, she reached 1,000.

KK Arnold grabbed a steal in the Huskies’ defensive end. She barrelled down the court, and when she reached the key, she dished to Bueckers on her right side. Buckers crashed the net with the ball in hand and tapped a layup off the glass.

After she tied Maya Moore to become one of the fastest UConn basketball players to reach 1,000 career points, Bueckers fell to the floor, rolled to her feet, and continued playing.

A minute and a half later, Bueckers collected her own steal in the Huskies’ end and drove to the hoop again for another easy layup. And she celebrated her 1,002nd point instead of No. 1,000.

As UNC called for a timeout, Bueckers puffed out her chest and screamed into the roar of the Connecticut crowd. Her teammates flocked to her and celebrated her achievement at her side.

“Maya is one of the GOATs, so to be in that space is just amazing,” Bueckers said to ESPN after the game. “It’s just a testament to all that my teammates have done for me, all that my coaches have done for me, I’m just a product of what they do for me, so extremely grateful and it’s an honor to be next to her.”

Bueckers showed out at the Invesco QQQ Basketball Hall of Fame women’s showcase. She dropped 26 points against the Tar Heels and unleashed her defensive prowess as well, batting four blocks and making three steals.

“I don’t know if it was the shooting sleeve or what but I felt like I was just trying to contribute to winning in any way that I can,” Bueckers said to ESPN. “I feel like if I play hard on the defensive end, stuff goes better for me on offense.”

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

Megan Rapinoe will become just the second NWSL player in history to have her jersey retired, the Seattle Reign announced Thursday.

Rapinoe played every single season of her NWSL career, from 2013 through 2023, with the Reign. The club is set to retire her No. 15 jersey during their match against the North Carolina Courage on Aug. 25 at Lumen Field.

The only other player to have their jersey retired was Lauren Holiday, whose jersey was retired by FC Kansas City in 2015.

"I have lived so much life in this jersey and I'm humbled to see it retire alongside me. It represents so much more than myself -- a team, a city, and a lifetime of memories," Rapinoe said in the team's news release. "Thank you to the Reign and to my teammates for the love, the support and the opportunity to leave a piece of my heart on the field."

Rapinoe made 115 regular season appearances with the Reign, as well as 11 playoff appearances. She had 54 goals across her career as well as 28 assists, winning the NWSL Shield three times.

She was also a member of the USWNT, winning World Cups in 2015 and 2019, and making 203 total international appearances. Throughout her international career, Rapinoe had 63 goals and 73 assists.

She also was a key part in the team’s fight for equal pay, being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

"It's nearly impossible to put into words the impact Pinoe has had in this sport, the league, this city and especially our club," Seattle Reign coach Laura Harvey said in the release.

"She cemented herself as one of the greatest and we're proud to celebrate all that she has accomplished on the field while wearing the number 15. She made an everlasting impact in our locker room through her loyalty, leadership, courage and commitment. We can't wait to celebrate P later this season.”

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

The 2024 NWSL season kicks off on Friday with the Challenge Cup between reigning Shield winners San Diego and and reigning Champions Gotham FC.

Gotham will be without two of its star players, as both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have injuries that will keep them out of the game. Williams reportedly has a thigh injury, while Lavelle is nursing a lower-leg injury.

San Diego, meanwhile, doesn’t have any significant injuries heading into their matchup, though they do have a number of players returning from the USWNT's Gold Cup run, who may be on a load restriction.

San Diego has won all four of the team's previous matchups.

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Makenzy Doniak will be one to watch for the Wave, having scored against Gotham in each of their last two matchups. Alex Morgan, meanwhile, has a club-record 10 goals scored against Gotham.

The reigning NWSL champions reloaded in the off-season, having added Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson, as well as Lavelle.

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

The U.S. women’s national team (USWNT) has fallen to fourth in the latest FIFA rankings. It's the lowest ranking ever for the storied national program.

It comes after the team lost 2-0 to Mexico in the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup. The team rebounded, beating both Canada and Brazil to win the W Gold Cup title.

The team’s previous low had been third in the rankings, which came after their historic round of 16 exit in last summer’s World Cup.The most recent FIFA rankings, released in December, had the USWNT back up to No. 2.

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The latest #FIFARanking! 👊#FIFAWWC

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World Cup champion Spain remains atop the rankings, having recently won the Nations League, while England moved up two spots to second. France held steady in third, having recently lost 2-0 to Spain in the Nations League final.

Brazil is back into the top 10, while Canada also moved up a spot in the rankings. Korea Republic, which the USWNT will play in a pair of June friendlies, has dropped out of the top 10.

Emma Hruby

Mar 15, 2024

San Diego Wave FC is being sold at a record-breaking $113 million valuation, as Sportico first reported on Thursday.

Billionaire owner Ron Burkle is selling the club to the Levine Lichtman family in a two-part deal, which could later result in the transaction sitting at $120 million. It nearly doubles the previous NWSL high of $63 million paid by the Bhathal family for the Portland Thorns in 2023.

It’s also higher than the $90 million valuation that Sportico valued the team at in October of last year, and is second-highest in the league behind Angel City’s reported $180 million valuation.

According to The Athletic, part of the deal includes Burkle remaining as the club’s principal owner through the end of this season.

"We are proud of the unprecedented success we have had as an expansion team and I am confident that [the Levine Leichtman] family's investment will contribute to the growth of our team and the San Diego community," Burkle told Sportico in a statement that confirmed the family coming in as a minority investor.

The number is a massive turnaround for Burkle, who paid a $2 million expansion fee for the club, which began NWSL play in 2022. Burkle had backed out of a bid to bring an MLS club to Sacramento in 2021, instead opting to back San Diego’s NWSL bid.

Since beginning play, San Diego has been a NWSL powerhouse, winning the NWSL shield in 2023 – the fastest that an expansion side has ever earned a top trophy in the league. They also hold the most recent record for NWSL championship attendance, with 25,011 fans showing up in November 2023.

“We are excited to join forces with San Diego Wave FC and help build upon the impressive foundation established by Ron Burkle,” Lauren Leichtman said in a statement. “This investment aligns with our values and vision for supporting initiatives that empower women and foster opportunities for aspiring female athletes.”

The deal has already been approved by league owners. San Diego begins its season on Friday, playing defending NWSL champion Gotham FC in the Challenge Cup.