Latest news with #Unrivaled
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brittney Sykes campaigns for Unrivaled reunion
The post Brittney Sykes campaigns for Unrivaled reunion appeared first on ClutchPoints. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes is at her all-star best. Recently, Sykes reached 3,000 career points and is making a strong case to play in the All-Star game in Indianapolis on July 19. Advertisement As for making a case, Sykes is making a case to be reunited with her Unrivaled teammates. She posted pictures on X, standing in the middle of Indianapolis holding up cardboard signs. 'The girls are beefin on the interent.. we need this REUNITE THE ROSEBUDS.' she posted while tagging teammates Kahleah Copper and Angel Reese. Sykes, Reese, and Copper were part of the Rose BC team in the first ever Unrivaled series earlier this year. The new professional 3 on 3 league provides paid opportunities for WNBA players to make money during the offseason. Rose BC won the first ever Unrivaled championship. Sykes played a hug role in winning the championship with a game winning shot plus a free throw to defeat Vinyl Basketball Club 62-54. Advertisement Meanwhile, Sykes is averaging 20.6 points per game for the Mystics. WNBA All-Star voting is underway until June 28. Fans media, coaches, and players are able to vote for the players they want to see play. So where does Sykes stand? The case for Brittney Sykes to play in the All-Star Game The Mystics maybe struggling with a 4-7 record. But Sykes is leading the team in scoring and has the 4th highest scoring average in the WNBA. Sykes has scored 20 or more points in seven of the Mystics eleven games. On May 21, Sykes scored 30 points against the Golden State Valkyries. She led all scorers even as the Mystics loss 76-74. Advertisement On June 8, Sykes scored 28 points and made 14 free throws in a 104-67 win over the Connecticut Sun. Altogether, Sykes has been a consistent and dynamic presence on both sides of the ball. In addition to scoring, she is an effective defense threat. Sykes led the league in steals twice (2021,2022) and has been known to provide a few game saving blocks. She has an uncanny ability to disrupt the passing lanes and play tough on-ball pressure defense. Related: Mystics' Sonia Citron opens up about Kiki Iriafen, Lucy Olsen
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
TikTok Changes The Game For Women's Sports
TikTok TikTok is the new front-row seat for sports fans. While traditional broadcasts and live events remain central, TikTok is opening new doors for fan engagement, transforming casual viewers into dedicated followers. TikTok Women's sports are at the forefront of this transformation, redefining how fans connect with and consume sports content. On TikTok, moments that were once overlooked, such as behind-the-scenes locker room clips, standout plays and witty commentary, are now capturing fan attention like never before. Women's teams, leagues, and athletes are finding a powerful platform to connect with both loyal supporters and new audiences. TikTok On May 19th, TikTok hosted its first ever UK Women's Sport Summit at Landing 42 in London. A gathering of leading athletes, creators, publishers, and sports executives—including England goalkeeper Mary Earps (@maryearps), Olympic long jumper Jazmin Sawyers (@jazminsawyers), Unrivaled Chief Growth Officer Chloe Pavlech (@chloepavlech), and more—surfaced one clear takeaway: the future of sports fandom is unfolding on TikTok. Below are a few standout themes that emerged from the summit. TikTok is a Launchpad for Growth Athletes are increasingly thinking beyond their playing careers. TikTok offers a scalable way to build personal brands and create long-term business value. TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok TikTok is Where Sports Culture Lives Just as important as in-game moments are those that happen off the court. Personalities, chemistry, and authenticity behind the scenes are fueling the next generation of fandom. TikTok TikTok TikTok Fans Are Deeply Engaged Beyond reach, TikTok fosters genuine connection. The stories athletes share spark meaningful fan engagement. TikTok TikTok In tandem with the Women in Sports summit, TikTok is collaborating with Leaders in Sports on a three-part podcast series, amplifying industry voices and dropping insights into how short-form video is revolutionizing sports media. In episode one, TikTok and Leaders in Sport sat down with England goalkeeper Mary Earps - twice named the world's best by FIFA - and Chloe Pavlech, Chief Growth Officer at Unrivaled. Together, they explored how athletes are forging deeper connections with fans by showing up authentically on TikTok. 'Fans get to see a side of me they haven't seen before,' said Earps, who regularly captivates fans on her TikTok channel with behind-the-scenes content that shows her off-the-pitch personality. 'For me, TikTok has always been a platform where I can be unapologetically myself.' Today's sports fans crave immediate and intimate access. Behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize athletes, transforming them from on-screen images into relatable personalities. 'The content that performs best for me is usually the most relatable, everyday moments,' said Mary Earps. TikTok From off-season vlogs to personality-driven takeovers, content that goes beyond the scoreboard is helping athletes become household names and even pulling new fans into the fold. Chloe Pavlech shared her insights from Unrivaled's inaugural season: 'Our best-performing content isn't highlights—it's when we let the athletes take over the account,' Pavlech added. 'It's not that people don't want to watch highlights—they're just discovering the athletes first as people with diverse interests. Anytime you take the mic to tell your own story, there's power in that. That's why athletes come to TikTok." Rounding out a sports-packed week, TikTok hosted a panel focused on sports fandom at the 2025 Gondola Sports Summit on May 20th in Denver. The panel brought together voices across the industry to offer insights into how TikTok is rewriting the playbook for sports storytelling, empowering both publishers and athletes to tell their story in new ways. KK Arnold, guard for the UConn Huskies, spoke to this shift, sharing: 'For me, TikTok is a space to show who I am beyond the game. The crowd sees me as an elite athlete on the court but on TikTok, they get to see me and my Girly Pops have fun. My dance routines, my chemistry with my teammates, the everyday moments that make my journey so special. It's where the culture lives—the fun, the energy, the real KK.' Director of Women's Basketball at Octagon, Camille Buxeda, expanded on the platform's role in long-term brand building for athletes, 'Any athlete looks to build properties that will go beyond their playing days. TikTok is one of the best platforms to build that pillar in an athlete's business because no matter what's happening on the court, TikTok gives them a platform to grow their business off the court. TikTok is a forever thing.' And the impact goes beyond storytelling. Camille also noted the impressive engagement metrics that back up the cultural momentum: "When looking at metrics and engagement rate of athletes on TikTok, women's content is overwhelmingly dominating – proving TikTok's audience is rooted in and engaged to their stories." TikTok's impact on women's sports is undeniable, and only the beginning. As more athletes and publishers embrace a creator-first approach, TikTok will continue to redefine what sports fandom looks like. In a digital-first world where fans crave immediacy, intimacy, and authenticity, TikTok delivers. For publishers, this means embracing a new playbook - one that elevates personalities alongside performances and prioritizes content that draws fans in, not just to watch, but to feel part of the moment. Those who embrace this shift by empowering athletes, experimenting with formats, and spotlighting the magic behind the game will be the ones shaping the future of sports fandom.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Lynx star Napheesa Collier named West's best player in season's 1st week
The Minnesota Lynx have yet to lose a game this season, thanks in large part to the play of superstar Napheesa Collier. For her efforts, Collier has earned the WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week title. The award only covers the Lynx's first four games, during which she averaged 29.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Her five-game totals put Collier atop the WNBA in points per game (26.8) and player efficiency rating (33.4), second in offensive win shares (1.1), 10th in rebounds per game (7.8), fourth in steals per game (2.4) and fifth in blocks per game (1.4). The season is still nascent, but Collier is playing at an MVP level. Last season, Collier made the All-WNBA First Team and was named Defensive Player of the Year amid the Lynx's surprising but ultimately unavailing run to the WNBA Finals. She also won a gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics. Since then, she's had a productive offseason. She was named the MVP of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 basketball league she co-founded, and TIME magazine listed her among its 100 Most Influential People.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Courtney Vandersloot talks 'challenging' end to Liberty tenure
CHICAGO — Courtney Vandersloot already expected Thursday's Sky home opener was going to be an emotional night regardless of the opponent. It marks her first game in the home locker room at Wintrust Arena in two years, and her newborn daughter will be watching her from the crowd. But it will also be the first time she'll see many of her former Liberty teammates — aside from those who participated in Unrivaled — and the coaching staff since they celebrated the title together in October. Vandersloot has fond memories of her two seasons in New York, where she earned her fifth All-Star selection in 2023 and helped the Liberty to back-to-back WNBA Finals berths.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Napheesa Collier Did Not Hold Back When Asked to Name Her All-Time UConn Huskies Starting 5
The Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier has become one of the most popular and celebrated athletes in women's basketball as a United States Olympic gold medal winner and founder of the new Unrivaled league. Collier's 2025 WNBA season is off to a scintillating start as she has averaged 28.5 points per game for the undefeated 3-0 Lynx. Advertisement This week, Collier was asked about several topics concerning her 2025 season aspirations and goals, and was also asked to give her all-time starting five for her alma mater, the Connecticut Huskies, a question to which she did not hesitate to give an answer. Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx during warm-ups. © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Collier was asked to give her all-time starting five by Mark Medina of Sportskeeda and had a surprising first response followed by a pivot. "My all-time actual team would be the 2016 championship," Collier said of the Huskies, whose entire starting five went to the WNBA. "It was a great lineup. "But if I had to pick five, I would pick Diana (Taurasi), Sue (Bird), Maya (Moore), you have to put me on there and Breanna Stewart, out Unrivaled co-founder," Collier said. Advertisement Stewart led her New York Liberty to the 2024 WNBA Championship during what was a banner year for the league with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark making their WNBA debuts. Collier believes the Lynx have what it takes to win the league title this season. "I think our chemistry was our No. 1 thing last year," she said. "That was something that we hit on right away. The fact that we have almost our whole team back is amazing. "Then we added some really great pieces like Karlie (Samuelson). So I hope we can build and get it done this year. I think we have all the tools. "We just have to go out there and execute." Advertisement Related: Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA History Against Minnesota Lynx Napheesa Collier Did Not Hold Back When Asked to Name Her All-Time UConn Huskies Starting 5 first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
