Sports
Women golfers rejoice after LPGA bars post-puberty males from female competition: 'No more!'
Multiple women’s golfers came forward to praise and celebrate the LPGA’s rule change on Wednesday that bars post-pubescent males from competing against females in pro competition.
The organization said in a news release that male players who have gone through male puberty are barred from competing in the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and all other elite LPGA competitions. The new rule will go into effect for the 2025 season.
“Players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in the aforementioned events,” the organization said. “The policies governing the LPGA’s recreational programs and non-elite events utilize different criteria to provide opportunities for participation in the broader LPGA community.”
The International Women’s Forum (IWF) released a press release in which several women golfers spoke in favor of the ruling later on Wednesday. These golfers include Lauren Miller, Hannah Arnold, Dana Fall, and Amy Olson.
Miller said that she and female colleagues in pro golf have said “no more” to the issues of competing against biological males with the statement.
“This announcement from the LPGA and USGA gives me hope for the future of women’s golf,” Miller said. “The movement of female professional golfers was essential and has been heard — we’ve stood up and said, ‘No more’. By acknowledging the distinctions between men and women, golf leadership is uniting with us in their desire to champion women and girls by restoring a space that prioritizes fair competition. Today, women have won.”
Olson, meanwhile, insisted that the biological differences between men and women should be acknowledged in sports.
“This is a positive step forward, recognizing that an individual’s chromosomes affect their physical development in ways that are irreversible,” Olson said.
SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT
Fall said that Wednesday’s announcement indicates that “women do matter” in sports.
“Today’s policy announcement is a huge win for women and girls in sports. The LPGA and USGA, the premiere bodies which dictate the rules of women’s golf, are standing up for fairness and the integrity of our sport. Today, the message sent to women is that we do matter, and they are working to return equal opportunity and protect fair sport for female athletes,” Fall said.
Still, the announcement was not meant with unanimous praise. Liberals and trans rights activists have criticized the new rule.
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson spoke out against the new rule, as it will likely prevent Davidson from competing in the LPGA moving forward.
“Can’t say I didn’t see this coming. Banned from the Epson and LPGA,” Davidson wrote in an Instagram Stories post. “All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.
“And somehow people are surprised the suicide rate for transgender people is around 50%. Situations just like this are part of the reason.”
A female golfer who competed against Davidson, Olivia Schmidt, made a plea to the LPGA to ban trans athletes like Davidson during an appearance at the Independent Women’s Forum in November.
“The bottom line is we can fight this all we want, but the true change comes from the LPGA. They are the only ones with the power to stop it. It’s up to them to protect us,” she said.
“I want my kids one day to chase their dreams and not have these distractions in their way. I’m just praying that [the policy] gets changed, and I’m praying that we can find a way to kind of find some common ground in that and hopefully for the next generation of golfers.”
Now, the LPGA has fulfilled that wish for all of its female competitors and fans.
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Sports
2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket revealed: How does the 12-team field shake out?
The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff bracket was revealed on Sunday after an incredible slate conference championship games and one of the most interesting regular-seasons in recent memory.
The College Football Playoff field was expanded from four teammates to 12 before the start of the 2024 season. The success of the playoff format, which started in 2024, allowed for the expansion.
The Oregon Ducks, who won the Big Ten Championship for the first time, were selected as the No. 1 seed. The Georgia Bulldogs, who won the SEC Championship in overtime against Texas, were selected as the No. 2 seed. Boise State were seeded No. 3 after winning the Mountain West Championship. Arizona State, who won the Big 12 Championship, was seeded No. 4.
No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State each received byes into the quarterfinals.
In the first round, Clemson, who won the ACC Championship, was seeded No. 12. They will play No. 5 seed Texas. The winner will play Arizona State.
Penn State received the No. 6 seed in the bracket and will play No. 11 SMU. The winner will play Boise State.
Notre Dame was given the No. 7 seed and will play No. 10 Indiana. The winner will play Georgia.
Ohio State was given the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Tennessee. The winner will play Oregon.
The first-round matchups will be played at the home field of the higher seed.
Alabama was left out of the bracket.
The national championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Sports
Column: Damien High's Nate Garcia is latest 7-foot basketball star in Southland
Standing next to 7-foot center Nate Garcia of Damien High is like reaching the top of a mountain. You feel in awe, especially when you are 5-4. But what’s really intimidating is looking at his size-21 shoes. Two of my shoes could fit in one of his.
In 51 years of coaching, Mike LeDuc never had a 7-footer until last June when he and Garcia went into his office for the annual player measurements. Garcia was listed at 6-11 as a junior, so this was the big moment.
“It was me and him,” Garcia said. “We’re both humble guys. It was, ‘Hey, you’re 7 feet.’”
There was no screaming, no yelling, no band playing music. And yet it was a big moment, since supposedly fewer than 3,000 people in the world are 7-footers.
“It was cool I got to 7 feet but I’m happy wherever I end up,” Garcia said.
Officially, he’s 7 feet ½ inch and possibly still growing since he’s 18 and it’s been months since the last measurement. He’s certainly gotten much better as a basketball player over four seasons and has signed with UC Riverside.
“He’s been coachable and gotten better every year. It’s been a great thing,” LeDuc said.
It’s exciting for LeDuc to work with a big man since he’s been known for working with shooters such as Tracy Murray and Casey Jacobsen. Every basketball coach dreams of a 7-footer walking into the enrollment office.
The funny thing is Garcia came to Damien as a baseball player. He was a pitcher and first baseman. Only after freshman year did he switch his focus to basketball. Imagine if he were playing first base now. Every shortstop who throws the ball high would appreciate his height and reach.
Garcia said he’s always been the tallest member of his classes. As far as the genes in the family, his father is 6-5 and his mother is 5-11. The doctor told his mom from birth he had a chance to reach 7 feet.
No one gave him a talk on how to react when people stare at him walking through an airport or dropping his head to get through a doorway.
“I learned it on my own,” he said. “At first it kind of weirded me out. People would look, then look away and stare out of the corner of their eye. Now I’m used to it.”
LeDuc has appreciated Garcia’s arrival and development. It’s like a breath of fresh air for a veteran coach.
“I feel real lucky,” he said. “It’s the first time my best player has been a center. We had to make a lot of changes and adjustments.”
One priority for LeDuc was getting Garcia to work on free throws, since he was getting fouled a lot and not taking advantage. He’s improved. It’s still pure comedy or just unfair for everyone else on the court when his feet don’t leave the floor while he makes a layup.
He’s gotten so strong that teams guarding him in the post face a decision of whether to play from behind or try to deny him the ball. His improving post moves make him effective and dangerous.
Southern California has had its share of 7-footers. There were three in 2022 — Jazz Gardner of Los Altos, Dennis Evans of Riverside Hillcrest and Sidy Diallo of St. Paul. The influx of players from Africa and China is adding to the list. St. John Bosco’s Howie Wu is listed at 7 feet this season.
Other 7-footers from the past have included Tyson Chandler from Dominguez, Stuart Gray from Granada Hills Kennedy, Paul Mokeski from Crespi, Thomas Welsh from Loyola, Bol Bol from Mater Dei and Christian Koloko and Harold Yu from Sierra Canyon.
Being a 7-footer is rare, and shoes that fit can be rarer.
For LeDuc, whenever Damien takes a flight, the airport walk is always memorable and fun.
“When you’re walking one way, everyone walking the other way gives the look and double take. It’s entertaining,” he said.
Sports
What to expect next from the Golden State Valkyries after WNBA expansion draft
The Golden State Valkyries have taken their first steps toward building a roster for their inaugural season in 2025, and Friday’s expansion draft suggests there will be significantly more turnover for them in the near future.
General manager Ohemaa Nyanin and head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized the competitiveness of the group they drafted, and combined with owner Joe Lacob’s goal of winning a title within five years, there is a desire to be good now. The consequence of selecting a group ready to contend in 2025 means that it’s difficult to see the long-term vision of this particular set of 11 players.
For starters, Golden State drafted a veteran-heavy group, as seven of its 11 picks are at least 27 years old, which was the average age across the WNBA in 2024. Two are signed through 2025 while the remainder are up for new contracts. That leaves the Valkyries at a bit of a disadvantage in roster-building for the future because they don’t have extended team control of those players.
Introducing your first-ever Golden State Valkyries. This is just the beginning of our journey.
Expansion Draft presented by @CarMax. pic.twitter.com/8WU5mOYGRy
— Golden State Valkyries (@wnbagoldenstate) December 7, 2024
That situation is partly out of Golden State’s control; only two veterans (i.e., players not on rookie contracts) league-wide are signed past the 2025 season as players seek to maintain their freedom before the implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement. But the Valkyries not only selected players who have short contracts, but also internationals who have had sporadic relationships with the WNBA.
Julie Vanloo was a 31-year-old rookie in 2024. Temi Fagbenle had a four-year gap from the WNBA from 2020 to 2023. Cecilia Zandalasini was out of the league for five years before returning to Minnesota this season. Iliana Rupert has missed two of the last four WNBA seasons due to national team commitments. Maria Conde has never played for the WNBA despite being drafted in 2019, and she told The Athletic that playing for Spain would always be her priority during the summer. Golden State is taking a risk that these players will be available and willing to play despite a track record that suggests otherwise.
The first question Nyanin addressed in her news conference Friday was about Conde, and Nyanin admitted that she does not know if the Spanish national will come stateside in 2025. Conversations are necessary with her, Carla Leite and the aforementioned European players, especially since EuroBasket starts on June 18, 2025, and lasts for two weeks. The Valkyries are mostly starting from scratch, too. For instance, when Zandalasini came back to the Lynx, it helped that Cheryl Reeve was still the coach. Other than Rupert and Nakase, who were both in Las Vegas in 2022, there aren’t many established relationships with these players.
“This entire process is complex, there’s a lot of unknown, and I will say that ad nauseam, unfortunately,” Nyanin said. “I’m looking at it from the human perspective, like what can we continue to express to these athletes that make them want to come and play in this Valkyrie violet and black and white.”
GO DEEPER
What’s a valkyrie? How WNBA teams got their names
Golden State also seemingly prioritized win-now players over younger ones who might take time to develop. Only one of their selections is under a rookie contract, and though Kate Martin projects to be a fine player, she doesn’t necessarily have star upside. The Valkyries likely could have taken swings on players such as Alissa Pili (Lynx), Shaneice Swain (Sparks draftee) or Han Xu (Liberty) but chose to take known quantities in Zandalasini, Stephanie Talbot (Sparks) and Kayla Thornton (Liberty). Washington likely had an even longer list of young players unprotected, and Golden State went with the 31-year-old Vanloo despite also drafting Veronica Burton (Wings) and Leite at point guard.
“These are players that are hungry. … They’re players that could have started on other teams,” Nakase said about their veterans. “I’m just really excited to give them the opportunity.”
These decisions make sense for the 2025 iteration of the Valkyries. Establishing a culture of competitiveness right away might be the most prudent move for an expansion team. Win now, develop a reputation and become an attractive free-agent destination. Golden State’s expansion selections are also high-character veterans who could be valuable recruiting tools during the offseason.
The Valkyries also aren’t bound to keep any of these players. They can assemble an entirely new roster in free agency. Thornton and Talbot are also on easily tradable contracts if another team is interested.
Regardless of what path Golden State pursues from here, it’s also true that the Valkyries punted on an opportunity to build for the future with younger players. They don’t have a deep pool of young talent from this draft. That doesn’t preclude long-term success, but it does mean the front office will have to keep turning over this roster, as veterans tend to move more frequently than players on rookie deals.
As a result, for all the excitement surrounding this crop of Golden State Valkyries, it would be surprising if the majority of them suited up on May 16. Setting aside the uncertainty regarding player availability, Golden State still needs to figure out a direction for its roster, which will require more maneuvering. The Valkyries have only just begun.
(Photo of Chiney Ogwumike and Natalie Nakase: Mike Rasay / NBAE via Getty Images)
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