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Refinery29
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Refinery29
Latina Athletes Are Good for Business — Until It's Time to Invest in Them
I grew up in a big sports family. As Puerto Ricans in a small Florida town in the 1990s, it helped us survive the South. My brothers and I weren't just fans; we were athletes. Even as the youngest and the only girl, I was in the middle of all the family basketball, soccer, and baseball games — and I was often the best player. But despite my skill, I always received the same messages: I was wasting my time, sports wasn't feminine, and this interest was just a phase I'd outgrow before settling into someone else's expectations. Those comments were infuriating. I saw the surge of excitement around the 1995 UConn Huskies, led by Cuban-American Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo, and the 1997 WNBA's launch. But eventually, I also saw how the league suffered a sharp decline in investment and fan interest. With limited domestic opportunities and low pay, many players were forced to continue their careers overseas, splitting their time and their energy across continents. It felt like confirmation of one of my worst fears: that my family was right — this was a total waste of my time. So when I was recruited to play Division III basketball, I walked away — not because I didn't love the game but because all the times I was told that women don't belong in sports made it impossible for me to envision a future as an athlete. ' "All the times I was told that women don't belong in sports made it impossible for me to envision a future as an athlete." Nic Rodríguez Villafañe ' As my gender journey has shifted — now living as a trans man — my love for women's sports hasn't wavered. And nearly two decades later, it feels like the tide is turning. Women's sports are shaping the national sports conversation. The 2024 NCAA Women's Championship drew more than 18 million viewers — surpassing the men's final. And this time, a diverse new generation is leading: Colombian-Puerto Rican Indiana Fever rookie Celeste Taylor, one of just six Latinas on WNBA rosters, is defending with quiet force and big ambitions. Notre Dame's breakout guard, Puerto Rican Hannah Hidalgo, is tenaciously owning the ACC and has even stirred comparisons to the WNBA's all-time leading scorer, Argentine Diana Taurasi. Meanwhile, Kamilla Cardoso, a Brazilian powerhouse with the Chicago Sky, is asserting herself in the paint after two national titles at South Carolina. This isn't a fluke — it's a shift. And while major sports media want to continue to focus debates on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and their fandom rival, behind that spotlight, Latina athletes are reshaping the future. They've been here. They're raising the game. And they're unapologetically claiming their space. That's why the waiver of Esmery Martínez by the New York Liberty felt especially disheartening. Just as it seemed that women of color were finally receiving meaningful investment, this decision underscored the systemic precarity that still defines the WNBA for so many. Martínez, a Dominican-American forward with international experience, was cut by the Liberty for the second year in a row, despite strong performances during training camp and an ever-growing fanbase in New York. She wasn't the only one. Kaitlyn Chen, the first Taiwanese-American player ever drafted into the league, was selected 30th overall by the Golden State Valkyries and quickly became a fan favorite — her jersey even ranked among the team's top sellers — but she was still waived before the season started. The decision sparked criticism that the team had leveraged Chen's marketability without offering a genuine chance to earn a roster spot. Now, in a turn of events, the Valkyries have re-signed Chen, just weeks after her initial release. Still, these waivers reveal a hard truth: Visibility doesn't equal stability, especially when institutions profit from representation without committing to equity. These aren't isolated incidents. They're part of a larger pattern where women of color are celebrated as symbols but denied the sustained investment needed to succeed. It speaks to a deeper structural failure in professional women's sports: the ongoing neglect of long-term development and support for women athletes of color. Such is the criticism surrounding the Chicago Sky's management. At the center of the Sky fallout is the underdevelopment of young stars like Cardoso, whose story began in Montes Claros, Brazil, and who represents a new generation of international Latina athletes navigating a U.S. sports system that often overlooks their unique needs and cultural identities. Cardoso's potential is undeniable. Standing 6'7", she dominated at the collegiate level, winning an NCAA championship with South Carolina in 2024. Yet since joining the WNBA, she has seen limited playtime, raising questions about the Sky's developmental strategy. Cardoso often seems like an afterthought in the team's rotation — a glaring contradiction in a league that claims to be invested in growing the game. Her situation is a microcosm of a broader issue: Latina athletes, whether born in the U.S. or internationally, are frequently celebrated for their potential but rarely given the long-term support and resources needed to thrive at the professional level. Cardoso's journey is evidence that talent alone isn't enough. Without intentional investment from coaching staff, media, and league leadership, too many Latina athletes remain underdeveloped, under-promoted, and undervalued. But the lack of investment in Latina athletes isn't just a WNBA issue. It's a systemic failure across sports. Take boxing superstar Amanda Serrano. The Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican is arguably one of the greatest boxers alive. Serrano has held world titles in seven weight classes. And yet, despite her record, she spent years waiting for a headline fight within the male-dominated world of professional boxing. That opportunity finally came in 2022 — not through legacy sports networks, but through Jake Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer who promoted her under his brand Most Valuable Promotions. While the partnership undeniably boosted Serrano's visibility, it also came at a cost. Paul is among the wave of wealthy Americans exploiting Act 60, a tax loophole fueling the gentrification crisis in Puerto Rico. So while Serrano rises, the terms of her success remain entangled in the same colonial logic that displaces the very communities she represents. It raises a hard, necessary question: Why did one of the most-decorated athletes need a white male co-sign to be seen, paid, and valued? ' "Her situation is a microcosm of a broader issue: Latina athletes, whether born in the U.S. or internationally, are frequently celebrated for their potential but rarely given the long-term support and resources needed to thrive at the professional level." Nic Rodríguez Villafañe ' Sports media is another culprit. When the Orlando Pride won the 2024 NWSL Cup, led by Brazilian legend Marta Vieira da Silva, national sports media coverage was nearly nonexistent. I remember receiving a notification on my phone about the win. I rushed to turn on my TV, thinking I would see a special segment on the win, but I found virtually nothing on major sports network shows. Aside from a brief ESPN segment, most of the celebration lived in local Central Florida news outlets, despite Marta finally lifting a major domestic trophy. For a player of her stature — a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year — it was remarkable silence. Media visibility builds brands, secures endorsements, and cements legacies. When Latina athletes are sidelined, the message is clear: their excellence is still treated as exceptional, not foundational. And the cost is real. Young fans lose the chance to see themselves reflected — not as tokens but as centerpieces. Visibility can't be a seasonal gesture or a viral exception; it must be built into the structure. Because when representation isn't matched with resources, it becomes decoration, not transformation. In the '80s and '90s, U.S. sports culture wasn't concerned with representing the full mosaic of its players or fans. It was about rallying around a myth of national unity. To play and support the game was, in many ways, to assimilate. Ethnic identity was something that was left at the locker room door or seasonally celebrated. As a kid, I remember quietly wondering if Lobo or Taurasi were Latinas like me, based only on their last names. Their heritage wasn't an elevated focus of their story. That absence shaped a generation of us — athletes and fans alike — who learned to see ourselves only partially reflected, especially when it comes to the main stage of sports. Now, as women's sports enter what many are calling a golden age, we have a chance to do it differently. Thankfully, the next generation is taking control of their narratives — securing NIL deals, building visibility on TikTok and Instagram, and telling their stories on their own terms. Take Notre Dame standout Hidalgo, who is not only dominating the ACC but is also quietly building a brand — with deals from Red Bull, Topps, and Aloft South Bend — all while embracing her Puerto Rican roots and sharing that journey with her followers. There's also Lou Lopez Sénéchal, the first Mexican-born player in the WNBA, who said, 'This is an opportunity to open doors for other players and hopefully have an impact and inspire more young people from Mexico.' Meanwhile, Puerto Rican center Isalys Quiñones, who is newly entering the spotlight, uses her social channels to offer compelling glimpses into her pro journey and culture. ' "When Latina athletes are sidelined, the message is clear: their excellence is still treated as exceptional, not foundational. And the cost is real. Young fans lose the chance to see themselves reflected — not as tokens but as centerpieces. " Nic Rodríguez Villafañe ' These women are doing more than scoring; they're becoming cultural catalysts. Across courts and timelines, they're proving that Latina athletes are not just part of the game — they're changing it. Still, the burden shouldn't fall on rookies to carry the league's conscience. The media must invest. Teams must develop. Fans must show up. Equity is not a favor; it's the future. That's what platforms like Drafted understand. Founded by Karina Martinez and Jennifer Yepez-Blundell in 2023, the culture-driven media brand emerged from the absence of Latina representation and transformed that void into a movement. What began as a space to uplift fan stories has become a powerful ecosystem: editorial coverage, experiential events, and real-time amplification of Latina athletes, coaches, and sports professionals. It fills the gaps where mainstream media falls short, where Latine Heritage Month hype rarely translates into contract security, injury support, or career longevity. And now, with the recent announcement of an all-women's sports network co-founded by Whoopi Goldberg, the landscape is shifting further. That venture — backed by both cultural and financial capital — signals that the demand for women's sports isn't niche; it's necessary. Together, projects like Drafted and Goldberg's network are not just covering women's sports, they're rebuilding the architecture of who gets to be seen, celebrated, and sustained. ' "These women are doing more than scoring; they're becoming cultural catalysts. Across courts and timelines, they're proving that Latina athletes are not just part of the game — they're changing it." Nic Rodríguez Villafañe ' The stakes are real. Latina athletes, like all women athletes of color, face the compounded harm of shallow narratives, unstable rosters, and chronically underfunded futures. It's about pay and it's also about narrative justice, infrastructure, commitment, and a cultural recalibration. So imagine with me a world where investment in women's sports is rooted not in trend but in trust. Where fans treat women's games not as novelties but as a culture of celebration. A culture where visibility isn't seasonal and Latina athletes aren't firsts or exceptions but foundations. We don't need to wait for that world to arrive. We can build it now.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Northwestern shocks Stanford, earns first title in school history at NCAA Women's Championship
Northwestern shocks Stanford, earns first title in school history at NCAA Women's Championship Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-3 16th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 16th hole is the final par-3. CARLSBAD, Calif. — With a win in the national championship match, Stanford had an argument to be considered the greatest women's college golf team ever. The top-ranked team in the nation didn't lose in stroke play this season, matching a mark accomplished only once by Arizona State three decades ago. On Monday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, site of the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, Stanford completed the best 72-hole performance in the history of the NCAA Championship, finishing at 27-under par and essentially stamping its claim as the best team in college golf. But in match play, the team that was best in stroke play, more often than not, doesn't win the NCAA Championship. Enter Northwestern. The Wildcats won one tournament this year, lost by 29 strokes to Stanford at NCAAs and finished nine shots behind the Cardinal at the NCAA Norman Regional two weeks ago. But none of that matters in match play, and Northwestern is leaving Carlsbad with its first national title. Northwestern claimed the NCAA Women's Championship on Wednesday, topping Stanford 3-2 in the match-play final on a sunny afternoon north of San Diego. It's one of the biggest upsets in the history of NCAAs, with the Wildcats preventing Stanford from winning its second consecutive championship and third in four years. A relentless team that took full advantage of the reset match play provides, and the Wildcats are headed back to campus with extra hardware. 'It's surreal,' Northwestern coach Emily Fletcher said. 'Honestly, things are moving really slow right now. I don't think it's really hit any of us. 'It's about doing what this group thought they could do, and that's all they did. They didn't go out to try to prove anybody wrong. They just went out to just be themselves and to just compete as hard as they could. And that was going to be enough.' Freshman Dianna Lee, who went to high school about 25 miles from Omni La Costa, buried a 5 footer for par on the 18th to beat Andrea Revuelta and give Northwestern the distinction of arguably the biggest upset in women's college golf history. Lee was 3 up with five to play but lost Nos. 14-15, and Revuelta had a 4-foot par putt on the par-3 16th to tie the match but missed. Then on 17, Lee had a 15 footer to win the match but powered it past the hole. She took deep breaths and reminded herself of what Northwestern's sports psychologist taught her about controlling emotions. Drained the comebacker. 1 up heading to the 18th tee. Revuelta hit her approach first into the par 5, finding the back of the green. Lee's shot came up short of the pin and somehow stayed on the green. She hit the first putt and drilled the hole, but the ball was traveling too fast and lipped out about 5 feet to her right. Then Revuelta had a chance to tie the match, but her putt didn't have enough pace and missed low. Lee once again collected herself, stepped over the putt and knocked it in. She proceeded to sprint into her teammates arms, and the celebration was on. 'I'm on such a high right now, especially the championship being at my hometown, it means absolutely everything to me,' Lee said. 'It's so incredibly special. It's like no other. You can't even explain what it means to win a championship in your hometown. It's like you're the main character. That's what I feel like right now.' Freshman Hsin Tai Lin got the first Northwestern point on the board, topping Stanford freshman Meja Ortengren 3 and 2. But the bigger victory that truly turned the tides was Lauryn Nguyen, the senior from Seattle who was 2 up with three holes to play but watched as her opponent, Paula Martin Sampedro, won Nos. 16-17 to tie the match and take control on the 18th tee box. However, when Sampedro missed a birdie putt on the par 5, Nguyen buried hers from beneath the hole, and the ensuing fist pump and scream sent rumbles throughout the golf course. Stanford wasn't done, punching back Kelly Xu battled to win her match 1 up on the 18th green. Megha Ganne, in the first match, had a dominating 5-and-4 win over Ashley Yun, but the rest of the scores were purple for a majority of the afternoon. Northwestern prevented Stanford from winning its second consecutive title and becoming the first team since Duke in 2006-07 to win back-to-back (Duke won in 2005, as well). 'I just know that there's going to be some learnings from this,' Stanford coach Anne Walker said. 'You learn the most when you lose, right? And we haven't lost very much. So a great opportunity to go through that and grow from this moment.' All five of Stanford's starters in match play will return next season. They'll have a chance to build on what they started but were unable to finish. Coming into the national championship, the Wildcats competed in match play only once this year, and it happened on a different continent. Northwestern went 0-3-3 in medal match play at the St. Andrews Links Collegiate in Scotland. 'We haven't had a ton of experience in match play,' Fletcher said. 'Maybe it worked a little bit in our favor and that they didn't really know what they were getting into. They knew what they needed to do to take care of their own business, and they did that.' And the image of Lee's putt and celebration will be remembered as when David defeated Goliath.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, championship tee times, highlights
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, championship tee times, highlights Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-4 15th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 15th hole is a challenging par 4. CARLSBAD, Calif. — A national champion will be crowned this evening. The final match of the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship is set between top-ranked Stanford and No. 11 Northwestern, with the first match going off at 5:15 p.m. ET Wednesday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's North Course. Stanford is looking for its fourth championship while Northwestern is in search of its first. Follow along below for live updates from the championship match at the NCAA Women's Championship: NCAA Women's Golf Championship championship pairings All times ET, first tee start No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 3 Northwestern Championship matches Megha Ganne vs. Ashley Yun, 5:15 p.m., 1st tee Paula Martin Sampedro vs. Lauryn Nguyen, 5:25 p.m. Meja Ortengren vs. Hsin Tai Lin, 5:35 p.m. Kelly Xu vs. Elise Lee, 5:45 p.m. Andrea Revuelta vs. Dianna Lee, 5:55 p.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship predictions, expert picks Golfweek's college golf expert Cameron Jourdan and senior writer Beth Ann Nichols made predictions for the championship. You can see their entire selections here. How many teams made match play at NCAA Women's Golf Championship? Eight. After Monday's final round of stroke play, the top eight teams advance to match play, which begins Tuesday morning with the quarterfinals. NCAA Women's Golf Championship format Finals play for both championships consists of three days of stroke play on Friday through Sunday (54 holes), after which the top-15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will be determined. That is followed by a final day of 18 holes of stroke play (Monday) to determine the top eight teams that will advance to match play as well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday. NCAA Women's Golf Championship TV information Golf Channel is the TV home for the NCAA Championships. All times ET Wednesday, May 21 Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship tickets Fans must have tickets to attend this year's NCAA Golf Championships. Here's how to buy them.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, semifinal tee times, highlights
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, semifinal tee times, highlights Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-4 15th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 15th hole is a challenging par 4. CARLSBAD, Calif. — And then there were four. Match play began Tuesday morning at the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, and after the morning matches, only four teams remain vying to win a national title. By Tuesday night, there will be only two teams alive with a chance to win it all. No. 1 Stanford will face No. 4 Florida State, and No. 2 Oregon will take on No. 3 Northwestern Follow along below for live updates from the match play semifinals at the NCAA Women's Championship: NCAA Women's Golf Championship live leaderboard Follow along here for live scores from the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship. NCAA Women's Golf Championship semifinal pairings All times ET, first tee start No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 4 Florida State Semifinal matches Paula Martin Sampedro vs. Kaylah Williams, 4:15 p.m. Megha Ganne vs. Lottie Woad, 4:25 p.m. Kelly Xu vs. Sophia Fullbrook, 4:35 p.m. Andrea Revuelta vs. Mirabel Ting, 4:45 p.m. Meja Ortengren vs. Alexandra Gazzoli, 4:55 p.m. No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Northwestern Semifinal matches Suvichaya Vinijchaitham vs. Ashley Yun, 5:05 p.m. Tong An vs. Hsin Tai Lin, 5:15 p.m. Ting-Hsuan Huang vs. Elise Lee, 5:25 p.m. Karen Tsuru vs. Lauryn Nguyen, 5:35 p.m. Kiara Romero vs. Dianna Lee, 5:45 p.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship predictions, expert picks Golfweek's college golf expert Cameron Jourdan and senior writer Beth Ann Nichols made predictions for the championship. You can see their entire selections here. How many teams made match play at NCAA Women's Golf Championship? Eight. After Monday's final round of stroke play, the top eight teams advance to match play, which begins Tuesday morning with the quarterfinals. NCAA Women's Golf Championship format Finals play for both championships consists of three days of stroke play on Friday through Sunday (54 holes), after which the top-15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will be determined. That is followed by a final day of 18 holes of stroke play (Monday) to determine the top eight teams that will advance to match play as well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday. NCAA Women's Golf Championship TV information Golf Channel is the TV home for the NCAA Championships. All times ET Tuesday, May 21 Live coverage - 1-3:30 p.m. Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship tickets Fans must have tickets to attend this year's NCAA Golf Championships. Here's how to buy them.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, quarterfinal tee times, highlights
NCAA Women's Golf Championship live updates: Scores, quarterfinal tee times, highlights Show Caption Hide Caption Drone flyover video of Omni La Costa North Course par-4 15th hole Omni La Costa is hosting the NCAA mens and womens golf championships for a second year in a row. The North Course's 15th hole is a challenging par 4. CARLSBAD, Calif. — It's time for match play at the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship. The eight teams who made match play punched their tickets Monday after the conclusion of stroke play. Stanford had a record victory, finishing at 27 under, and Arkansas' Maria Jose Marin became the third Razorback to win an NCAA title. Stroke play is in the rearview, and now it's time to crown a national champion. Follow along below for live updates from the match play quarterfinals at the NCAA Women's Championship: NCAA Women's Golf Championship live leaderboard Follow along here for live scores from the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship. NCAA Women's Golf Championship quarterfinal pairings No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 8 Virginia Quarterfinal matches Paula Martin Sampedro vs. Kennedy Swedick, 9:50 a.m., 1st tee Meja Ortengren vs. Megan Propeck, 10 a.m. Kelly Xu vs. Jaclyn LaHa, 10:10 a.m. Megha Ganne vs. Amanda Sambach, 10:20 a.m. Andrea Revuelta vs. Rebecca Skoler, 10:30 a.m. No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 5 USC Quarterfinal matches Lottie Woad vs. Jasmine Koo, 9:50 a.m., 10th tee Kaylah Williams vs. Cindy Kou, 10 a.m. Mirabel Ting vs. Bailey Shoemaker, 10:10 a.m. Sophia Fullbrook vs. Kylie Chong, 10:20 a.m. Alexandra Gazzoli vs. Catherine Park, 10:30 a.m. No. 3 Northwestern vs. No. 6 Arkansas Quarterfinal matches Dianna Lee vs. Kendall Todd, 10:40 a.m., 10th tee Elise Lee vs. Reagan Zibilski, 10:50 a.m. Ashley Yun vs. Abbey Schutte, 11 a.m. Lauryn Nguyen vs. Clarisa Temelo, 11:10 a.m. Hsin Tai Lin vs. Maria Jose Marin, 11:20 a.m. No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 7 Texas Quarterfinal matches Kiara Romero vs. Bohyun Park, 10:40 a.m., 1st tee Tong An vs. Lauren Kim, 10:50 a.m. Suvichaya Vinijchaitham vs. Cindy Hsu, 11 a.m. Karen Tsuru vs. Farah O'Keefe, 11:10 a.m. Ting-Hsuan Huang vs. Angela Heo, 11:20 a.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship predictions, expert picks Golfweek's college golf expert Cameron Jourdan and senior writer Beth Ann Nichols made predictions for the championship. You can see their entire selections here. How many teams make match play at NCAA Women's Golf Championship? Eight. After Monday's final round of stroke play, the top eight teams advance to match play, which begins Tuesday morning with the quarterfinals. NCAA Women's Golf Championship format Finals play for both championships consists of three days of stroke play on Friday through Sunday (54 holes), after which the top-15 teams and nine individuals not on an advancing team will be determined. That is followed by a final day of 18 holes of stroke play (Monday) to determine the top eight teams that will advance to match play as well as the 72-hole individual champion. The team national champion will be determined by a match-play format that will consist of quarterfinals and semifinals conducted on Tuesday, followed by the finals on Wednesday. NCAA Women's Golf Championship TV information Golf Channel is the TV home for the NCAA Championships. All times ET Monday, May 20 Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 Live coverage - 1-3:30 p.m. Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 Live coverage - 6-10 p.m. NCAA Women's Golf Championship tickets Fans must have tickets to attend this year's NCAA Golf Championships. Here's how to buy them.
