sportswomen - Women of Rubies

In Career Gems March 13, 2019 By Editor

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, FEMALE REFEREES WILL OFFICIATE AT THE 2019 UNDER-17 AFCON

CAF has decided to appoint female referees for this year’s Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

(Photo: Under-17 AFCON 2019 via Twitter)

As you may know, the Under-17 AFCON is exclusively a men’s tournament. So, this decision is particularly groundbreaking, as it will be the first time female referees will handle men’s tournament at the continental level.

According to the CAF website, the appointed female referees are Jonesia Kabakama from Tanzania, Mary Njoroge from Kenya and Lidwine Rakotozafinoro from Madagascar. They will join 26 male officials to undergo a training course in Casablanca.

Credit: konbini.com

In Career Gems March 12, 2019 By Editor

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM SUES U.S SOCCER FEDERATION FOR GENDER DISCRIMINATION

The United States Women’s Soccer Team (WNT) has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), marking a monumental step in their long-running fight for equal pay and equal playing conditions. Arguably even more dramatic? The fact that the news comes just three months before the ladies kick off defending their Women’s World Cup title in June.

In the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Los Angeles, all 28 members accused the federation, their employer, and the head of all United States soccer, of years of “institutionalized gender discrimination,” according to the New York Times . The players, including big names like Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe, are upholding that this such inequity can be seen not just in their paychecks, but also “nearly every aspect of [their] work conditions,” including but not limited to, where and how often they played, the medical treatment and coaching received, and traveling conditions.

And so, it seems pretty understandable that they’re not holding anything back-going as far as to remind the USSF that they have openly admitted to “purposeful gender discrimination” even in the instances where the WNT earned more, played more, won more, and earned more championships-all of which garnered higher TV audiences-compared to the Men’s National Team (MNT).

USWNTPA’s statement on the Lloyd Morgan et. al v. USSF filingpic.twitter.com/wt7l8IYAAG – USWNTPA (@USWNTPlayers) March 8, 2019

If you’ve been keeping up with these players’ path to justice, then this might sound familiar. That’s because the recent lawsuit claims mirror similar accusations made in a 2016 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint filed by five players: Lloyd, Morgan, Rapinoe, Beck Sauerbrunn, and former player Hope Solo. Three years later, there was still no resolution or “noticeable action,” per the NYT , so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the ladies took the next step and even more action: suing.

The WNT has won three of seven all-time Women’s World Cup titles, including the last one in 2015, and the U.S. has won gold four times in the six Olympic Games where soccer has been played. The MNT? They took third place in the first World Cup back in 1930 and didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Credit: Pulse

In self development March 12, 2019 By Editor

MEET 9-YEAR-OLD RILEY MORRISON, WHO IS CHANGING THE NARRATIVE FOR FEMALE ATHLETES

Riley Morrison is just 9 years old and she’s changing the game for female athletes. In November, the young girl wrote a letter to three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry expressing her concern over the lack of girls’ sizes in his Under Armour kids‘ basketball sneakers.

Not only did Steph write back to Riley about how he was going to “fix the issue,” but they worked together to design a new pair of basketball shoes for International Women’s Day.

On March 7, the day before the release of the new sneakers, Riley (who coincidentally has the same name as Steph’s oldest daughter) joined the Golden State Warriors player to debut their hard work.

Riley and Steph worked together on the UA ICON Curry 6 United We Win purple shoe, which features a sockliner designed by Riley. The liner has inspiring quotes like “Girls Hoop Too,” “Play With Heart,” “Girl Power,” and more.

“I WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WHEN I SAW RILEY’S LETTER; THAT A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAD THE COURAGE TO USE HER VOICE TO CALL ATTENTION TO AN ISSUE AND KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE,”

Steph said.

“SHE WAS FOCUSED ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL GIRLS, NOT JUST HERSELF. SHE’S BEEN AN AMAZING CATALYST FOR CHANGE – NOT ONLY WITH MY PRODUCT BUT ALSO WITH THE ENTIRE UNDER ARMOUR BRAND. SHE IS INSPIRING, AND WISE BEYOND HER YEARS.”

The sneaker’s colorway that blends purple and deep orchid with white is also reflective of International Women’s Day, as purple is the internationally recognized color to symbolize women, according to the IWD website.

Credit: Fab Woman

In Career Gems February 1, 2019 By Editor

ASISAT OSHOALA SIGNED TO BARCELONA FC FEMALE TEAM

Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has joined Barcelona’s female team FC Barcelona Femeni.

The club made this announced on Instagram, and Asisat also shared photos.

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems January 28, 2019 By Editor

21-YEAR-OLD NAOMI OSAKA BECOMES WORLD’S NUMBER 1 FEMALE TENNIS PLAYER

Naomi Osaka has won the Australian Open and is the new world number one, after beating Czech Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2) 5-7 6-4 in a dramatic final.

In September 2018, Osaka was reduced to tears when the crowd booed her after a controversial US Open final in which Serena Williams lost her cool. The hard-fought victory made Osaka the first Asian, male or female, to hold the world’s top ranking, taking over from Romania’s Simona Halep.

The Japanese youngster fell to one knee in celebration, head bowed, as Melbourne Park erupted in thunderous cheers. “I felt like I was in a state of shock through the entire trophy presentation,” the 21-year-old said.

She is the first woman to follow her first grand slam title by immediately winning the next one since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 and the first since Serena in 2015 to win two slams in a row.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems January 22, 2019 By Editor

SERENA WILLIAMS DEFEATS WORLD’S NUMBER 1, SIMONA HALEP TO REACH THE QUARTER FINALS OF 2019 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Serena Williams has defeated World’s number 1 Simona Halep to reach the quarter-finals of the 2019 Australian Open.

Serena Williams, 37, sat out last year’s Australian Open after giving birth to her daughter months earlier and suffering health complications. Since returning to the tour, Williams has reached the past two Grand Slam finals, losing both.

On Monday, the mother-of-one outlasted Simona Halep at Melbourne Park and won the fourth round match with a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory.

Speaking on court, Williams said:

It was a really intense match, some incredible points. I love playing tennis, I love this court and it’s really cool to be back out here playing.

I really needed to elevate my game and there’s a reason why. She’s a great player. I had to just play a little bit like I knew I could and I did, and I think hopefully that was the difference.

I’m such a fighter, I never give up. There’s definitely something that’s innate.

Serena will now make her way through to the quarter-final where she will meet Czech Karolina Pliskova.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems January 9, 2019 By Editor

SUPER FALCONS NAMED AFRICAN WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR AT 2018 CAF AWARDS FOR THE FOURTH TIME

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been named the African Women’s Team of the Year at the 2018 CAF Awards while other Nigerian nominees lost out on the big night.

Nigeria beat the likes of Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and South Africa to win the award for the fourth time since its inception in 2010.

The win comes after the Super Falcons conquered Africa once again to win the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations(AWCON) title for a ninth time.

The Super Falcons were the only Nigerian winners of the 2018 CAF Awards that held at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center in the Senegalese capital of Dakar.

Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby lost out on the Women’s Coach of the Year to Desiree Ellis of South Africa who led the Bafana Bafana to the final of the AWCON 2018 where they lost on penalties to Nigeria.

In Youth Player of the Year category, Super Eagles star Wilfred Ndidi was beaten by Moroccan and Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi who is on loan from Real Madrid.

A Nigerian player was not named in Africa’s Best XI of 2018 while two Nigerian stars Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega were beaten in the Women’s Player of the Year category by Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana.

Credit: Pulse News

In Career Gems January 3, 2019 By Editor

TENNIS CHAMPIONS, SERENA WILLIAMS AND ROGER FEDERER, TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR CAREERS

Tennis champions, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are set to play each other for the first time in their careers.

They will play a mixed doubles match in the Hopman Cup competition in Perth today. Federer and Williams have won a combined total of 43 Grands Slam titles.

On the match-up, Federer said: “It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it. I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win.”

Williams said it was “a dream come true” and added: “I have been looking forward to it. This is so cool.

The match has been labelled by many as one of the most exciting and anticipated match involving a male and female player since Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the sexes” in 1973.

In Career Gems November 2, 2018 By Editor

SIMONE BILES BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN TO EVER WIN 4 ALL-AROUND WORLD TITLE IN GYMNASTICS

Simone Biles has become the first woman to ever win 4 all-around world title in Gymnastics. After emerging as the winner of the women’s all around 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship last week Thursday, she went ahead to compete in Doha, Qatar where she beat the silver medalist, Mai Murkami of Japan by 1.7 points.

Team USA reports that this would the eighth time in a row that an American has either won the world or Olympic all-around title. This means that Biles is responsible for five of those consecutive wins, as she has never lost a championship.

One of the highlights of her victory was her ability to stay focused even though she had been hospitalised less than 24 hours before world championship. She tweeted about her illness and also shared photos of herself while in the ER with the caption;

This kidney stone can wait…. doing it for my team! I’ll be gucci girls!

photo credit: @simonbiles

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems October 25, 2018 By Editor

MEET THE TWO AFRICANS NOMINATED FOR 2018 FEMALE WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

The world governing body has just announced 10 nominees for Female World Athlete of the Year – and Africa is represented on the list by two of its very best, South Africa’s Caster Semenya and Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech.

Despite IAAF’s new rule limiting testosterone level in female athletes, Semenya has had a good run this year. She won gold in the 800 metres at the Continental Cup in Ostrava, the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and the African Championships in Asaba.

While staying unbeaten in these competitions, she broke an African record in the 800 metres after finishing her race in Asaba in a time of 1:56.05. In addition to that, she’s also the Commonwealth champion in the 1500 metres and the African champion in the 400 metres.

This year, Chepkoech ran 8:44.32 to set a new world record in the 3000 metres steeplechase, becoming the first woman to run under eight minutes and 50 seconds. She also set a championship record time at the African Championships in Asaba after finishing in a time of 8:59.88.

With voting already underway, IAAF will unveil five finalists in November, while the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in December.

Credit: konbini.com