WHCD 2024

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With big $$$, comes big stories. Northwestern Medill’s Charles Whitaker leads a discussion with J.A. Adande, Christine Brennan, and Melissa Isaacson on the big business of #sports in #journalism .

23 elite Chinese swimmers. Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. Two huge doping scandals and the connection between them. My USA TODAY Sports column: usatoday.com/story/sports/c…

In other inspiring women’s sports news…

'Betrayed by the system.' Chinese swimmers' positive drug tests raise serious questions before the 2024 Paris Olympics. My USA TODAY Sports column: usatoday.com/story/sports/c…

The Chinese swimming doping story is the kind of huge international sports story that will have updates and twists and turns for days, weeks, months — especially as it plays out in Paris at the Olympics this summer. Here is the latest from the USOPC, from CEO Sarah Hirshland:

The World Anti-Doping Agency reacted to the first broadside by USADA CEO Travis Tygart with this: “It should be noted that following Mr. Tygart’s false allegations, WADA has no choice but to refer this matter to its legal counsel for further action.” So Tygart fired back:

Travis Tygart is the man who brought Lance Armstrong to justice, among many other drug cheats over the years, and most recently exposed the glaring delays in the excruciating Kamila Valieva case.

The USOPC puts out its first statement to USA TODAY Sports on the bombshell reports that 23 top Chinese swimmers tested positive for the same banned substance seven months before the Tokyo Olympics but were allowed to continue to compete. Guessing it won’t be its last statement.

Whatever happens in the days ahead — official statements, possible appeals, etc. — this news will proceed right to the Olympic pool in Paris this summer. Suspicion will be a huge part of the story of every Chinese Olympic performance, as it should be. usatoday.com/story/sports/o…

Thanks, SABEW. That was fun! J.A. Adande Melissa Isaacson Dean E. Murphy Northwestern Medill

The Caitlin Clark effect is REAL. Due to unprecedented demand, the Mystics announced that the game against the Indiana Fever on Friday, June 7, will now be played at Capital One Arena. Tipoff will remain at 7:30 p.m. as originally scheduled. #WNBA   Double Take Sports

This isn’t just creepy, “it’s sexual harassment,” well-known Title IX lawyer Nancy Hogshead told me this morning regarding the conduct of Indy Star columnist Gregg Doyel at the Caitlin Clark press conference Wednesday. Where is the USA Today Network on this? APSE? Nancy Hogshead, JD, Oly

Our ABC News Live conversation on the WNBA/NBA pay disparity. Loved speaking with you ⁦Alex Presha⁩ ⁦Northwestern Medill⁩ abcnews.go.com/Sports/video/w…

👍😉 Whatever it is, it’s working!

This is the first direct measurement of the Caitlin Clark Effect on the WNBA. If there are any disgruntled veteran players still out there, it’s probably time for them to come along for the ride.

Everything Caitlin Clark touches will change for the better. That’s how powerful a cultural force she is. For 25 years, the gold standard for change in women’s sports was the USWNT at the 1999 Women’s World Cup. Now it’s Clark.

Exactly a week earlier on ABC, Caitlin Clark and Iowa-South Carolina averaged almost double the viewership of the Masters’ final round: 18.9 million.

As she joins the WNBA, Caitlin Clark is lifting women’s basketball to unprecedented heights. So what’s up with the weird frostiness towards her? My deep dive into the comments of Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, and my attempts to ask them about Clark. usatoday.com/story/sports/c…