As fans eagerly lined College Park Center’s entrance gates ahead of the Dallas Wings’ final game of the 2025 season Thursday, some delivered a unique sentiment within the noise. Spreading the message of equality in professional sports, North Texas labor leaders rallied in support of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, the first labor union for professional women athletes. Their message: “Pay them what you owe them.” As the WNBA continues to grow and garner nationwide attention, so has the sentiment. Many players, fans and stakeholders have been pushing to lessen the gap in pay between the WNBA and the NBA, which is known for granting its star players substantially higher salaries. Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, said during the rally that the Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations were there supporting WNBA players across the league negotiating for a new contract to improve wages and working conditions. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated between the WNBA and the WNBPA to establish terms of employment for players, including salaries and benefits, travel standards, career development and elements of free agency. The WNBPA voted to opt out of the current agreement in October 2024, according to the Associated Press. With the 2025 season wrapping up, attention now shifts toward negotiating a new deal before the existing contracts expire. “They’re making all this wealth for a league that exploded in popularity and earnings,” said Tevita ‘Uhatafe, president of the Federation of North Texas Labor Unions, during the rally. “They’re making millions and millions of dollars, yet they’re stalling on contract negotiations with these workers.” The WNBA’s surge in popularity has driven a 23% increase in television ratings in the past year, a 13% rise in game attendance and a 26% boost in total ticket sales, according to NPR. These gains build on momentum from the 2024 season, when the league recorded a 170% increase in viewership from 2023 ratings across ESPN platforms. Rising viewership and attendance created an opening for players to push for change. During the WNBA All-Star Game in July at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the league’s biggest stars gathered, and players used the spotlight to amplify their message. Players from Team Clark and Team Collier wore black warm-up shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” The message was the result of a behind-the-scenes meeting, as players aimed to deliver a concise but impactful statement to a global audience. Since the received message, unions and fans have added their voices in solidarity to the players, doing so at every venue, no matter what happens, ‘Utatafe said. The agreement deadline extends past the regular season, with the final decisions being made before the start of November. Having opted out, WNBA players could potentially be out of professional play if a new deal with the league is not met, according to ESPN. While awaiting a finalized agreement, Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm forward and WNBPA president, said the league seeks a fixed percentage in contracts, while players want salary growth tied to the league’s business, according to ESPN. Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 draft pick and one of the biggest faces in the league, has helped propel the movement toward Wings fans, who have backed the players on and off the court. It’s a future the WNBA is betting on, as the league plans to expand into new markets with teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — beginning with Cleveland in 2028 — which are subject to change. Arlington resident Linda McQuay, a 50-year-old Wings fan, said it has been meaningful to have a WNBA team in her hometown. Noting the individuality of Bueckers, she said she’s happy to see cities have the opportunity to invest and have more teams introduced. @kaleivie_ news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s golf will compete in the Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational at the Eisenhower Golf Course starting Saturday. The tournament, hosted by the United States Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will consist of three rounds, with the first on Saturday, the second on Sunday and the final round Monday. The Mavericks will hope to improve on a ninth-place finish in their first tournament of the season, the Whirlwind Invitational. The tournament will allow UTA to compete for the first time this season against several Western Athletic Conference teams, including Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, California Baptist University and Utah Valley University. In total, 23 schools will compete in the tournament, including three from the Big Sky Conference, five from the Big West Conference and seven from the Mountain West Conference. The Southland Conference, Summit League and West Coast Conference will also have participants present. Some of the best performances among the competing teams at the Eisenhower Golf Course in their most recent tournaments come from third-place finishes by Utah Tech University in the Ram Masters Invitational and the University of Nevada in the Golfweek Fall Challenge. Other recent performances include Weber State University and the University of California San Diego, who finished fourth and fifth respectively, in the Ram Masters Invitational. Boise State University also placed fifth in the 2025 Palouse Collegiate. UTA will hope for a repeat performance from freshman Arth Sinha, who finished fifth in the Whirlwind Invitational and was the only Maverick in the top 20. It will also want better final scores from its five other golfers who participated, who combined for an average finish at the Whirlwind Invitational of about 47th. @TyRoland sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA volleyball wrapped up its co-hosted invitational and will set its sights on the last preseason tournament, the 2025 Roadrunner Classic starting Friday at the Convocation Center in San Antonio. In the UNT-UTA Invitational, the Mavericks fell short against the University of North Texas in five sets Sunday at College Park Center. The loss ended the team’s undefeated streak, putting it at 8-1 for the season. The Mavericks took a 2-1 lead in set three, rallying after a dropped second set. The team could not overcome and lost the two following sets, marking its first loss of the season, 3-2. The Mavericks were led by senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt, who recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs. Freshman middle blocker Sophia Krichev contributed 13 kills to round out the offensive end. Defensively, junior libero Samantha Glenn had 25 digs, and Alexis Bull, redshirt sophomore middle blocker, had five blocks in her performance. Despite the loss, Glenn received Western Athletic Conference Libero of the Week for her defensive prowess. She recorded 168 total digs and an average of 4.2 digs per set. UTA will open the 2025 Roadrunner Classic against host UT-San Antonio. The team will play two more games in the final preseason tournament, against Prairie View A&M University and the University of North Florida. Against UT-San Antonio, the Mavericks have an all-time record of 29-18, with their longest win streak being seven matches. In the most recent match against the Roadrunners, UTA took a five-set win in 2022. UTA volleyball will commence Western Athletic Conference play against Southern Utah University, serving as the home opener Sept. 27 at College Park Center. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Paige Bueckers has wrapped up her rookie season as a Dallas Wings guard, leaving a mark on the booming industry of women’s sports. Bueckers had an impressive basketball career at the University of Connecticut, having won a national championship and multiple national player of the year awards. She joined the Wings as the No. 1 pick of the WNBA 2025 draft and broke records along the way to the season finale. As a rookie, she recorded the highest points scored by a newcomer in a single game (44), became the fastest first-year in WNBA history to secure 500 points and 100 assists, won three rookie of the month awards and earned a starting position on the All-Star team. Throughout her college career and professional debut, Bueckers has consistently showcased her potential. Known for her humility and team-first mentality, she has already made a significant impact on the Wings franchise and women’s professional basketball. After her final game for the Wings in her rookie season, Bueckers reflected on storied memories, from both the locker room and moments on the court. She credited the people she trained with, including fellow rookies, for getting her where she is today. “To get these reps, for us as rookies especially, to just be with this group, I wouldn’t trade this rookie year for anything,” Bueckers said. Bueckers acknowledged critics who might question her optimism, saying, “People can look at the results and say, ‘How can you be so happy with a 10-win season?’” Still, she said she’ll look back on her rookie year with gratitude for the foundation it helped build. Her impact extends beyond the court. Her connections with teammates, fans and those around her inspired many. WNBA fans cherish her as a role model, and she brought increased attention to the league upon graduating from the University of Connecticut. “I’ve been through a lot of adversity at UConn,” Bueckers said. “You see the progression and the strength that it continues to build for you as an individual, but as a collective as well, and how much that does for you in the long run.” Sports reporter Tracy Sansom contributed to this article. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s and women's tennis swung back into action, completing their first fall tournaments. The women’s team is eager to build off of making it to last year’s Western Athletic Conference championship after losing in the semifinals back-to-back in the two years prior. Even with the loss to rival Grand Canyon University in the finals in spring 2025, the team will have a new look going into this season after losing four seniors and bringing in five freshmen. The women’s team started its season competing in the three-day Diving Eagle Invite hosted by the University of North Texas at the Waranch Tennis Complex. Freshman Tasnime Ahamout shone in her debut, sweeping in both singles and doubles. Freshman Natalia Gonzales starred as well, going 2-1 in singles and partnering with Ahamout in their doubles sweep. The men’s tennis team comes into this season looking to get back to the mountaintop after aspirations of a three-peat were spoiled in the semifinals against Abilene Christian University in the 2025 spring WAC tournament. The men’s team kicked off its season competing in the Waco Fall Kickoff Classic, hosted by Baylor University at the Hurd Tennis Center. Junior Yazid Lahjomri stood out for the Mavericks as he saw a 2-1 win in open singles while going 1-2 in doubles with sophomore Finbar McGarvey. The Mavericks’ only doubles win came on the final day, with Lahjomri and McGarvey beating Abilene Christian's sophomore Luis Jose Nakamine and junior Merse Deli 8-6. Junior Saul Berdullas and freshman Jesse Gothelf both made their UTA debuts over the weekend. They each finished 0-2 in singles action and were also paired up for doubles, going 0-3 over the tournament. Both teams look ahead to their next tournament, starting with the women’s team competing in the ACU Invite starting Sept. 26. The men’s team looks to bounce back at the Ron Wesbrooks Invitational starting Oct. 3. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

In a small village in Ghana, 5-year-old Nathaniel Acheampong played soccer in mud fields with no shoes and no socks, equipped only with the clothes on his back, no matter the conditions. His passion never stopped. Now a mechanical engineering sophomore, Acheampong moved to the U.S. in 2022 with notable aspirations. “I do want to play as a professional one day,” Acheampong said. “I do love the way that it brings people together from everywhere — it doesn’t matter your age, your gender, everything. Honestly, I love the game.” Even after moving to the U.S., he indulged in the competition he has always loved, now as a part of the men’s soccer club. The group practices twice a week and plays a competitive seven-match schedule. They face some of Texas’ most well-known universities, including the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Dallas. The club currently has over 70 interested students, each with their own unique background. Only about 20 players are taken to compete on gameday. The organization is student-led, with each member pulling their weight to help the club succeed. With a $65 roster fee and volunteer fundraising, the team works together to afford travel, referee fees, equipment and more. Five officers run the club from behind the scenes, alongside head coach Daniel Luna. Acheampong, who joined the team last year, said he was initially afraid his accent and newcomer status would isolate him. But looking back, he said the team helped him feel welcome, which made him all the more excited to play. “I felt so much joy because of the hospitality here and how they were actually so genuine with me,” Acheampong said. “They tried to correct me by actually pointing out all my mistakes, and that gave me the courage to keep playing.” Like Acheampong, computer science senior Rabib Husain, a goalkeeper for the club, came from overseas to enroll at UTA. He said that everything is different compared to his home in Bangladesh; the people, the food and culture, even the late summer sunsets were something he had to acclimate to. “It took a while to cope up, but I think soccer was one thing that helped me stay sane,” Husain said. Comparing the conditions, he said the fields in the U.S. are “heavenly,” and now he has more freedom to play his beloved sport. “It feels like a great community, everyone’s connected,” Husain said. “The games, practice — everyone thinks it’s consistent.” Luna said he focuses his attention on setting up effective training sessions and analyzing what the team needs. Before graduating in 2022 and assuming a head coach role, Luna served as captain of the men’s club as a student. Donovan Robinson, team secretary and kinesiology junior, said that the bonds he has made over the past few years have become special to him, some dating back to high school. “We win together, we lose together,” Robinson said. “It’s still good to come out here, have fun and play with these guys because I know they give a lot of passion, a lot of heart out there.” Robinson, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, acknowledged the diversity on the field and said it allows students to experience the unique play styles of others, seeing it as a benefit. At the end of every season, the team has the opportunity to participate in the Texas Club Soccer League Regional Tournament as a part of the Men’s North Division. The winner earns a bid to the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association Championship Series. The team kicked off its season on the road against Abilene Christian University, tying 2-2 Sept. 6. The club's first home game is slated to be against Southern Methodist University at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex, next to Allan Saxe Field. “The main goal for me here is just leave my mark here and try to improve on some things that I feel like can be improved on,” Robinson said. “All in all, while I’m doing that, just have fun with it as well.” @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu