Annie Costabile

New York

Women’s Sports Reporter at Front Office Sports

women’s sports @FOS 📧:[email protected]

Articles

Nijaree Canady’s $1 Million Arm Slays Softball Favorite Oklahoma

4 days ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

In softball, there is no greater Goliath than Oklahoma. The Sooners were in pursuit of their fifth consecutive NCAA championship this season on Monday night in the Women’s College World Series semifinals in Oklahoma City when they met their David. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 3-2 after Lauren Allred’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh secured a walk-off win and the first Red Raiders trip to the WCWS Finals.
Behind WNBA Title Ring Boom

6 days ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

NEW YORK — Liberty coach Sandy Brondello has experience with championship rings. She won her first after leading the Phoenix Mercury to a title in 2014. In May, she stepped up to receive her second as the skipper of the Liberty—the last remaining original WNBA team without a title, which finally claimed one in 2024. There was a stark difference this time around. “Way bigger,” a grinning Brondello said before the team’s ring ceremony on opening night.
Is Coach Moving in Michele Kang’s Soccer Empire a Sign For NWSL?

1 week ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

Washington Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez is reportedly in discussions with OL Lyonnes to become the clubs next head coach. Coaches and players jump between the United States and Europe all the time. What makes this move unique is that Michele Kang owns both teams. A source within the Spirit organization declined to comment on reports of Giráldez’s potential new position.
MLB Makes Eight-Figure Investment In New Softball League

1 week ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

Ahead of its inaugural season, Athletes Unlimited Softball League is doing what none of its predecessors could—a deal with Major League Baseball. An announcement was made by both leagues Thursday morning detailing the “strategic investment” made by MLB. Missing from the announcement were the exact terms. A source with direct knowledge of MLB’s investment told Front Office Sports it was an eight-figure sum. The exact terms of the deal were not available.
Where Do the Mystics Fit in a Rapidly Evolving WNBA?

1 week ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

WNBA ownership can be separated into two categories: the old guard and the new. The Mystics, an original WNBA franchise, are decidedly in the old-guard category, along with teams like the Sky and the Sun—teams not seen by players and league executives as prioritizing their investment amid the recent women’s sports boom. Ted Leonsis, who bought the Mystics for $10 million in 2005 and also owns the Wizards and Capitals, is one of the WNBA’s longest-tenured owners.
The Sky Aren't Contenders. Sky-Fever Is Box Office Anyway

2 weeks ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

Rivalries are rooted in history, bitter aversion, and a healthy helping of competition. In the WNBA, there is none bigger than the one developing between the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever, as proven by the hype and fallout for the season-opening matchup between the two teams in Indianapolis.
Why World’s Most Successful Women’s Team Dropped ‘Women’

2 weeks ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is no more. Instead, the most successful club in women’s soccer will now be called “OL Lyonnes.” The decision to remove Féminin from the name, which also comes with a new crest, was an intentional commitment to giving the team a separate identity from the men’s team, which is named “Olympique Lyonnais” but is commonly called just “Lyon.”“Lyonnes” is a hybrid of the French word for “lioness” and the city of Lyon.
WNBA Investigating Alleged Racist Comments Toward Angel Reese

2 weeks ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

The WNBA is investigating allegations of “racial comments” directed toward Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during the Sky’s 93-58 loss to the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis on Saturday. A report was filed with the league in response to racist remarks directed at the Sky team, specifically Reese, during Saturday’s game, league sources told Front Office Sports. League sources also stated meetings with both teams and WNBA officials are ongoing.
U.S. Pro Softball Players Are Flocking to Japan to Get Paid

3 weeks ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

A teal bike with a basket for groceries is Kelly Maxwell’s new mode of transportation. Typically, the former Oklahoma softball star would prefer a car. But in Kariya, Japan—a small suburb of Nagoya—everyone drives on the opposite side of the road that she’s used to, and she hasn’t quite mastered the change. The U.S. and Japan are currently No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the women’s softball world ranking, which was last updated in July.
NWSL Admits It Bungled Savy King Incident

3 weeks ago | frontofficesports.com | Annie Costabile

The NWSL has admitted it should have suspended a match last week after Angel City FC defender Savy King collapsed on the field. In the future, the league will suspend games when a player needs lifesaving measures, it said in a statement. “Having reviewed our protocols and how they were implemented, and in listening to feedback from our stakeholders, the Angel City vs. Utah game last Friday night should not have continued and we regret that it did,” it read.