In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Play Academy with Naomi Osaka, Nike is launching a research-backed coaching guide aimed at improving the sports environment for girls in Japan. Developed in partnership with Laureus Sport for Good, this initiative is part of Nike’s ongoing global efforts to create inclusive and supportive coaching resources. The guide is specifically designed for coaches in Japan and focuses on breaking down social and cultural barriers that often prevent girls from fully participating in sports.
To support this launch, Nike hosted a “Coach the Dream” summit in Tokyo from October 16-20, where 50 local sports leaders were trained on best practices for coaching girls. The summit, the largest ever held in Japan, featured expert trainers from the Center for Healing & Justice Through Sport, who introduced trauma-informed coaching practices. These methods aim to create a safe, healing-centered space for girls, helping them access the benefits of play and physical activity.
The coaching guide has garnered early support from prominent Japanese organizations, including the Yomiuri Giants professional baseball team and the Japan Basketball Association. By equipping coaches with strategies to foster a more inclusive environment, Nike aims to shift the mindset around the importance of movement in girls’ development and well-being.
“As a leading female baseball team in Japan, we believe in the importance of coaching development and training,” says Toru Kunimatsu, Representative Director and President of the Yomiuri Giants. “We feel the urge to change the environment around girls in sport, starting with baseball. The toolkit will help spread the awareness of gender-biased barriers girls face and provide a safe and secure environment for all girls in sport. Overall, we believe that this will contribute to the future of youth sport in Japan.”
This initiative holds special importance in Japan, which ranks 118th out of 146 countries in gender parity, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024. By addressing these challenges, Nike seeks to inspire more girls to participate in sports and remain physically active, contributing to their long-term physical and mental health.
“Japan holds a special place in Nike’s history, with a relationship spanning more than 50 years. In that time, we have seen tremendous progress for women in sport. Still, we know girls continue to face barriers to participation,” says Vanessa Garcia-Brito, VP, Chief Impact Officer, NIKE, Inc. “That’s why we’ve partnered with Laureus Sport for Good to spark even greater change and ensure all youth, especially girls, feel welcomed and supported.”
Play Academy with Naomi Osaka, launched in Tokyo five years ago, has expanded to Los Angeles, Haiti, and Osaka, Japan. Naomi Osaka highlights the critical role quality coaches play in the success of her program, which is dedicated to ensuring girls and women have the confidence and support to shape their futures.
“Play Academy aims to change girls’ lives through play and sport, and we can’t do that without great coaches,” Osaka says. “It’s been a joy to work alongside Nike to inspire the next generation to reach their potential through the power of movement.”
Nike’s work to empower young female athletes is ongoing, with additional efforts worldwide to remove barriers to sport for girls, providing tools and resources for coaches to create positive, lasting change.
Given the breaking politics news (Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 presidential race), today (July 21) isn’t an ideal time to make any more announcement. But it looks like Uproxx cover star Cordae wanted to cut to gloom online with a reveal of his own.
Across his official social media pages, the “Feel It In The Air” rapper uploaded a cinematic clip to tease his third studio album, The Crossroads.
In the video, Cordae provided fans with a sneak peek into what he’s daily activities since his brief step back from the public. Those activities include quality time with his daughter Shai (whom he shares with Naomi Osaka), relaxing, educating himself on world news, and more. All of which is sure to make its way onto the project.
He then went on to share that fans should expect the first offering of the forthcoming project, on July 24.
Users online shared their excitement with the news. Other welcomed Cordae back from his recent hiatus, to which he replied: “Great to be back, I had to get better for y’all. Y’all deserve my best .”
Great to be back, I had to get better for yall. Yall deserve my best
The official release date for the upcoming body of work isn’t known at this time. However, in his profile’s bio section Cordae made it clear that The Crossroads will be shared by way of his record label, Hi Level.
The 2024 BET Awards celebrate amazing talents from the Black community from various fields. On May 17, 2024, BET released the full list of nominees for its 2024 Awards ceremony. Despite suffering a huge blow in his beef with Kendrick Lamar, Drake heads the nominations list for the BET Awards 2024 with seven nominations. He is followed closely by Nicki Minaj with six nominations. Meanwhile, Beyoncé got four nominations, while Victoria Monét has five nominations.
Like previous years, the BET Awards 2024 will include the Sportswoman of the Year category, which celebrates the most successful woman in sports from the previous year. The BET Sportswoman of the Year 2024 nominees are A’Ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Coco Gauff, Flau’Jae Johnson and Juju Watkins. Other nominees for the prestigious award include Naomi Osaka, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Simone Biles. Follow as we x-ray each of the nominees for the BET Awards 2024 Sportswoman of the Year and discover their achievements in 2023.
WNBA and Los Angeles Aces star A’Ja Wilson enjoyed a stellar 2023 filled with personal and team glories. She played a pivotal role in the Aces’ run to the 2023 WNBA Championships. Victory over New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals meant the Aces won their second consecutive title after their 2022 triumph. Hence, they became the first WNBA team to win back-to-back Championship titles since the Los Angeles Sparks did the same in 2001 and 2002. A’Ja propelled her team to victory with her inspiring performances. She posted averages of 23.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the finals. Thus, she unsurprisingly won the Finals MVP, the first in her career.
Besides winning the WNBA Championships back-to-back, A’Ja was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. That accolade meant she won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in a row after her 2022 win. A’ Ja is not only brilliant on the court but off of it, too. She is known for being an advocate for mental health awareness and racial equality. Through her platform, she promotes positive change and supports several charitable causes.
Angel Reese
Angel Reese’s stock in female basketball continues to rise. Her BET Awards 2024 nomination for Sportswoman of the Year is a testament to her significant impact in basketball within a short time. After spending her first two college seasons with the Maryland Terrapins, Angel joined the LSU Tigers in 2022. She went on to enjoy incredible success with the Tigers, helping them win their first national title at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
Since then, Angel has added more accolades to her name. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Reese is also a two-time All-American Player and grabbed the Southern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year Title at the end of the 2023-2024 season.’Angel has added more accolades to her name. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Moreover, she is a two-time All-American Player and grabbed the Southern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year Title at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
In addition to these, Angel was named to the first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team in her two seasons at LSU. On April 15, 2024, Angel got drafted into the WNBA. She was the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Chicago Sky drafted Angel, who has enjoyed a good start to her WNBA career. On May 17, Angel added another feather to her cap after LSU announced her graduation. Besides basketball, Angel enjoys engaging in community development and youth empowerment projects. Angel will hope to win the BET Sportswoman of the Year award for the second time in a row after winning it last year.
Coco Gauff became a tennis sensation after her WTA Tour debut in 2019. The Atlanta-born athlete first made the world take notice of her incredulous talent after defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2019. Since then, Coco has only gone on to achieve greater things. Her first WTA Tour singles title win came in 2019 at the Linz Open. She reached her first major final in women’s double two years later at the 2021 US Open. In 2022, Coco reached the French Open final but lost to Iga Świątek.
However, Coco wasn’t to be denied in 2023. Last year, she claimed her first WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Masters before going on to win her first Grand Slam title by defeating Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open finals. Away from the tennis courts, Coco uses her influence to inspire young athletes to be agents of change in their communities. This is Coco’s second nomination for the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, and she hopes to be second-time lucky this time around.
LSU Tigers player Flau’jae Johnson rose from difficult circumstances to become a rising sportswoman and rapper. About six months before Flau’jae’s birth, her dad, a rapper named Camouflage, was shot and killed in May 2003. Flau’jae grew up loving and playing sports. She played baseball at a young age before going on to play basketball for Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. Flau’jae was exceptional in her time at Sprayberry High School and carried on with that momentum at LSU, where she became the Tigers’ starting shooting guard in her freshman year. She helped the Tigers win the national championship in her freshman year and was named the 2022-2023 SEC Freshman of the Year. She also made the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2023 and Second-team All-SEC in 2024.
Inspired by her late dad, Flau’jae became a rapper to continue his legacy. She is signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and has appeared on The Rap Game and America’s Got Talent. Combining being a college student with being a top-rated NCAA star and rapper is no mean feat, but Flau’jae is doing it with class. Hence, she is a role model for aspiring athletes and artists and proves that hard work always gets you far.
Juju Watkins is an amazing talent and already has a truckload of awards and honors to prove this. After dazzling and earning rave reviews at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, Juju committed to the University of Southern California in November 2022. She continued with her incredible performances for the USC Trojans, breaking records and winning awards along the way. Some of Juju’s recognitions include the ESPN National Freshman of the Year Award 2023, the Gatorade National Player of the Year 2023, and the All-Pac-12 Team for 2024.
Juju is known for her exceptional scoring prowess. She set the record for points in a freshman debut, breaking Lisa Leslie’s record set in 1990. She also broke the USC single-game scoring record previously held by Cherie Nelson and set in 1989. Juju also helped the US win the FIBA U-17 World Cup in 2022 and was named the tournament’s MVP. Besides her ability to make baskets, Juju is athletic and has a high basketball IQ. She is definitely a promising talent bound to make more history in the coming years.
Naomi Osaka earned her sixth BET Sportswoman of the Year nomination. The two-time winner of the prestigious award will be hoping to win it for the third time after her 2021 and 2022 successes. Naomi needs no introduction. The 26-year-old has won four Grand Slam titles and is well on her way to becoming a sports icon. However, Naomi played little tennis in 2023. In January 2023, she announced she was expecting a baby with her boyfriend and rapper Cordae. The tennis star withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open and announced she won’t compete for the rest of the year. In July 2023, Naomi welcomed her daughter, Shai. She returned to professional tennis in January 2024 at Brisbane. Naomi competed at the 2024 Australian Open but lost in the first round.
Naomi is known for her activism, for which he has received multiple accolades. In 2020, she withdrew from the Cincinnati Open to raise awareness for the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Before then, she joined protesters in calling for justice after George Floyd’s murder. After giving birth, Naomi also called for the United States to introduce paid parental leave. Besides her activism, Naomi has also dealt with mental health issues. She has dealt with depression since 2018 and withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon in 2021 to deal with her mental health and well-being. Naomi also promotes charitable causes and urges athletes to take their self-care more seriously.
Sha’Carri Richardson
This is Sha’Carri Richardson’s third consecutive nomination for the BET Sportswoman of the Year. After a remarkable 2023, the athlete will be hoping she is third-time lucky. The world’s fastest woman is arguably the current face of women’s track and field. Sha’Carri endured a difficult 2021 and missed out on the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC metabolites, which indicated recent cannabis use. She was suspended for a month after the test results and completed a counseling program. After a not-so-good 2022, Sha’Carri came back firing in 2023. She won the Diamond League 100m race in Doha, setting a new meeting record of 10.76s.
Sha’Carri qualified for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with a time of 10.82s at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She enjoyed a successful stay in Budapest, winning her first major individual title by beating every other competitor to the 100m gold medal, posting a time of 10.65s. Sha’Carri also won the 200m bronze medal at the championships before helping Team USA win gold at the 4 x 100m relay. Team USA, comprising Sha’Carri, Tamari Davis, Gabrielle Thomas, and Twanisha Terry, set a championship record, posting a time of 41.03s. Known for her long nails and colorful hair, Sha’Carri identifies as bisexual and supports the LGBTQ+ community. Her positivity, incredible speed, and vibrant personality have endeared her to millions of fans worldwide.
Simone Biles won the BET Sportswoman of the Year award in 2020 and has been nominated multiple times. Her nomination for the BET Awards 2024 comes after an impressive 2023. Simone endured a difficult 2021 after leaving the Tokyo Olympic Games due to mental health struggles. Her decision to quit the games sparked much discussion, with some commentators criticizing her while multiple gymnasts praised her. Biles bounced back in 2023 and competed at the US Classic, where she qualified for the US National Championships. Simone won her eighth national all-around title, breaking Al Jochim’s previous record of seven national title wins. She also became the oldest woman to win the title.
Simone continued her stellar performance at the World Championships, where she helped the US team win a seventh consecutive gold medal. She also won her sixth all-around gold medal, surpassing Vitaly Scherbo as the most successful gymnast of all time at the World and Olympic championships. Simone won six gold medals at the World Championships, becoming the first gymnast in World Championships history to win many titles on one apparatus. 2023 was also a successful year in Simone’s personal life as she tied the knot with her long-term boyfriend and NFL star Jonathan Owens on April 22, 2023.
The rap beef between Kendrick Lamar has been a wild saga. The beef has reached all corners of the culture, including sports. Tennis star Naomi Osaka has just declared that she thinks Kendrick has won the beef and really wants the rapper to put out another song like “Not Like Us.” Naomi really enjoys the song, and though she is a peaceful person, she can’t deny how good it is. The tennis superstar is the latest to pick a winner in what has been weeks of back-and-forths between Drake and Kendrick.
When speaking about the beef, Osaka made sure to clarify that she is a “pacifist” and “neutral party” in the beef. She then ultimately sided with Kendrick. Osaka went on to describe her love for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which she has been enjoying on repeat and using for her walk-out music. All in all, Naomi is having fun with what has come out of the feud, and she thinks Kendrick’s song is the clear winner and highlight of the whole ordeal.
Naomi Osaka picks Kendrick over Drake, says kendrick Lamar should drop another song.
“Kendrick dropped some heat, that last song,” the four-time Grand Slam title champion said of “Not Like Us.” “That last song is amazing and I played it walking onto the court.” pic.twitter.com/6TlxInuRde
the four-time Grand Slam title champion said of “Not Like Us,” “Kendrick dropped some heat.” She continued, “That last song is amazing, and I played it while walking onto the court.” Osaka was asked by a reporter if she thought the Compton rapper should drop another diss track. Osaka replied, “Yeah. Sorry.” she then explained why it should lowkey happen. She explained, “Technically, Kendrick dropped that song, then Drake dropped “The Heart Part 6,” so technically Kendrick could drop another two if he wanted to,”
Subsequently, Osaka brought up a similar topic that was discussed in “The Heart Part 6,” when Drake discussed the conflict and said he’s “happy I could motivate you” since Kendrick’s fans are actually “getting raps” out of the MC. All signs point to Drake having lost the battle. People are declaring Kendrick the winner, saying Drake’s last diss didn’t go over that well. Overall, Naomi Osaka is happy to have gotten such an entertaining track from Kendrick Lamar. Maybe the beef was worth it just for that.
Beats, a pioneer in audio technology, has expanded its bestselling product family by introducing the all-new Beats Solo Buds true wireless earphones and the next generation of its iconic headphones, Beats Solo 4. Reputable athletes Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Naomi Osaka headline the campaign.
The Beats Solo Buds embody the Solo line’s signature attributes of portability, comfort, and premium audio quality in its smallest form factor yet. The Solo Buds are the ultimate on-the-go companion, boasting impressive sound, up to 18 hours of battery life, and seamless one-touch pairing for both iOS and Android users. Available in four premium colors, including Matte Black and Arctic Purple, the Solo Buds will retail for $79.99 starting in June.
Meanwhile, the Beats Solo 4 offers upgraded, powerful sound, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, and UltraPlush cushions for unparalleled comfort. With up to 50 hours of battery life and Lossless Audio via USB-C, the Solo 4 sets a new standard in headphone technology. Available in Matte Black, Slate Blue, and Cloud Pink, the Solo 4 is priced at $199.99 and can be ordered today from apple.com.
As the year transitioned from 2023 to 2024 a lot of fans and artists reflected on their year. Many even took their accomplishments public to share with fans. Among them was Cordae who had a pretty impressive year for the sheer variety of accomplishments he achieved. Back in May of last year, he won an Emmy for his role in the children’s series We The People. Earlier this week he took to Instagram to share a picture of himself alongside his newest award.
In the caption of the post, he reflected on everything he accomplished in 2023. “Where I’m from n*ggas don’t win Emmys ! This year has quietly been my most successful thus far. The streams increased 30% this year, Did a arena tour w my dawg Nate, dropped 3 songs ppl loved, released my own sneaker! , and above all else my daughter is healthy and happy! (thank you @naomiosaka lol). Still building brick by brick, one step at a time. Popping out next year ! The Crossroads !” the rapper’s caption reads. Naomi Osaka hilarious responded to her mention in the caption. She left a comment that said “You’re welcome lol” and is currently the most upvoted comment on the post.
Of all the accomplishments he shared the biggest is having a daughter. He and Naomi Osaka welcomed their first child earlier this year in July. They shared some pictures of their new daughter online shortly after she was born to the delight of many fans.
Earlier this year Cordae teamed up with Juice Wrld for a new single. The track is called “Doomsday” and it clicked with fans right away. The track debuted on the Hot 100 and has racked up more than 57 million streams on Spotify since it dropped. It’s climbed into Cordae’s most streamed tracks of all time on the platform. What do you think of Cordae listing off all of his 2023 accomplishments, including winning an Emmy? Let us know in the comment section below.
In a new interview with InStyle magazine, tennis star Naomi Osaka goes in-depth about motherhood, offering some insight into parenting and the adjustments she’s made since the birth of her daughter Shai with rapper Cordae. The interview comes about two months after breakup rumors emerged online in the wake of what some interpreted as some suggestive posts. InStyle‘s interview focuses mainly on the changes to Naomi’s life and only mentions Cordae three times, so fans looking for more info might still have some questions.
Are Naomi Osaka & Cordae Still Together?
According to E! the rumors of the couple’s breakup first surfaced in October, after Osaka deleted or archived every photo featuring Cordae on Instagram and apparently unfollowed him to boot. Instagram Story updates like “I just want someone that will watch the sunset with me” were interpreted by some fans as subtle admissions of a split, just a few months removed from Shai’s birth. At around the same time, Cordae released his single “Make Up Your Mind” with a music video depicting a complicated relationship.
Whatever their dating status at the very least, it sounds like they’re still on good terms, if not technically together (although InStyle‘s story still describes Cordae as Osaka’s boyfriend in the intro). All Naomi tells InStyle about Cordae is that they’ve “built a really good foundation” for co-parenting, adding, “I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai.” So, until either comes out and just says it, there’s still no real answer, but it’s good to hear that their baby has a loving home, either way.
Naomi Osaka has heaped praise upon Cordae for his role in parenting their daughter, who was born earlier this year. “We built a really good foundation. I don’t know if it’s because he’s just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other’s opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what’s best for Shai,” Osaka told InStyle earlier this week.
Furthermore, Osaka spoke on some of the trials and tribulations of her pregnancy. She revealed that she had tested positive for Group B streptococcus. While it’s something that millions of women go through, it can still lead to things like sepsis and stillbirth. Additionally, the sudden childbirth death of Olympian Tori Bowie sparked a lot of anxiety within Osaka. “I was kind of starting to freak out a little bit. There were so many things I wasn’t aware of.” Osaka said.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Naomi Osaka and Cordae attend the 2021 Met Gala benefit “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Osaka’s comments appear to indicate that she and Cordae did not break up in October as was previously rumored. A tweet from Osaka had fans speculating that she may have broken up with the rapper. “I just want someone that will watch the sunset with me,” Osaka wrote on social media while also removing any trace of her child’s father from her online presence. However, it wasn’t the first time that Osaka has hinted at a breakup. On September 27, she wrote “the art of loving yourself” while also liking a post about “walking away from those who don’t value you”. For Cordae’s part, he did not acknowledge Osaka’s birthday this week and appeared absent from her celebrations.
The couple has been together since July 2019, when Cordae officially confirmed rumors that had been circulating since April. The pair weathered Osaka’s decline from the highest echelon of pro tennis as she suffered injuries and chose to step back to focus on her mental health.
YG is someone who has been in the music industry for a while at this point. Overall, when you are in an industry as big as music, you are typically able to form connections with a whole host of different people. This allows you to enjoy more success thanks to an increase in opportunity. Furthermore, you may just find life-long friends who will be able to help you out when you need it. As it turns out, the L.A. artist has certainly gotten some nice favors over the years. The latest of which just so happens to involve his daughter.
As it turns out, YG’s daughter is a huge tennis fan and an aspiring player at a young age. Overall, tennis can be a hard sport to get into. There are a lot of fundamentals, and as you ascend the ranks, it can be difficult to keep up. Well, the artist was hoping to get his daughter a star-studded lesson from one of the best tennis players in the world. Luckily, Cordae, Osaka’s partner and father of her child, was able to hook it up. As you can see below, YG’s daughter posed with Osaka and got some one-on-one coaching.
YG subsequently thanked Cordae for putting this all together. Cordae hit back noting that the two are girl dads and it’s not a problem. Needless to say, it is cool to see the two artists interacting like this. Overall, it is a great demonstration of solidarity. Furthermore, it is cool to see Osaka giving back to aspiring tennis players. That is something that the young tennis player will never forget. Who knows, perhaps Osaka will continue to give her pointers on her way up the ranks in the sport.
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.
Naomi Osaka recently opened up about her post-partum journey during a mental health awareness panel discussion at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, which is synonymous with the US Open. She joined forces with Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps to shed light on the importance of mental health awareness. Naomi Speaks […]
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(@naomiosaka)
