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Articles by Kate Padlan
Growing into greatness: A look into Maria Tabacuks’ breakout season
For Maria Tabacuks, earning her second West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor is more than an individual achievement. Tabacuks credits her teammates and coaches around her for helping her reach her potential, and says the recognition motivates her to keep being the best version of herself for the team. In the summer of 2026, LMU women's volleyball welcomed six new players to its roster.
No team, no problem: Inside LMU’s phantom football culture
“I didn’t have a football team until I got into the Rams mentorship program. I think the exposure to the Rams definitely helps for people like me who weren’t committed,” said González. In November 1951, the final whistle blew on Loyola football, leaving a bruised turf, muddy cleats and 70-plus years of silence in its wake. The stadium lights dimmed on the gridiron for good, but the game never truly left the community of Westchester — it only changed uniforms.
Beyond the appearance: What female athletes saw in Sweeney’s Novig ad
While Novig’s campaign claimed that “Novig is just sports,” the shocking ad featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked a larger conversation among LMU student-athletes about the line between celebrating female strength and hyper-focusing on appearance. For female athletes, being truly seen has long been part of the universal fight towards equality. But what happens when being seen means something different from being recognized for what they can actually do?
The Lions and the Rams: A partnership with no end in sight
Iggy the Lion and Rampage the Ram represent a partnership built on more than football. Since the Rams’ arrival in Los Angeles, community engagement has remained a central part of the organization’s efforts. That spirit has translated into opportunities for LMU, where student success has become the fruit of the blooming relationship. In sports, transitional seasons often mean going back to the drawing board and even saying goodbye to familiar roster runs.
LA’s ultimate summer playbook: From World Cup fever to campus buzz
Los Angeles' sports teams, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers, entered a transformative era throughout the offseason, as major trades, players and games left many in shock before major seasons begin. Sports fans were spoiled this summer as major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the most thrilling NBA Finals in years consumed the screens of fans nationwide. Major cities like Los Angeles were all in on the fun, drawing sports fans into the streets to come together as a community.
Best of The Bluff: LMU's top athletic programs of 2025-26
From the pool, to the court and the sand, the Lions won conference titles in women’s water polo, women’s basketball and beach volleyball, battling some of the nation’s best teams along the way. The 2025-26 season has been one to remember for LMU Athletics. The Lions fought tough competition, won conference titles in several sports and had many athletes and coaches honored with individual awards.
Who are stadiums really for? Inside one professor’s challenge to sports culture
Through projects like “Chavez Ravine: An Unfinished Story” and her research on fan communities, Priscilla Leiva, Ph.D., associate professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o studies, examines how sports spaces are shaped by people as much as they are by the games played within them.
Dominance in pairs: Chloe Hooker and Ines Piret in perfect sync
Chloe Hooker and Ines Piret celebrate a point during their duel against University of Southern California on Senior Day. Their celebratory handshake reflects their emphasis on keeping the energy, maintaining connection and continuing to “out-team” their opponents throughout. Within the dominant world of LMU women’s beach volleyball, it’s not only about the height of your jumps or having a powerful swing to spike on your opponent.
More than a title: Meet WCC Golfer of the Month, Trevor Algya
From a quiet freshman to a senior leader, Trevor Algya has become a steady presence for LMU Men’s Golf, leading by example both on the course and within the team. Three years ago, in the spring of 2023, Trevor Algya made his debut freshman year with LMU men's golf, where he was able to find his own rhythm amongst a sea of pro-collegiate players wanting the same thing — to win.
LMU’s unsung Lions: The women on the sidelines in LMU Athletics
Shannon Kelly, director of sports nutrition, has turned a passion for health and performance into a career she once only dreamed of. Now living out that “one day” dream of hers, she fuels LMU student-athletes while breaking barriers as a woman in a male-dominated space. Photo via LMU Athletics In a world where headlines are dominated by names like LeBron James or Lionel Messi, the spotlight rarely shifts to the people on the sidelines.
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