The Aurora Games have a star studded lineup of all-star female athletes competing in Albany this August. For six-days, elite women athletes from more than 15 countries will be compete in tennis, gymnastics, figure skating, ice hockey and beach volleyball for Team Americas and Team World. These incredible women have impressive resumes that guarantee exhilarating competitions this summer. Keep reading to learn about 11 female athletes competing at the Aurora Games in Albany that you need to know about.
Purchase tickets for the Aurora Games (August 20 - 25) here!
Haley Skarupa
Olympic gold medalist & National Women’s Hockey League All-Star Haley Skarupa will be competing on Team Americas in the Aurora Games. She competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang on the U.S. Women's National Team. That team brought home the second Olympic gold in the history of the U.S. Women’s National Team in an exciting victory against Team Canada. She currently plays for the Boston Pride of the National Women's Hockey League.
Catch ice hockey on Friday, August 23 at the Times Union Center.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
U.S. Open Tennis Champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands has won five Grand Slam titles in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. She also won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for mixed doubles. She is considered to be "The Lady Gaga of Tennis" due to her passion for fashion. She is currently partnering with tennis brand "Lucky in Love" to design unique athletic gear. Watch her vibrant personality compete on the court for Team Americas in August.
Tennis will follow the Opening Ceremony of the Aurora Games on Tuesday, August 20 at the Times Union Center.
Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Whalen is one of the most decorated players in women's basketball history. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion and five-time WNBA All-Star. Additionally, she is the all-time league leader in wins, and the only player in WNBA history with at least 5,000 points, 2,000 assists and 1,500 rebounds. Watch her lead Team America to battle for victory against Team World in the Aurora Games.
Watch Basketball on Thursday, August 22 at the Times Union Center.
Ashley Wagner
Figure skater Ashley Wagner is a three-time U.S. National Champion, Olympic bronze medalist and World silver medalist. She captured the Olympic bronze medal during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. At the beginning of 2018, she was widely lauded as "America's most decorated female skater of the past six years". Watch her sparkly personality shine on the ice as she competes for Team Americas in the Aurora Games.
Catch figure skating at the Times Union Center on Saturday, August 24.
Bianca Andreescu
18-year old Canadian tennis sensation Bianca Andreescu rocketed to the top this year as the 2019 Indian Wells Champion. This was her first ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) victory at Indian Wells and she became the youngest woman to win the tournament since Serena Williams did so 20 years ago. She will represent Team Americas in the tennis competition at the Aurora Games this summer.
Tennis will follow the Opening Ceremony of the Aurora Games on Tuesday, August 20 at the Times Union Center.
Susanna Tapani
Susanna Tapani is a professional Finnish hockey player competing for Team World at the Aurora Games. She won a bronze medal with the Finnish national team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. She has also won three bronze medals during the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's World Championships. She will be bringing her skills to the ice in an exciting match at the Times Union Center.
Catch ice hockey on Friday, August 23 at the Times Union Center.
Victoria Azarenka
Tennis star Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is the world’s former number one ranked player. She is one of the most decorated tennis players of the past decade as a two-time singles Grand Slam Champion (Australian Open), two–time U.S. Open runner–up, Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion, two–time Olympic medalist. She also has won 20 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles titles, seven doubles titles and three mixed doubles titles. She will compete for Team World at the Aurora Games.
Tennis will follow the Opening Ceremony of the Aurora Games on Tuesday, August 20 at the Times Union Center.
Barbara Turner
Two-time NCAA Champion (back-to-back playing for University of Connecticut) Barbara Turner will shoot hoops in Albany for Team Americas! She earned 2003 Big East All-Rookie Team honors and was the 5th player in UConn history to get 1,600 points and 700 rebounds in her career. The basketball star also played in the WNBA for the Seattle Storm, Houston Comets and Connecticut Sun. She currently plays in Europe for Hatay BŞB in Turkey.
Watch Basketball on Thursday, August 22 at the Times Union Center.
Monica Puig
Tennis star Monica Puig made history at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio as the first athlete to win an Olympic gold medal representing Puerto Rico. She is only 25-years old and a champion across the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranks. Watch the professional tennis player compete for Team Americas in the Aurora Games this August.
Tennis will follow the Opening Ceremony of the Aurora Games on Tuesday, August 20 at the Times Union Center.
Melissa Humana-Paredes & Sarah Pavan
Canadian beach volleyball duo Melissa Humana-Paredes and Sarah Pavan are some of the top players in the world for the sport. Together the duo won the 2018 Commonwealth Games and has won 5 FIVB World Tour events. Beach volleyball will be held indoors at the Times Union Center for a one day beach party to conclude the Aurora Games.
Beach Volleyball and the Closing Ceremonies of the Aurora Games are on Sunday, August 25 at the Times Union Center.
For more information on the Aurora Games, please visit here.