The most stunning photos across women's sports this month - from Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky to the USWNT

From the photographer, Jamie Squire:

"Simone Biles had just made history at the event just prior to this competition by landing a Yurchenko double pike vault. As one of the marquee athletes set to compete at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, I knew I wanted to find a unique angle to show her competing on the apparatus. While it's nearly impossible to show what makes a Yurchenko double pike vault a Yurchenko double pike vault in still pictures, I attempted to show the crazy amount of height Biles gets by shooting with a wide angle lens just to the side of the podium. The level of difficulty she achieves really does set her apart from the competition. Biles is so much fun to watch and to photograph as she continues to make history and break records."

From the photographer, Sean M. Haffey:

"I had been following Lexi Thompson the whole afternoon during the US Women's Open final round. She appeared to be struggling around the 13th hole and made a slow decline every hole after that. This photo showcases the bunker on the 18th hole where a large gallery had formed. It was definitely evident that the pressure was getting to her and I could sense the intensity for this stroke. Ultimately, Thompson lost the lead to the tournament after coming out of the bunker and putting poorly. She went on to finish in third after having a sizable lead. It was a tough collapse to watch."

From the photographer, Ezra Shaw:

"This picture happened at the end of a long day during the US Women's Open final round, and candidly I never thought it would happen. Yuka Saso started off the day horribly, with a double bogey on the second and third holes. She fell quite a few shots behind leader Lexi Thompson. However, Saso was able to keep her composure and finished the day strong with two birdies on the final three holes, while Thompson faltered and shot a +5 on the back nine. Saso overtook Thompson and forced a playoff with Nasa Hataoka, which she won on the third hole. This picture came close to the end of the trophy presentation. It was a nice moment when Saso turned towards the sun and raised the trophy into the air. The sun highlighted her face while she was looking up at the trophy."

From the photographer, Sarah Stier:

"Odicci Alexander had been leading the underdog James Madison Dukes in their first ever Women's College World Series tournament appearance with great pitching and key plays. No one expected the Dukes to make it as far as they did in the tournament, and when they finally gave their last effort in a semi-final game against the Oklahoma Sooners, Alexander was in the pitcher's circle. By this time, she had gained national recognition and support from fans, professional athletes, and players from other teams because of what she had done for her team in the tournament so far. When Alexander began to allow runs late in the game, she was pulled and walked out of the circle with tears in her eyes. However, she also got a big standing ovation from the crowd. I cropped this photo tightly to make it feel more intimate. I could have photographed a wider shot with the crowd on their feet, but we would miss out on Alexander's reaction. At the end of the day, it didn't matter how much recognition and praise she got because she was coming to terms with the fact that she had just pitched her last college softball game — the culmination of a lifetime of hard work. I wanted to make sure I documented this significant milestone and achievement."

From the photographer, Sarah Stier:

"The 'dog pile' is a somewhat regular occurrence or tradition for the winning team of the Women's College World Series and the Men's College World Series. The Oklahoma Sooners began to dominate during the middle of the championship game against the Florida Seminoles, so I had a feeling they would take home the trophy and knew the only photos that really mattered at this point were photos of the final out and the team's celebration. I was positioned on the opposite side of the field from Oklahoma's dugout, which enabled me to see all of the player's faces as they ran out to celebrate and congratulate their star pitcher Giselle Juarez. The shape they formed as they fell on top of Juarez, almost a pyramid shape, was what drew me to this frame and became one of my favorites."

From the photographer, Alex Bierens de Haan:

"I had barely settled into my seat before this moment unfolded. At 23 seconds into the game, this goal came in as the second fastest scored in USWNT history. As luck had it, Carli Lloyd started running towards the corner where I was positioned and I originally had her by herself in the frame, but out of the corner of my eye I saw her teammates particularly hyped for the goal so decided to zoom out a little bit to bring them into the story. A combination of the speed of the goal and the aura that the legend of Carli Lloyd exudes had Lindsay Horan and Emily Sonnet hollering while they chased her down. I think it really shows how strong the team chemistry is and how much fun this team has on the pitch - no matter the size of the stage."

From the photographer, Tom Pennington:

"The photo was shot during the Women's 1500m final at the 2021 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials. To get this angle of Katie Ledecky firing off the starting blocks, I gained access to catwalk up above. Using this elevated vantage point, I was able to follow Ledecky off the blocks and into the water. The competition pool water is crystal clear so the air bubbles sheeting off her are highly visible and create a visually appealing pattern. Ledecky went on to win the race in her usual dominant fashion."

From the photographer, Omar Vega:

"For the debut of the new Q2 Stadium in Austin, the United States Women's National Team played against Nigeria in the 2021 WNT Summer Series tournament. This was especially a monumental moment for the team, celebrating Carli Lloyd's 300th game with the national team in a beautiful ceremony before the game. During the first half, United States forward Christen Press was a standout player for her assists and several goal attempts. Her first goal attempt was deemed offsides and after several other attempts, Press received a riveting pass from teammate Carli Lloyd. In that moment, Press seized the opportunity, sending the ball right into the Nigerian net. At the celebration, Press reacted with a sigh of relief and a big smile from ear-to-ear, which ended in a hug from Lloyd and her other teammates. For this photo, I used a Canon 1DX Mark II and a 2.8 400mm lens. It was a bit challenging to cover this game because I didn't know the stadium well with it being my first time covering a game there. Photographers were put in the front row of seats for the public, as we had to be a significant distance from the field due to COVID protocols. With that being said, I had to focus much more on the plays because the screaming and the support of fans were much more prominent and felt closer to me. However, when I looked at the viewfinder of my camera during the celebration, especially Press's reaction, in my mind this became the photo of the game."

From the photographer, Tom Pennington:

"This photo was shot using a remote camera positioned above the walkout tunnel where the athletes enter the pool deck during introductions. The camera was setup with a fisheye lens to provide an ultra-wide perspective that showcases the US Olympic Team Swimming Team Trials branding along the sides of the walkout tunnel. I was able to fire the remote camera while also shooting a handheld camera from a position in the catwalk. This allowed me to capture a unique angle of Katie Ledecky entering the pool deck from a perspective that we don't have access to shoot with a handheld camera. This was a cool moment to capture because it was right before Ledecky won the Women's 800m freestyle final, her fourth title during the 2021 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials."

From the photographer, Patrick Smith:

"During the US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials, we not only witnessed a newly redesigned Hayward Field, we also witnessed some changing of the guard with regards to the athletes. As the next wave of US Olympic Track & Field stars come to the forefront — some are shining brighter — one being Women's 100 Meter star Sha'Carri Richardson. Richardson comfortably led the field in every heat and brought excitement that sports photographers love which included — passion, personality, and perfectionism. When she dominated the Women's 100 Meter final her uniqueness was on full display as she stuck out her tongue and celebrated. My shooting position and assignment was to focus on her post-finish line emotion in turn one. Taking a gamble and being the furthest photographer to the outside — we were thrilled as a team when we knew we would be able to show the world her elation. Outrunning her competitors in one of the biggest races of her life qualified her for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics."

From the photographer, Maddie Meyer:

"This image was taken after the Women's 800m freestyle with Katie Grimes in the foreground and Katie Ledecky behind her. Grimes just made her first Olympic team at age 15, as Ledecky did before her. Ledecky is still no doubt the dominant force in Women's distance swimming, but it was a nice peek into what the future may hold for the Paris and Los Angeles Olympic games in years to come. It was an incredible moment to document."

From the photographer, Steph Chambers:

"Keni Harrison, a world-record holder in the 100 Meter Hurdles, found redemption with her first place finish to secure her first Olympic team at the US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials in Eugene. Harrison had failed to make the Rio Olympics despite being the favorite. Five years of waiting for another chance was evident in her post-race tears of joy. She was then joined by Quanera Hayes, who had won the 400 Meter final. What makes track and field interesting to me is sportsmanship, though it's a solo sport. Many athletes congratulate each other when they set personal records or slow clap for them as they prepare for a pivotal jump. It furthers the sport, and in this image, furthers female athletics. It adds another dimension and truly makes this sport exciting to watch."

From the photographer, Maddie Meyer:

"I made this the last day of US Olympic Team Swimming Trials in Omaha, during the 50m Freestyle final. All eyes were on Simone Manuel after she failed to qualify in the 100m Freestyle, an event she had won in Rio. This race was her last chance to make the Olympic team. She had spoken earlier in the week about being diagnosed with Overtraining Syndrome, which had plagued her with fatigue, elevated heart rate, and depression while training this year. The 50m is the shortest race, the athletes are churning through the water so quickly you don't have a chance to see their faces until they touch the wall at the end of the event. I kept my eye on the scoreboard and the moment I saw she had won, I found Manuel and waited to see her reaction. A huge sense of relief seemed to flood over her as she fell back and covered her face."

From the photographer, Steph Chambers:

"Allyson Felix qualified for her fifth Olympics, and first as a mother, after finishing second in the 400 Meter final at the US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials. Felix, who is one of the most decorated track athletes in history, had announced that this summer's games in Tokyo will be her final. With this dramatic backstory, Felix brought her daughter on the track as she caught her breath and soaked in this moment together. What I am drawn to most as a photographer is raw emotion. The beauty of sport is that it mirrors life — celebration, dejection, tenderness with family and moments of self-reflection — all in a one-lap race, in Felix's case. For me, seeing this star sit down on her child's level conveys the dedication to her family and how she's competing with her family legacy in mind."