In a rather unexpected turn of events, the prestigious title of “Woman of the Year” has been bestowed upon Riley Gaines, a former swimmer from Kentucky and a rising conservative commentator. To the surprise of many, all nine judges reached a unanimous decision in her favor.

While Riley’s achievements in championing women’s rights are noteworthy, this outcome deviated from expectations, as soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe was considered a strong contender for the title. Joe Barron, the Chair of the Nominating Committee, clarified that Rapinoe wasn’t seriously considered for the award. Barron remarked, “Her name did appear among the finalists, but so did Lia Thomas and Simone Biles. One has faced criticism for stepping away from competition, and the other… well, you know. Riley was ultimately the most logical choice.”