Women's Sports Foundation Listed by medusa Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

Ransomware groups continue to target nonprofits and mission-driven organizations as part of a broader pattern of double-extortion attacks, in which data is stolen and then used as leverage. On June 04, 2024, the Women's Sports Foundation was listed by the medusa ransomware group, which claimed responsibility for an incident involving the exfiltration of internal files. Public detail remains limited, yet the listing places the organization among those whose data has been asserted to be at risk.

The volume of data said to have been taken is reported as 36.5 GB. The number of people affected is unknown, and independent confirmation of the full scope has not been publicly established. For an organization that supports girls and women in sports through research and programs, any unauthorized access to internal material raises practical questions about privacy, donor and participant trust, and operational continuity.

Inside the incident

According to available reporting, the Women's Sports Foundation was listed by the medusa ransomware group on June 04, 2024. The group claims that internal files were exfiltrated in a ransomware attack and that the total volume of data leakage is 36.5 GB. The number of individuals affected is unknown. Specifics about the initial intrusion method, the exact timeline of the attack, encryption of systems, or any ransom demand are not disclosed in the public record of this incident. The listing itself constitutes a claim by the group rather than an independently verified forensic finding. The foundation's corporate office is identified as located at 247 W 30th St Fl 5, New York City, New York, 10001, United States, and the organization is described as having 105 employees. Beyond the stated data volume and the characterization of the material as internal files, further technical or operational details of the compromise remain unconfirmed.

Inside medusa

Medusa is a ransomware operation that has operated in the public eye through a leak site used to pressure victims. Like other groups employing a double-extortion model, it typically claims to steal data before or alongside encryption and then threatens to publish or sell the material if demands are not met. Public reporting on medusa has associated the group with attacks across multiple sectors, often accompanied by timed leak-site postings that list victim names, alleged data volumes, and sample files. The group has been observed using affiliate-style or service-oriented structures common to modern ransomware ecosystems, though precise internal organization can shift over time. In this case, the only specific assertion tied to the Women's Sports Foundation is the listing itself and the claimed 36.5 GB of internal files; no further statements attributed to medusa about this particular victim appear in the provided facts. Readers should treat leak-site claims as unverified until corroborated by the organization or independent investigation.

Women's Sports Foundation and its sector

The Women's Sports Foundation was founded in 1974. It provides support to girls and women in sports, implementing and conducting research and various programs. Organizations of this type typically sit at the intersection of nonprofit advocacy, education, grant-making, and community programming. They commonly maintain records related to program participants, scholarship or grant applicants, donors, staff, volunteers, research subjects, and partner institutions. Because their work often involves minors as well as adults, and because fundraising and research depend on trust, the sector is sensitive to any unauthorized exposure of internal material. A breach claim against such an organization is consequential not only for day-to-day operations but also for the confidence of the communities the foundation serves. The foundation's New York City office and reported staff size of 105 employees indicate a mid-sized nonprofit footprint for which internal file systems can contain a mix of administrative, programmatic, and personal information.

The information in question

The facts state that internal files were exfiltrated in a ransomware attack and that the total amount of data leakage is 36.5 GB. No further breakdown of file categories, document types, or specific data fields has been disclosed. Organizations comparable to the Women's Sports Foundation typically hold personnel records, donor and financial information, program enrollment or participation data, research materials, correspondence, and operational documents. Whether any of those categories were present in the claimed 36.5 GB set is unconfirmed. The number of people affected remains unknown. Until the foundation or an independent source provides a verified inventory, the precise contents of the exfiltrated material should be treated as unconfirmed.

What's at stake

For individuals whose information may have been among the internal files, the practical risks include unwanted contact, phishing that leverages knowledge of their association with the foundation, or misuse of any personal details that might have been stored. Because the foundation works with girls and women in sports, any exposure of participant or minor-related records would carry heightened sensitivity, though it is not established that such records were included. For the organization itself, stakes include potential disruption of programs, the cost of investigation and remediation, reputational pressure from a public listing, and the need to communicate carefully with staff, partners, and the communities it serves. There is no public confirmation of financial loss figures or of whether systems were encrypted in addition to data theft. The absence of a confirmed count of affected people means the scale of individual impact cannot yet be quantified.

Were you affected?

If you have a past or present connection to the Women's Sports Foundation—as staff, donor, program participant, researcher, or partner—consider monitoring accounts and communications for unusual activity and be cautious of unsolicited messages that reference the organization. Official guidance from the foundation, if and when issued, should take precedence. You can also run a free exposure scan of your email address to check whether your information has already appeared in known breach data sets. Keep records of any notices you receive and avoid sharing additional personal details in response to unexpected requests until you can verify their legitimacy.

AICompiled with AI assistance from public sources and published under our editorial standards.