Weekend Express

The quotes, stats and storyline for the local sport this weekend

FOOTBALL

A-League

While there may not be an obvious standout match of the round, there are some fascinating battles which could help shape the top eight.

Wellington host Melbourne Victory, and while the Phoenix lost last week to Brisbane, a number of their players will be riding high on confidence after their Football Ferns selections, and this could be a danger game for Melbourne. A Wellington win could see them jump three spots back into the top six if Canberra and Western United lose their weekend matches.

To think that Canberra, with all the personnel losses they experienced in the off season, would be knocking on the door of the top six, is one of the stories of the season. They’re unbeaten in their last three games, with Coach Antoni Jagarinec a nominee for Coach of the Month. Their clash with the Mariners, who scored five goals in their last outing, will also be a fascinating one.

It will also be worth seeing how Sydney FC and Western United respond after their last matches. The Sky Blues were brave against Adelaide but lost with one of the last kicks of the game, while Western United were simply no match for Holly McNamara and Melbourne City on Wednesday. The home ground and extra rest should benefit Sydney, but nothing is to be taken for granted in the ‘Chaos League’.

BASKETBALL

WNBL

There are many reasons to be excited about this WNBL season, and particularly this weekend with a lot of news on and off the court.

Perth Lynx are in a battle with Townsville Fire for second spot and home court advantage in the semi finals, and with skipper Anneli Maley signing with WNBA franchise LA Sparks during the week, the inspiring forward will lead her team against Geelong United, who still hold hopes of grabbing fourth spot. A win is essential for the new team if they’re any chance to make playoffs.

Match of the round will be UC Capitals hosting the Sydney Flames on Sunday afternoon, and this game could help decide the final playoffs team. The two teams met just a couple of weeks ago at the same venue, and it produced possibly the game of the season. Fans at AIS will be hoping for a similar contest, but the home fans will be looking for a different result, after newly-announced WNBA signing Shaneice Swain dropped 36 points for the Flames to get the win over her old team the Capitals.

The Flames will finish with two home games next week, although one is against the powerful Townsville team, so a road win on the weekend would be a huge bonus.

Meanwhile the Southside Flyers, who have struggled this season to back up last season’s championship, play their final home game of the season against Adelaide.

CRICKET

WNCL

With the Ashes done, and Australia’s best players heading to India for next week’s WPL, it’s a chance for the domestic players to take centre stage again, with three double header series happening on Friday and Sunday.

Cricket Central in Sydney will host NSW against South Australia, ACT welcome Western Australia to Canberra, while Junction Oval in Melbourne will be the location for Queensland and Victoria.

Queensland duo Georgia Redmayne and Charli Knott are both coming off centuries last week, while South Australia’s Courtney Webb and Hollie Armitage are also in great form with the bat. SA also regain fast bowler Megan Schutt after being part of the incredible Australian Ashes squad.

Every win, and also the magnitude of the wins and losses are crucial, with four teams - Tasmania, SA, NSW and Victoria, all locked on five wins behind leaders Queensland, with the sides separated only by bonus points.

HOCKEY

FIH Pro League

The Hockeyroos started their 2025 Pro League campaign with a solid 4-1 win over Spain on Wednesday night before coming out on top against China in a thriller. They’ll play both opponents again over the weekend at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney.

Retirements and injuries have given the squad a slightly new look to the team which was knocked out in the quarter finals in Paris, but none of the new and returning faces have looked out of their depth in the opening games. Jade Smith scored her first international goal on debut against Spain, while Courtney Schonell scored in both games during the week in her international return after an ACL injury ruled her out of the Paris Olympics.

Elsewhere, the likes of Grace Young, who made her debut at the same venue almost exactly two years ago, looks to have take her game to another level, using her speed and skill to keep opponents nervous, while the experienced core of the group such as Grace Stewart, Mariah Williams, Penny Squibb continue to lead the team around the pitch.

While banking wins on home soil early in the Pro League is handy, the squad has only had a few training sessions altogether ahead of the tournament, and with World Cup qualification the major motivation for 2025, Grace Stewart told HER WAY Sports Media that this weekend is as much about putting things in place for the new Olympics cycle:

“We’ve got new and exciting faces coming into our team, so it’s definitely about growing as a group and just taking steps forward where we can.”

ICE HOCKEY

A.W.I.H.L

After sweeping Sydney Sirens last week, Adelaide Rush can go a step closer to locking up top spot when they welcome 5th placed Brisbane Lightning to town.

It’s the last home games of the season for the high flying Rush, with Melbourne already confirmed to host the playoffs.

Adelaide have next week off, meaning they’ll have to sit back and watch to see if Melbourne Ice or Perth Inferno, who will both be playing the bottom two teams, can overtake them, so securing points this weekend should be enough to claim the minor premiership.

Meanwhile Melbourne Ducks, who will enter the league in an official capacity next season, play two more demo games when they travel to Perth to take on Inferno.

WATER POLO

Australian League

UTS Balmain head west this weekend to take on the two WA teams - two games against ladder leaders Fremantle Marlins plus one clash with the Torpedoes.

The games with Fremantle will be the games of the round. Not only is it a clash between 1st and 3rd on the ladder with just one loss between the two this season, but there will be a number of Paris Stingers in action, with Zoe Arancini up against Sienna Hearn and Gen Longman.

Elsewhere there’s a Sydney derby when Uni play Drummoyne, Stinger Dani Jackovich and Cronulla head to Newcastle to take on the Pirates, and the defending champs QLD Thunder travel to Melbourne.

SAILING

Sail GP, Sydney

Heading into this weekend’s Sydney leg of the exciting Sail GP league, Team Australia sit in third spot overall, just one point behind tied leaders New Zealand and Emirates GBR after two rounds.

The Aussies will take confidence into the weekend after winning the last event in Auckland, and come into their home event knowing they can win in front of a local crowd, having won the Sail GP Sydney in 2024.

Nina Curtis and Tash Bryant will be key parts of the Australian team when they hit Sydney Harbour this weekend.