World Report
Some of the latest global sporting news.
BASKETBALL
WNBA
The Commissioner’s Cup got underway on Monday morning - it’s essentially a tournament played within the main WNBA season over a number of games, with two the two best performing teams during that period playing for the $500,000 USD prize money. Last year, Alanna Smith’s Minnesota Lynx won the title.
Speaking of Lynx, they are one of two teams to remain undefeated through the first couple of weeks, along with Opals coach Sandy Brondello’s defending WNBA champs New York Liberty.
The last two number one draft picks - Caitlin Clark (leg) and Paige Bueckers (concussion) - are currently out injured for their teams, and both Indiana and Dallas have struggled a bit without them. Indiana are without a number of troops at the moment, with both Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson leaving the court injured during a weekend game.
Opal and reigning WNBL MVP Sami Whitcomb is making some valuable contributions for Phoenix as they battle their own injury crisis - US Olympic team members Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper have been on the sidelines recently, and Whitcomb has been adding some energy, intensity and her trademark three pointers. Phoenix have added Geelong United WNBL import Haley Jones to their lineup - she played her first minutes on Monday against LA Sparks.
ATHLETICS
Grand Slam Track, Philadelphia
The richest track meet in the world staged its third event over the weekend in Philadelphia, and it was full of action.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden ran the fastest 100m in the world this year with a time of 10.73 to sweep the women’s short sprints category, having also outrun superstar Gabby Thomas a day earlier in the 200m.
Ackera Nugent upset world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in both the 100m and 200m hurdles to claim the category for the second straight event.
Nugent also won the 100m Final 1, becoming the first to win both a final of both sprint races at the same Grand Slam track event.
Early on Monday, Aussie star Jess Hull placed third in the 800m with Olympic teammate Abbey Caldwell in 4th place, having placed second and third respectively in the 1500m on Sunday morning. The two podium finishes saw Jess take home $77,000 AUD for the weekend’s racing.
CRICKET
T20 Blast, UK
The premier T20 cricket tournament in the UK is underway, and a few of the Australians over there are already making an impact.
Adelaide Striker and new NSW recruit Katie Mack has been consistent for Lancashire so far including a half century, while her Strikers teammate Amanda-Jade Wellington picked up a couple of wickets for Somerset in their loss on Sunday night.
But Sydney Thunder new recruit Laura Harris was the one grabbing most of the headlines over the weekend, belting a 16 ball half century for Warwickshire in their win over Durham.
England star Maia Bouchier has produced the innings of the tournament so far, smashing 92 off 53 for Hampshire as they amassed 215 in a run-fest against Essex. Hampshire’s batting lineup will only get stronger when Ellyse Perry joins them for a short stint next month.
NETBALL
NSL, UK
Manchester Thunder’s win on the weekend has meant they are the third team to secure a playoffs spot, joining Pulse and Lightning, with just one more position remaining.
London Mavericks’ last minute win over Birmingham has them in the box seat to grab the last finals spot with a six point gap from Nottingham, but with bonus points on offer, nothing is set in stone with two rounds remaining.
U.S COLLEGE SPORT
Softball
At time of posting this, we’re down to the final four for the NCAA semi finals. They’ll be played in the early hours of Tuesday morning Australian time:
Oklahoma (2) v Texas Tech (12)
Texas (6) v Tennessee (7)
Oklahoma have a strong recent history, and will be favourites to defeat Texas Tech, but the other matchup is harder to predict. Tennessee booked their spot when Laura Mealer hit a clutch walk-off home run to secure a 5-4 win over UCLA, and they have the weapon of Karlyn Pickens pitching thunderbolts to call on when needed.
Track and Field
The College Track and Field Champs regionals are done and dusted, with those who excelled punching their tickets to the Nationals next week in Oregon.
A number of Aussie women will be among them - the University of Georgia duo Lianna Davidson (javelin) and Steph Ratcliffe (hammer throw), Texas State’s Lara Roberts (hammer throw), Florida State’s Brooke Mullins (3000m Steeplechase), Buffalo’s Zahra Amos (high jump) and Clemson’s Aleksandra Stoilova (4 x 100m).
Water Polo
The season might be over along with her collegiate career, but Aussie Stinger Tilly Kearns is still making headlines. The Aussie star was named to the All-American First Team alongside her USC Teammate Emily Ausmus.
Tilly and Emily are also two of the three finalists for the Cutino Award for college player of the year. This is Tilly’s third time being a finalist (also 2022, 2023). Later this week we’ll find out if she can finally take home the title.