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Archives for September 2024

WRC’s unique brother and sister crew

September 26, 2024 by Tara S

By: Luke Barry | DirtFish

DirtFish learns about Norbert and Francesca Maior’s relationship in and out of the car, and what’s next for them

World Rally Championship drivers having siblings that also compete is far from a rarity.

World champions like Colin McRae and Petter Solberg fall into the category – their brothers, Alister and Henning, even competed against them in period.

It happens at all levels, and in all time periods. Take today’s M-Sport Ford drivers Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster as another example. Adrien’s brother, Maxime, rallies in France while Grégoire’s, Charles, made it two Munsters on the start-line of this year’s Safari Rally Kenya – albeit in different classes (Rally1 and Rally2).

But how many siblings can you name that actually competed together as opposed to against each other?

Gilles and Hervé Panizzi are perhaps the most famous family duo, as the French brothers claimed seven WRC wins for Peugeot. But that was over 20 years ago.

Rally di San Remo 2002
Gilles (right) and Hervé Panizzi were a formidable duo on asphalt rallies in a Peugeot 206 WRC

Today, Norbert and Francesca Maior are unique.

Winning last year’s Junior ERC in emotional, last-gasp fashion, the brother and sister pairing were rewarded with a season in Junior WRC for 2024. Two podiums and a win to see out the season in Greece lifted them to second in the championship and proved they were more than up to the task.

But what is it actually like competing with your brother/sister?

How they joined forces
Norbert and Francesca’s rallying story begins with their father Robert, who has competed semi-regularly in their native Romania over the years.

But Norbert, two years Francesca’s senior, was the true inspiration for Francesca to start rallying. Not that she ever thought she’d end up sharing a car with him.

“He started karting when he was like six or seven years old and in that moment, I was just like a little kid going to his races and following him,” Francesca tells DirtFish.

“I also did some laps behind him with a little kart, just trying to learn because I loved what he was doing, and then when he started to do rally, he was 16 I was 14, and I was like ‘OK if he’s doing rally I have to do it as well to try at least’ and I did some laps in a test with him and with some other drivers and I said I love it!


Norbert and Francesca never originally had plans to compete together

“And then I started to work for it. In the beginning we didn’t really think about going together or something like that because he needed a co-driver that had more experience because he was young also, and I had no experience at that point.”

This was 2017, Norbert’s third season behind the wheel, while Francesca started her first rally alongside her dad before sitting with other drivers. But with just one season of co-driving under her belt, a decision was made.

“Norbert needed a co-driver,” Francesca says, “and I love to work for it, I love to grow.

“So we just started to be in the same car, and then we realized that we have a big passion, like both of us, so we can work for it. And he helped me a lot to grow up in co-driving, and then we just decided it’s working in a good way, so we can keep going.”

They’ve formed a formidable partnership ever since, winning countless class titles in Romania before clinching the Junior ERC title in 2023 which elevated them to the world championship this term.

Is it an advantage?

Anyone fortunate, or unfortunate, enough (delete as appropriate…) to have a sibling is well aware of how fickle a relationship that can be.

One minute you’re best friends, the next you’re stern enemies.

That adds an extra complexity to the already-important bond between driver and co-driver, so is it actually a benefit to Norbert and Francesca?

“Now it’s really good because we know each other so well and, I don’t know, we connect [with] each other in the car, we trust each other and it’s really nice,” Francesca explains.

“We have also moments, because everybody is asking us, yes, we have also moments that we fight and everything. But we move on fast. It’s like a one-minute, two-minute fight and then it’s like nothing happened and we keep going.

“Yeah, it’s a really nice relation that we have in the car and I think it’s really helpful that we are brother and sister because even if we fight, even if something is not working well, we are there for each other and we love it.”


The big advantage of Francesca is she wants to be in the rally car maybe more than me

Norbert agrees.

“I always said that it was the right decision [to compete together] because I’m not sure the other drivers how [they] are doing or the thinking, but for me the most important thing for a co-driver is that they want it more than me to be there,” he tells DirtFish.

“This is the most important: the passion. For example, if the schedule is complicated, we need to watch the video at two o’clock in the morning, three o’clock in the morning, we need to do it, so we need to have passion to do it. If you are tired or something like this, we are a team and we need to think in the same way.

“So the big advantage of Francesca is that point – that she wants to be in the rally car maybe more than me, or at least at the same level. Starting from here, from that point, everything can be improved, everything can be done well and we can grow together.”

That’s not to say it’s always been straight-forward.

“Of course, at the beginning it was not easy because you need experience, you need kilometers in the car to feel the pace, to feel the voice that you need to read the pacenotes and so on,” Norbert continues.

“So it was not easy at the beginning but now I think that Francesca is a top level co-driver and I’m really happy to have her in my car, because also in our country it’s difficult to have a co-driver and for me it’s not a good thing to change the co-drivers every time.


2024 was Norbert and Francesca’s seventh season together in the car

“So to have the same co-driver [for] many years, it’s a big advantage because we are starting a rally and everyone knows exactly what they need to do. Our jobs are really simple because on the rally Francesca is doing everything, and outside the car I am trying to manage everything, to get the sponsors, to have meetings, to organize tests and so on.

“So my job is to drive and to manage to get at the rallies. After we are on the rally location, Francesca is the boss and she knows every time what we need to do.”

Has rallying affected their brother-sister relationship?
Competing with a sibling is more common at the lower levels of rallying, but it’s far more pressurized doing so in the WRC at a professional level as part of Romania’s Napoca Rally Academy.

So how has Norbert and Francesca’s professional relationship affected their actual relationship?

“I think outside of the car we have just become more, let’s say, mature,” Francesca believes. “So we are more like grown [up] people.

“We don’t have any more those little fights that we had when we were little outside of the car. So now we are just… I don’t know, we can count on each other in any moment.”


Despite spending lots of time together, Norbert and Francesca are able to enjoy each other’s company

Norbert laughs: “But to be clear we are not staying together every time because we are living in different cities!”

Time apart from each other is important to keep their relationship healthy – just like with any other driver and co-driver pairing.

“This season like 90% of the time we were together because we would keep moving from one rally to another,” Francesca adds.

“So we spent really a lot of time together. Probably this winter we will want a little break from each other!”

The benefit of competing together though is the lack of any sibling rivalry. Any success for Norbert is also success for Francesca, and vice versa. That’s special for the entire Maior family, let alone the two inside the car.

For Norbert it often acts as an extra source of motivation.

“It’s special because, you know, not every time the things are looking great and we need to work a lot, working and working and working and maybe in one moment you are asking yourself why you are doing all these things and sometimes the answer is that Francesca is there, Francesca wanted to be there,” he says.


Norbert and Francesca motivate each other if one is losing hope

“My family, our family goes to the rally so it’s a tradition in our family, and sometimes when I feel that it is really difficult, maybe I have a boost of motivation because of Francesca and my family to be there.

“So it’s special and sometimes it motivates me to do all the things.”

“Yes,” Francesca concurs, “since I was little, I loved to be around Norbert and with my family and we were everywhere together. So I think this is really, really nice because sometimes siblings, when they grow up, they start to separate [from] each other to be, I don’t know, everyone in their own job or in their own private life.

“But for us it’s different because we are together like a lot of time and we really enjoy the time together even if we are in rally, even if we are just home and I don’t know. We enjoy to be together and to be in the same car, to achieve good results.

“And even when we don’t achieve results and we just have a, as Norbert said, a bad time, we’re there for each other and somehow we keep going. Sometimes we say ‘oh, this is so hard’ or one of us wants to… not give up, but you know that moment when you are just tired and you want a little break?

“The other one will say, ‘no, you cannot have any break. We need to keep going and to keep pushing because this is our dream’. So we like this.

“We are really happy and grateful to have these opportunities because we can be together a lot of time and we can have the same passion and we love this.”

What’s next?

Having flown high in Junior WRC this year, the plan is more of the same next year

Their biological bond is a unique aspect of the Norbert and Francesca Maior story, but it is not what defines them as a rally crew. Results are, and so far things are going swimmingly.

Considering they had not done any WRC events prior to this season, and had never competed in a four-wheel-drive car before, to finish second among such a competitive Junior WRC field – and win Acropolis Rally Greece – is a huge endorsement of their talents.

The Acropolis was a particularly special victory, as after a crash at the previous round in Finland their entry was far from guaranteed. Norbert told M-Sport Poland’s Maciej Woda to proceed preparing the car, but at that point he didn’t have the budget to compete.

It was a risk, but through tireless work they were able to make the start.

“It was the right decision,” Norbert smiles.

“That result was really special because after winning the Junior ERC for sure I didn’t thinking that we can do some nice result this year, because imagine: it was first time with four wheel drive car, first time in WRC so all new, so it’s really special and I really hope that somehow next year we will do something similar because it feels like we can.

“This is the main thing. Every rally it feels like we can. It feels like maybe if we are doing more test kilometers maybe we can be there in the top position, but it is the way we are doing.

Maior Norbert, Jürgenson Romet, Rensonnet Tom
Norbert and Francesca are busy working on making sure they visit a WRC podium more often

“So I don’t want to complain, it’s just the fight every day to be there and to prove that we can, because this is the most important goal for us, to prove that we can show also speed, we can show also great result, but step by step we are working every day to it.”

A Junior WRC 2025 is the plan again for the program, and it’s what they deserve.

“We need to say a big, big thank you to everyone that made this possible because as Norbert said it was really hard to be in Greece but it was really hard to be in every race,” Francesca concludes.

“Also last year to win the Junior [ERC] championship we needed a lot of support and we had it, so it’s a lot of people that did this, so it’s not only our achievement, it’s also the team, the partners, and every single people that ever just helped us with anything.

“A lot of people that worked for this, so we need to say a really big thank you, and hopefully next year we can do it even better.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Team USA wins Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017 with victory over Europe

September 26, 2024 by Tara S

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN

The United States reclaimed the Solheim Cup for the first time in seven years with a 15 ½ – 12 ½ victory over the Europeans on Sunday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

Lilia Vu, who was 2 down with two holes left to play, sealed the win for the Americans, hitting an incredible approach shot around a couple feet from the hole on the par-4 18th before sinking the birdie putt to secure the clinching half-point. Europe’s Albane Valenzuela had a chance to extend the match but missed her 30-foot birdie putt attempt to open the door to Vu’s heroics.

“I can’t even put it into words,” Vu said after the match. “I felt like I didn’t do my part this week and I wanted to get something done. I said to my caddie on 16, I felt like I haven’t done anything for this team, and then 16 comes, and I’m in the back bunker.

“I feel like, ‘oh, no, I have to make up-and-down,’ and she’s been making one-putts on almost every single green so I thought she was going to birdie that hole too. She didn’t, and the then I ended up making up-and-down from the bunker and somehow birdied 17 and got it done on 18 to get the half point.”

Team USA’s Lilia Vi hits a tee shot at the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Golf Club
Team USA’s Lilia Vi hits a tee shot at the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Golf Club Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Team USA dominated throughout the weekend in its quest to win back the Solheim Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.

Team USA last won the Solheim Cup in 2017 with Europe winning in 2019 and 2021 before retaining the trophy in 2023 when the teams drew 14-14.

The US took a huge 6-2 lead after the opening day of golf, a record-breaking advantage. World No. 1 Nelly Korda led the USA’s challenge, winning both her matches as the USA underlined its dominance.

While Europe looked to fight back on day two, Team USA constantly prevented the Europeans from clawing back the deficit and held on to lead 10-6 after the second day.

Europe went into day three needing to repeat the Miracle of Medinah from the 2012 Ryder Cup – the men’s equivalent of the Solheim Cup.

In that tournament, Europe also trailed by four points heading into day three but came back to secure a historic 14.5 to 13.5 win – winning eight and tying one of the twelve singles matches.

Although Britain’s Charley Hull produced a remarkable round of golf to defeat Korda in the first singles match and kickstart a European comeback, it was ultimately too little too late.

Team USA’s Megan Khang, Rose Zhang, and Allisen Corpuz all won their matches on Sunday, while Andrea Lee, Lauren Coughlin and Vu earned half-points to clinch the victory for the Americans.

Filed Under: Golf, Women's Golf Tagged With: Nelly Korda

A’ja Wilson Unanimously Wins 2024 MVP Award as WNBA Playoffs Tip Off

September 26, 2024 by Tara S

by: JWS Staff

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson became just the second player in WNBA history to be unanimously crowned MVP on Sunday, claiming the 2024 title shortly before the league playoffs began.

In a record-breaking season league-wide, Wilson’s 451 rebounds set the WNBA’s new single-season rebound mark. She also inked herself in the history books as the first WNBA athlete to post 1,000+ points in a season.

Stat sheet aside, it’s her commitment to her team that Aces head coach Becky Hammon says sets Wilson apart.

“We always talk about, ‘Make your teammate great, and then in the process you become the greatest,'” Hammon explained.

“A’ja is…the greatest, because she’s so authentically committed to that: pulling greatness out of other people. She’s amazing. She’s the best player in the world, and she’s one of the best people in the world.”

The 28-year-old now joins retired WNBA legends Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson as the only players to ever earn three career MVP awards. She previously won in 2020 and 2022.

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier​ finished second in 2024 MVP voting, followed by 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart, Indiana rookie Caitlin Clark, and Connecticut Sun vet Alyssa Thomas.

Filed Under: Women's Basketball Tagged With: A'ja Wilson

WNBA announces new expansion team in Portland

September 19, 2024 by Tara S

by Noa Dalzell | MSN

The WNBA is continuing to expand — and the latest franchise is coming to Portland, Oregon, the league announced Wednesday morning. With Toronto, San Francisco, and now Portland each getting their own WNBA teams, the league will have 16 teams by 2026.

It’s not the first time WNBA basketball will be played in Oregon. Portland previously had a WNBA team, the Portland Fire from 2000 to 2002, before that franchise was ultimately shut down. The league was close to bringing a team to Portland last fall, but those plans — with a different ownership group — fell through. Portland’s new WNBA team is set to begin play in 2026.

RAJ Sports will head the ownership group, led by owners Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother, Alex Bhathal. They recently purchased Portland Thorns FC, a professional women’s soccer team. The Portland Thorns have the third-highest attendance in the NWSL, averaging more than 18,000 fans per game this season.

“As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement. “Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans. Pairing this energy with the Bhathal family’s vision of leading top-flight professional sports teams will ensure that we deliver a premier WNBA team to the greater Portland area.”

The Portland WNBA team will play its home games at Moda Center in downtown Portland, where the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers play.

Two other WNBA expansion teams are already in the works: Golden State in 2025 and Toronto in 2026. Golden State’s name and branding have already been revealed — the team will be known as the Valkyries — while Toronto’s has yet to be announced.

The Valkyries are off to a record-breaking start, having already received 17,000 season ticket deposits for next season. Plans for their state-of-the-art facility have also been released.

With Portland’s team now official, the WNBA will include 15 teams by 2026. Previously, Commissioner Cathy Englebert announced that the league’s aims to reach 16 teams by 2028. Denver, Nashville, Philadelphia and Charlotte have all been rumored to be in the mix.

Filed Under: Women's Basketball

First Pakistani woman nominated as international cricket umpire

September 19, 2024 by Tara S

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Saleema Imtiaz became the first Pakistani woman to be nominated to the ICC international panel of development umpires, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Sunday.

Imtiaz’s nomination on the panel makes her eligible to officiate in women’s bilateral international matches and ICC women’s events.

“This isn’t just a win for me, it’s a win for every aspiring female cricketer and umpire in Pakistan,” Imtiaz said in a statement. “I hope my success motivates countless women who dream of making their mark in the sport.

“This moment reflects the growing influence of women in cricket and the PCB’s commitment to fostering that development.”

Imtiaz’s daughter, Kainat, played 40 international games for Pakistan — 19 one-day internationals and 21 T20s.

Imtiaz said she had always wanted to make her own name in the field of umpiring ever since her daughter made her international debut against South Africa in 2010.

“My own dream was to represent my country at an international level,” Imtiaz said. “I’ve had opportunities with the Asian Cricket Council, but officiating at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal.”

Imtiaz joined the PCB’s women’s umpires panel in 2008 and has officiated in a number of Asian Cricket Council tournaments over the last three years.

Imtiaz’s first on-field appointment in a bilateral series will see her officiate the three-match T20 series between Pakistan women and South Africa women that begins at Multan from Monday.

Filed Under: Cricket, Women in Sports

A’ja Wilson sets single-season rebound record

September 19, 2024 by Tara S

By Jamie Barton, CNN

Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson broke the WNBA single-season rebound record on Tuesday, picking up seven boards in an 85-72 win over the Seattle Storm.

Wilson’s performance took her to 451 rebounds on the year, five more than the previous record set by Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, who suffered a season-ending wrist injury earlier this month.

The Aces’ center has now added another record to her collection, having broken the single-season scoring mark last week and then becoming the first ever WNBA player to rack up 1,000 points in one season on Sunday.


Despite making history once again on Tuesday night, Wilson was relatively indifferent to the record.

“That’s cool,” she said after the game, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I mean, I’m 6-foot-4 and I’m around the basket. I hope I can grab a couple rebounds for my team. But when it comes to just getting (rebounds) to get them, I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on putting the ball in the hoop.”

The result means Wilson and Co. are currently seeded fourth ahead of the playoffs, but the Aces could grab the third seed on Thursday – the final day of the regular season – if the Sky beat the Connecticut Sun and the Aces take care of business against the Dallas Wings.

“Our best basketball is still in front of us, and we also know that we are starting to click,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Ask me three weeks ago, and I was not liking us. And today, I feel pretty good about where we are at as a basketball team.”

The Aces are looking to become the second ever WNBA team to win a three-peat this season; the Houston Comets won the first four titles in league history from 1997 to 2000.

Liberty and Lynx lock top two seeds

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Lynx sealed the No. 2 seed in one of the games of the season. A dramatic three-pointer from Bridget Carleton with 4.6 seconds remaining clinched a 78-76 victory over the Connecticut Sun – the only team that could have caught them in the standings.

After a big run in the fourth put the Sun in front, there were eight lead changes in the final two minutes and 25 seconds, ending with Carleton’s heroics.

Napheesa Collier led the way for the Lynx with a game-high 25 points, with Kayla McBride and Carleton adding 14 and 13 respectively. The Sun, meanwhile, had four in double figures – led by Alyssa Thomas’ 18 – but it wasn’t enough on the night.

The Lynx are the hottest team in the league, having won seven in a row and going 13-1 since the Olympic break. It is the first time the franchise has won 30 games in a season.


In the Eastern Conference, the New York Liberty clinched No. 1 overall seed with an 87-71 win against the Washington Mystics. Forward Breanna Stewart was at the center of the action, picking up 15 points and 10 rebounds.

It was fairly comfortable for New York – the Mystics committed 16 turnovers and didn’t hold a lead at any point after Stewart’s layup with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Filed Under: Athlete Spotlight, Women's Basketball Tagged With: A'ja Wilson

Record-breaking referee Aimee Barrett-Theron ‘privileged’ to be part of rugby history

September 12, 2024 by Tara S

by: World Rugby

On Saturday, Aimee Barrett-Theron will run out at Allianz Stadium to become the first female match official to take charge of 40 tests.

Barrett-Theron will likely take a moment to process the achievement and may also allow herself a glance at the Allianz Stadium stands in search for her twin brother, before blowing her whistle to start England’s final WXV 1 warm-up match against New Zealand.

It is a momentous milestone for the South African referee, and former Springbok Women player, who is no stranger to breaking ground, being the first woman to take charge of Currie Cup, Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship matches.

This latest slice of sporting history has been given added significance not only by the location of the match, in Twickenham, but by the fact her great friend and fellow match official Sara Cox will join her in the 40-test club only six days later.

“It’s so special,” Barrett-Theron told World Rugby. “I actually see it in two ways. The first one is to share it with Sara Cox, who’s a really good friend of mine.

“We’ve come through the ranks together. We started reffing the sevens circuit together and into the 15s, done a few World Cups so it’s just so, so special to share it with her.

“I know when I try and get to the UK, when I have games out there, I always try to visit her because she’s just a really good person. So, it’s special in that way.

“And then the other side of it is, it’s amazing to be a part of the game for so long. I started playing in 2005 and I saw it in its real development stages and to see where it is now and to have done 40 tests, it’s just amazing because the level goes up.

“You know, from the first 10 [tests], the second 10, the third 10, and we’re at this incredible level at the moment. So, it’s just really exciting.”

Barrett-Theron and Cox first worked together at the HSBC USA Women’s Sevens in Atlanta in April 2016, the South African’s debut on the circuit, and they have pushed each other ever since.

“We chat on a regular basis. We try video calls, we’ll chat over WhatsApp,” Barrett-Theron added.

“I wouldn’t even say it’s a rivalry, we’re just two referees taking on the male dominated worlds in our respective countries. And we’ve shared some really good times together.”

Big dreams

As Barrett-Theron suggests, the women’s game has come of age in recent years with national attendance records falling like confetti across the world.

Organisers are expecting at least 40,000 – and potentially closer to 50,000 – fans to head to Allianz Stadium on Saturday for what will be the Red Roses’ third test at the iconic venue in less than 18 months.

The South African has seen that journey up close, having played at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 in England and then officiated at the showpiece tournament in both 2017 and 2022.

Barrett-Theron has also experienced a big crowd in Twickenham, having been in the middle when a crowd of 58,498 watched England beat France last April, a world record for a standalone women’s test.

“I always had big dreams and probably growing up, I didn’t see myself being a woman as any different,” she said.

“I’d see the men competing at the World Cup, so I was like, ‘Cool, that’s where I want to compete. I want to compete at the World Cup’. I didn’t really see gender with rugby.

“Now that the women’s game has grown so much, I’m just really privileged to be a part of that.”

Within five months of her World Series bow, and with only three tournaments under her belt, Barrett-Theron ticked off the first item on her career wishlist when she refereed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

She has gone on to officiate a Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, the all-time classic between England and Canada in Auckland, and has designs on returning to England and potentially Allianz Stadium next year, selection permitting.

“Having played in a World Cup myself and then being on the other side of it, I really cherish the World Cups,” Barrett-Theron said.

“But if I can take it back to a dream that I had when I’d watched my first kind of ‘World Cup’ and the Sydney Olympics, I knew I wanted to be there one day.

“So, being able to run out at the 2016 Olympics will always be very high up there. But it’s been quite special to have quite a few milestones, quite a few really incredible experiences out there so far and I hope there’s many more to come.”

Importance of preparation

That Barrett-Theron has achieved a lot since that first sevens tournament in 2016 is clear. So, what are the secrets to her success?

“I really pride myself on my preparation for the games,” she replied. “Physical preparation, mental prep, prepping for the teams and different styles of teams.

“I’m fortunate enough to be a professional rugby referee. So, I do have the time to spend on it, and I think a lot of people don’t know how much time we do spend on it and how seriously we take it. In preparation and in review.

“It’s always tough watching yourself back on camera, but it’s something that you just get over and you take your lessons from each game, and you try to grow from there.

“So, yeah, probably a few factors around that and then just general determination, resilience with it. It’s a tough world to be in at times.

“You know, a lot of pressure on results and a lot of focus on the referee and I think I’d say my profile in general, I’m really trying to open up that side to it where I am more of a human being.

“I am very real on the field with the players. I have so much respect for them. I’m still a massive fan girl on the inside, and I hope that comes out in my performances.”

With that in mind, how does she hope people see her? “I’d like players to just be able to say, ‘Ah, it’s Aimee. It’s Aimee reffing’, you know, ‘calm, confident, comfortable. Will ref with a rugby brain as opposed to being perfectly technical’.

“I really want to try and get the most out of the game and allow the players to play the best rugby they can.”

Words of wisdom

It is an approach that has carried her far, but does Barrett-Theron have any advice for those match officials who may be starting out on their refereeing journey?

“I think the best thing to do is get your foundation right,” the record-breaking referee said. “Put in the hard work and the physical training. Make sure you pass the fitness test because on the field, especially being a woman, the first question is, can she keep up? Is she as fit as me?

“I made sure that I covered all my bases when it came to that, and if we need to reach the main standards, we reach the main standards.

“And then the other thing is to watch as much rugby as you can, but to see it not as a supporter of your team. Actually, watch the ref, watch how they move around the field, watch the signals that they make.

“I remember some of my first games, I thought I knew the signals, of course, but to actually do it yourself, I watched the video back and I was horrified. It took things like practising in front of the mirror to get the small things right.

“And then lastly, some of the best advice I got early on was, don’t try to be perfect. You know, the mistakes are the best way to learn.

“I think that’s sometimes what’s scary about reffing because you’re scared to make a mistake. You don’t want to change a game or make the wrong call and everyone shouts at you.

“Actually, sometimes [it’s OK to say], ‘Guys, I got that wrong’ or ‘I didn’t see it that way’ or ‘I missed it, sorry about that’. And you go on.

“As soon as we take that pressure off ourselves, it just allows you to be a bit more free on the field.”

Sage words from one of the best in the game.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A’ja Wilson breaks the WNBA’s single-season scoring record and eyes another milestone

September 12, 2024 by Tara S

By: Associated Press

A’ja Wilson broke the WNBA single-season scoring record just before the first half of the Las Vegas Aces’ game against the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night.

Wilson hit a jumper from the free throw line with 26.4 seconds left in the second quarter to surpass the previous mark of 939 points set by Jewell Loyd in 2023. The Aces’ two-time league MVP came into the game averaging 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.


She finished the game with 27 points and 12 rebounds as Las Vegas won 86-75. Wilson credited her teammates for helping her break the record.

“I don’t want to sound cliché when I say this but, I don’t get any of that without every single teammate along the way. I’m so grateful to be able to play with selfless women,” she said. “My teammates are the heartbeat. They keep me going. I don’t get any points without them passing me the basketball.


U.S. women’s basketball team defeats France to win eighth straight Olympic gold medal
“So the points are great. They’re always going to be there. I’m never going to stop shooting, but the group that we have in this locker room is something that I’m truly so happy to be around.”

Wilson needed just 35 games to top last year’s record by Loyd, who did it in 38 games. Wilson’s previous high was 912 points, set in 40 games last season.

She now has 956 points this season and could potentially be the first player in league history to reach 1,000 in a year.

Las Vegas Aces make WNBA history as first team to sell out season tickets
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Las Vegas Aces make WNBA history as first team to sell out season tickets
She missed the team’s previous game in New York on Sunday as she was recovering from an ankle injury she suffered against Connecticut last Friday night.

“Feels great, ’cause now people will stop talking about it,” Wilson said. “I felt like it was just lingering, lingering, lingering, so I’m glad that we got it done. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The Aces have four games left, including another one against the Fever on Friday night.

Filed Under: Athlete Spotlight, Women's Basketball

Aryna Sabalenka wins US Open over American Jessica Pegula for third grand slam singles title

September 12, 2024 by Tara S


By Andy Scholes and Jill Martin, CNN

Aryna Sabalenka would not be denied hoisting the US Open championship trophy this year.

Sabalenka, the world No. 2 from Belarus, defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win the US Open for the first time.

This is Sabalenka’s third career grand slam singles title, having won the Australian Open for the second consecutive year back in January. She’s the first woman to sweep the hard court grand slams since Angelique Kerber in 2016.

After winning championship point, Sabalenka fell to the court, overcome with emotion. She went on to thank the crowd for their support.

Aryna Sabalenka kisses the trophy after winning the US Open for the first time.
Aryna Sabalenka kisses the trophy after winning the US Open for the first time. Frank Franklin II/AP
“You were cheering for me on those good moments,” Sabalenka said. “Of course I expected you to cheer for Jessica. I mean, that wouldn’t be normal if you would cheer for me, you know?”

This was the second year in a row Sabalenka reached the US Open final. A year ago, she lost to Coco Gauff, and the New York crowd was not on the Belarusian’s side, loudly pulling for the American.

“So many times I was so close to get a US Open title,” Sabalenka said, who also had heartbreaking losses in 2021 and 2022 in the semifinals. “It’s always been a dream of mine. Finally, I got this beautiful trophy.”

Sabalenka admitted the crowd affected her in that 2023 final – and she had resolved that wouldn’t happen to her again.

“I would say that this year, I felt so much love from the crowd,” Sabalenka told CNN. “Even though I was facing Americans, they still were supporting, cheering for me a little bit.

“I felt like last year there was kind of like close to zero on my side, and this year I felt a lot of support, even in the finals. I’m just super happy to feel so much love in New York.”

Sabalenka reflected on what her success meant to her. “Well, after I lost my father, it’s always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis,” she said.

“Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself, I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going.”

Sabalenka, 26, has now won 12 consecutive matches and improves her head-to-head record against Pegula to 6-2.

While the scoreline was straight sets, it wasn’t exactly straightforward.

Sabalenka led by a set and 3-0, but Pegula went on to win the next five games to give the American a 5-3 second-set lead.

Sabalenka would not give Pegula a chance to force a third set, however, winning the next four games to close out the match.

Sabalenka was asked how she was going to celebrate with her team. “A lot of drinks,” she said to CNN. “I need to feel this relief. I hope we’re going to have a lot of fun with my team.”

USA’s Jessica Pegula serves to Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka during their women’s final match on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 7, 2024. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Jessica Pegula was competing in her first grand slam singles final. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
Pegula, meanwhile, had made a breakthrough at this year’s US Open. Previously, the 30-year-old’s best result at a major was reaching the quarterfinals, where she had been 0-6 at that stage. With her result in New York, she will rise from No. 6 to No. 3 in the world, matching her career-high ranking.

Pegula had missed a portion of the schedule earlier this season, including the French Open, because of injury. But during the North American hard court swing this summer, Pegula found her stride, going 15-2.

Those two losses were to Sabalenka: in the Cincinnati Open final last month and Saturday in her first grand slam singles final.

“It’s been an incredible month for me, really,” Pegula said. “I had a rough start to the year but was really able to turn it around. To be able to be standing here in my first grand slam final, and then coming off such a hot summer, I didn’t expect it. I’m just really grateful for the last few weeks of tennis and some incredible matches I’ve been able to put together.”

Pegula, who is a Buffalo native, is the daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. She was introduced to tennis by her family at age 7, and she recently said getting to the US Open final was “a childhood dream.”

When Pegula entered the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the final, she notably removed her headphones, appearing to soak in the crowd noise after she had been introduced.

Filed Under: Athlete Spotlight, Tennis, Women's Tennis

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