Iga Swiatek is sure of her place at the WTA Finals after it was announced the world number one had qualified for season's grand finale.
The season-ending tournament will take place in the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh for the first time, and will be held in November.
Swiatek, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics last week, has become the first player to secure her place at the Finals.
The 23-year-old has scooped five titles in 2024, including the French Open, which she has won four times.
“It's a great feeling to qualify for the WTA Finals for the fourth year in a row," said Swiatek, the reigning WTA Finals champion.
"I hope that the performances of the eight best players of the season will give a lot of joy to the fans all over the world."
Swiatek will become the youngest player to appear at the WTA Finals for four consecutive years since Victoria Azarenka (2009-2012).
After been knocked out early on in 2021, Swiatek reached the semi-finals in Fort Worth in 2022 before triumphing in Cancun last year.
Kyle Schwarber homered three times, doubled and matched a career high with seven RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied for a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a matchup of division leaders on Wednesday night.
Schwarber led off the game against Gavin Stone with his first home run of the night and delivered a two-run double in the fifth to get the Phillies within 4-3. His three-run shot off Joe Kelly capped a five-run sixth and he took Michael Grove deep in the ninth for his 27th of the season.
The seven RBIs were the most by a Phillies player since Carlos Ruiz had that many against Atlanta in 2012.
Schwarber’s three-homer game was the second of his career, the other coming on June 20, 2021, for Washington against the Mets. He had seven RBIs one other time, on July 28, 2019, for the Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee.
Freddie Freeman drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who had their lead in the NL West sliced to three games over surging San Diego and Arizona. That is their smallest lead since April.
Surging Diamondbacks sweep Guardians
Josh Bell homered twice and Eduardo Rodriguez won his season debut as the Arizona Diamondbacks remained red hot with a 5-3 win over the first-place Cleveland Guardians to complete a doubleheader sweep.
Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll each hit two-run homers to give the Diamondbacks a 7-3 victory in the opener.
Randal Grichuk went deep in the second game for Arizona, which won for the 12th time in 14 games and has won seven consecutive series, reinforcing its hold on a NL wild-card spot.
Rodriguez signed with the Diamondbacks in December but had been sidelined with a left shoulder strain. He allowed three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings and Justin Martinez loaded the bases in the ninth before striking out Lane Thomas for his second save of the series and his career.
Josh Naylor, Jose Ramirez and David Fry hit home runs in the doubleheader for Cleveland, which has lost a season-high five straight and had its AL Central lead cut to 3 ½ games over Minnesota.
The Guardians still own the best home record in baseball at 35-20.
Santander’s blasts power Orioles
Anthony Santander homered from both sides of the plate and Jackson Holliday added a two-run shot to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Eloy Jimenez added a two-run double for the Orioles, who rebounded after losing Tuesday’s series opener to tie the Yankees for first in the AL East.
Baltimore trailed 3-2 when Holliday went deep for the third straight game in the seventh inning to score Jimenez, who hit an infield single.
At 20 years, 274 days, Holliday is the youngest player in AL history to homer in three straight contests.
Santander hit a two-run shot off Bowden Francis in the first inning and belted a solo shot as a right-handed hitter in the eighth. The homers were his 33rd and 34th, a career high.
Santander leads the majors with 25 homers since the start of June.
Naomi Osaka put her Paris Olympics disappointment behind her as she eased to the next round of the Canadian Open in a straight-sets win over Ons Jabeur.
Osaka fell at the first hurdle to Angelique Kerber at Roland-Garros last month, but was back to her best as she emerged a 6-3 6-1 victor in Toronto.
The four-time grand slam champion wasted no time in stamping her authority on proceedings, earning a two break points to take a 3-0 lead early on.
And that would prove decisive, with the world number 95 seeing out the rest of her service games, closing out the first set with a love game.
Jabeur would have no response to Osaka's stunning display, with the Japanese finding another pivotal break before winning the remaining three games to confirm the win.
Osaka will face Elise Mertens in the round of 32 after the Belgian beat Katie Volynets in straight sets earlier in the day.
Data Debrief: Osaka over Olympics disappointment
Having suffered disappointment in Paris, Osaka responded in emphatic style upon her return to the court and will want to continue that momentum moving forward.
Osaka converted all three of the break points she had, winning all eight of her service games.
It proved to be a difficult day at the office for Jabeur, who uncharacteristcally served seven double faults throughout the contest compared to Osaka's four.
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open, claiming he would be unable to give 100% effort should he participate.
Nadal, who played in both the singles and doubles at the Paris Olympics, skipped Wimbledon earlier this year in order to feature at Roland-Garros.
However, after losing to Novak Djokovic in the singles and then failing to reach the medal matches alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles, Nadal has elected to miss this season's final major and instead ready himself for the Laver Cup, which will take place in September.
It means the 38-year-old, who has triumphed four times at Flushing Meadows, may well have featured at the last major of his extraordinary career.
In a post on social media, Nadal wrote: "I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open a place where I have amazing memories.
"I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don't think I would be able to give my 100% this time.
"Thanks to all my US fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time.
"Best of luck to all for the always amazing US Open! My next event will be the Laver Cup in Berlin."
Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard has once again demonstrated her dominance in the Suncorp Super Netball League by winning the prestigious Stacey Marinkovich Medal for the sixth time. The 35-year-old star player, who has been a cornerstone of the West Coast Fever team, secured the award after polling 10 out of 14 votes in a remarkable season.
Fowler-Nembhard, who has won the medal in six of the seven seasons she has played with the Fever, expressed her profound gratitude and joy at receiving the accolade. "Having won the Stacey Marinkovich Medal for the sixth time is an overwhelming feeling. It’s great. I am beyond honoured," she said. "I am happy to know that my performance and my hard work have been paying off and I am grateful to know that it has been recognized."
In the recently concluded season, the Fever narrowly missed out on reaching the final, losing 73-72 to the Melbourne Vixens in a nail-biting Preliminary Final last month. The Vixens went on to lose 59-57 to the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who clinched back-to-back titles. Despite the team's narrow miss, Fowler-Nembhard's individual performance was nothing short of spectacular. She led the scoring for the Fever and league with an impressive 813 goals and accumulated 1571.5 Nissan Net Points.
Reflecting on her achievement, Fowler-Nembhard said, "To be MVP for my club is a great feeling and will definitely be something that I have to look back on after I hang up my boots, knowing that I have put out so much in my career and it has paid off in numerous ways, winning these awards year-in, year-out."
The veteran player also acknowledged the collective effort of her teammates throughout the season. "I am grateful for it. I am over the moon. I am humbled by these awards as well because my teammates have put in a lot of work this season, and anyone could have won this," she noted. "But the fact that I have won gives me great pleasure to know that I am still performing at a very high standard which is what is required when you’re playing at this level, but to be able to maintain this over the years has been really good."
Fowler-Nembhard's consistency and excellence have not only been crucial for the West Coast Fever but have also set a high benchmark in the league. Her sustained performance over the years underscores her dedication, skill, and passion for the sport.
Her latest accolade adds to a storied career that will be remembered long after she decides to retire.
The Utah Jazz have signed forward Lauri Markkanen to a five-year, $238million contract that includes money added to next season’s salary and four additional years through the 2028-29 campaign.
The 2022-23 All-Star and NBA Most Improved Player will see his salary increase from $18million to $42 million next season before earning $196million from 2025-29.
“I’m excited to get this extension done,” Markkanen said. "I’m excited to get back to work and build with this franchise.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Markkanen with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft before dealing him to the Chicago Bulls in a draft-night trade.
Markkanen went on to earn First-Team All-Rookie honours in 2017-18 before Chicago traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2021.
He spent one season with the Cavaliers before they dealt him to Utah in the trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland.
Markkanen averaged a career-high 25.6 points in his first season with the Jazz in 2022-23 while adding 8.6 rebounds per game. He was named an All-Star for the first time as well as the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
The 27-year-old Finland native followed that campaign by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last season.
Markkanen's 1,004 made 3-pointers rank third all-time in NBA history for players seven foot or taller behind Dirk Nowitzki (1,982) and Channing Frye (1,049).
Brandon Aiyuk seems set to leave the San Francisco 49ers after he was granted permission to speak to other teams.
Contract talks between the 49ers and their top wide receiver have stalled in recent weeks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns have all been credited with an interest in Aiyuk, who had 1,342 receiving yards last season, a career-high.
And San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan has now confirmed Aiyuk has been allowed to open talks with other teams.
He said: "You're always disappointed when you can’t keep hold of all your players and it’s not going exactly right.
"I don't like losing anybody, so that’s why I am hoping it does work out here. But right now, we don't have that solved.
"You want everybody out there. You truly understand the business side of our league and what these guys do and what they have to go through in these deals.
"Whether it’s a hold-in or a holdout, this stuff is pretty common and you've just got to be patient with it as a coach."
Asked about signing a replacement if Aiyuk were to leave, Shanahan added: "Brandon's a great player, so it's really hard to be better when you lose a great player.
The 36th Caribbean Amateur Junior Golf Championship (CAJGC) teed off in vibrant fashion on Tuesday evening with a colourful opening ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Hosted by the Jamaica Golf Association (JGA), the event welcomed teams from eight countries to compete in the prestigious tournament.
This year’s championship sees participation from teams representing the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, and host Jamaica. The opening ceremony set an enthusiastic tone for the competition, which had been rescheduled from July due to the passing of Hurricane Beryl.
Jodi Munn-Barrow, president of the JGA, extended a warm welcome to all teams and expressed confidence in a successful tournament. "Everything is in place for a very good championship," Munn-Barrow stated, emphasizing the meticulous preparations made despite the earlier postponement.
Eduardo Figueroa, coach of defending champions Puerto Rico, expressed high expectations for his team, indicating their strong preparation and determination to retain the title.
Alison Reid, manager of the Jamaican team, acknowledged some logistical challenges resulting from the rescheduling but remained optimistic. "Some persons who planned to compete when it was scheduled for July are no longer available, and the team will have fewer numbers than previously committed," Reid said. "However, the team will still put on a good show."
Jamaica’s coaching duo, Jonathan Newnhan and Jason Lopez, also shared their confidence in the team’s potential. Newnhan highlighted the team’s thorough preparation, while Lopez pointed out the advantage of competing on the Caymanas Golf Course, where the team has been practicing extensively.
The Jamaican team features talented players including team captain Mattea Issa, Trey Williams, Aman Dhiman, and Ryan Lue, all competing in the Under-18 category. Players will also compete in the Under-15 and Under-13 categories for both boys and girls.
Peter Levey of the major sponsor British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC) expressed his company’s delight in supporting the event. "We are very happy to be on board for this year’s staging of the CAJGC as it represents a very good opportunity to support the development of youth sport," Levey remarked.
The championship boasts a wide array of sponsors including Restaurants of Jamaica (KFC), Sandals Foundation, WATA, CMK, Jamaica Pegasus, Fleetwood Jamaica Limited, R&A, Island Car Rentals & Tours, Digicel Business, Titlest, and several others, demonstrating strong community and corporate backing for the event.
The competition tees off on Wednesday at 8:00 am with the first of three rounds of 18 holes each, concluding on Friday. The closing ceremony will follow the final round, celebrating the achievements of the young golfers.
Zak Brown has admitted to being shocked by McLaren's competitive performance in the Formula One world championship this season.
McLaren sit just 42 points adrift of Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship, with lead driver Lando Norris also second to Max Verstappen in the standings.
The team have achieved podium finishes in their last 10 races, and they are well placed to challenge across the back half of the campaign.
Brown, however, was not expecting such success so soon.
"If I were to sit here and say I'm not surprised, that would be disingenuous," Brown told BBC Sport.
"Red Bull had such an advantage over everyone and Mercedes has been so dominant.
"I felt like we'd continue to close the gap. Did I think we would be here at the summer break, one race away from getting the lead?
"That race would have to be first and second and fastest lap, and do I think it's going to happen like that? No. But if we keep the same trajectory we've been on the last six, seven races, we'll be where we need to be by the end of the year.
"I thought we might get where we are now by 2025. I didn't think we would be where we are now in 2024. But I'm not complaining."
Both Norris and Oscar Piastri have claimed their maiden race wins this season indicative of an increasingly competitive McLaren.
Brown credits team principal Andrea Stella, who was appointed ahead of the 2023 season, for the growing success.
"He unlocked the talent that we already had here," Brown said. "We've got approximately 1,000 people here in F1. I changed three. But it was three leaders. So, 997 are the same people who gave us the [uncompetitive] car at the beginning of 2023.
"A leader's job is to get the most out of their people and that's what we didn't have previously. We weren't able to let the talent we have in here flourish.
"Andrea communicates very well. He listens very well. He's very hard-working. He's very technical. He leads by example. All the traits you would want in a great leader. He unlocked the potential this team clearly had sitting there."
While Piastri continued McLaren's podium success at the Belgian Grand Prix, Norris could not make gains in the driver standings despite Verstappen having to deal with a 10-place grid penalty.
He finished fifth, one place behind Red Bull’s reigning champion. Brown, however, sees these experiences as a learning curve for everyone.
"We've all made a variety of errors, which to me are learning experiences," he reflected.
"I thought [Mercedes team principal] Toto [Wolff] was accurate with his comment. He said: 'Well, sometimes you figure these things out once they've kind of been put on your plate.'
"So if I look at the mistakes we've made - whether those are drivers or us, kinda doesn't matter; we're one team - we wouldn't make these mistakes again. We're learning. And I think maybe because we have got where we are quicker than we thought, it shows we still have learning to do.
"Lando is trying to fight for a world championship. He's going for it. He's learning, as are we. So I'm not concerned about it."
Holger Rune made a strong start at the Montreal Open as he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 3-6 6-2.
Rune, who withdrew from the Olympics due to a wrist injury, had been set to face Milos Raonic in the first round.
However, Raonic withdrew just moments before the match was due to start, so lucky loser Bautista Agut filled in.
It left Rune having to swiftly adapt to a new opponent, but despite a wobble in the second set, the Dane was generally in control throughout Tuesday's contest.
"It was a challenge for sure," Rune said. "It's never easy coming back after a little break — not the longest break, but for me, I'm very young and luckily I haven't been injured much. It was difficult but I think I managed to find the rhythm quickly.
"It was kind of tricky. It's two completely different game styles. I kind of had to adjust from one tactic to another in five minutes. Luckily, I played Bautista before so I had a clue, and obviously he's been on Tour for many years, so I know him very well.
"It was not easy. I was expecting a big server and trying to manage to get in the rallies with Milos, and now it was a completely different story. I needed to attack much more and play on my terms."
Next up for Rune, who has won 13 of his 15 opening-round matches this season, is a tie against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Data Debrief: Scandi style
Since the format’s inception in 1990, world number 17 Rune is now the fourth Scandinavian player to claim 30+ wins from an opening 50 ATP Masters 1000 matches.
He joins Stefan Edberg (41), Magnus Gustafsson (32) and Casper Ruud (31) on that list.
Jonathan Cannon pitched six strong innings and Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer as the Chicago White Sox ended an American League record-tying 21-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
The White Sox won for the first time since July 10 after their 21-game skid matched the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the longest in AL history. They avoided the major league record of 23 straight losses set by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies.
Cannon allowed his only run on Zack Gelof’s home run and five other hits with two walks and five strikeouts for his second major league win.
Dominic Leone, Chad Kuhl and John Brebbia finished with three hitless innings.
The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Benintendi’s home run off Ross Stripling scored Luis Robert Jr., who had singled.
Gelof’s 14th homer in the bottom half cut Oakland’s deficit in half, but Chicago extended to a 4-1 lead in the sixth on Andrew Vaughn’s RBI single and a wild pitch by Michel Otanez.
Astros’ Valdez falls just short of history
Framber Valdez came up one out shy of his second career no-hitter, allowing a two-run homer to Corey Seager, before the Houston Astros held on for a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Needing three outs for his second no-hitter in just over a year, Valdez walked Robbie Grossman to open the ninth before Ezequiel Duran grounded into a double play. After Josh Smith walked, Seager blasted the first pitch he saw into the right-field seats to get the Rangers within 4-2.
Josh Hader replaced Valdez and walked Marcus Semien but got Josh Jung to fly to the wall in right for his 23rd save.
Valdez had a perfect game through five innings and faced the minimum of 18 batters through six. He won his third straight start and sixth consecutive decision, allowing one hit and three walks with five strikeouts.
The left-hander threw his first career no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Cleveland on Aug. 1, 2023. Teammate Ronel Blanco pitched the 17th no-hitter in franchise history against Toronto on April 1.
Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the ninth that ended up being the difference.
Surging Red Sox edge Royals
Dominic Smith scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning on a call that was overturned on a challenge, and the Boston Red Sox held on for a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Smith doubled to open the sixth and moved to third on a single by Eric Sogard. After David Hamilton struck out, Smith charged home on a pitch by Seth Lugo that bounced in front of the plate and got away from catcher Salvador Perez. Perez chased the ball to the backstop, wheeled and threw to Lugo, who appeared to tag Smith for an apparent out.
The Red Sox challenged the call, which was overturned on review.
Masataka Yoshida added a two-run single later in the inning and Kenley Jansen got the final four outs for his 21st save.
Boston has won three straight and five of six to pull within one-half game of Kansas City for the final AL wild card.
Victoria Azarenka reached a career milestone with her straight-sets victory in the opening round of the Canadian Open on Tuesday.
She overcame Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2 to book her place in the round of 32 in one hour and 17 minutes in Toronto.
In the process, Azarenka became the first player to claim 150 straight-set wins at WTA-1000 events, excluding retirements, since the format's introduction in 2009.
The Belarusian already had the most straight-set wins at WTA-1000 events, but now has 18 more than second-place Agnieszka Radwanska (132).
Azarenka is chasing her first title at the Canadian Open, having reached the semi-finals twice in her previous 11 appearances.
The New York Knicks named Jalen Brunson as their new captain on Tuesday.
He is the team's first captain in six years, with Lance Thomas the last in the 2018-19 season, and the 36th overall.
Brunson has established himself in the team since arriving in 2022, helping the team to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in both seasons since leaving the Dallas Mavericks.
He averaged 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds over 35.4 minutes in 77 games in the regular season.
Brunson also became the first player in NBA history to score at least 40 points and get at least five assists in four consecutive playoff games.
"The New York Knicks have a deep and storied history, and today we are immensely proud to add to that lineage by naming Jalen Brunson as our captain," said Knicks president Leon Rose.
"Jalen is a natural-born leader, and I am confident he will continue to represent our organization, fans, city and his team-mates with the same heart, grit and class that he has displayed each and every day since he came to New York."
Brunson earned his first All-Star nod last season and finished fifth in the voting for the NBA MVP award.
Max Verstappen admitted Red Bull are in for a tough fight in the second half of the season after being overtaken by their improving Formula 1 rivals.
The Dutchman started the season strongly, winning seven of the first 10 races on the calendar, while he and Sergio Perez secured three one-twos in the first four Grands Prix.
However, Red Bull now find themselves under pressure after failing to win any of the last four races, with Verstappen only managing one podium at Silverstone during that run and Perez struggling for form.
Mercedes won three of those four, with Lewis Hamilton winning two and George Russell the other, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri earned his maiden victory in Hungary.
The gap at the top of the constructors' championship is now down to 42 points, thanks to McLaren's 10-race run of consecutive podium finishes.
And now, Verstappen has suggested the Austrian-based team no longer have the fastest car.
"I think they are ahead of us," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. "It depends. Sometimes McLaren, sometimes Mercedes.
"I think we were faster than Ferrari but coming from P11 [at the Belgian Grand Prix], we didn't have enough time to pass them. We know that we have work to do.
"We know that we want to do better, we are, of course, not satisfied with this, but everyone is doing a great job, and you have to take your hat off for that as well."
Verstappen still holds a 78-point lead over McLaren's Lando Norris in the drivers' championship, the equivalent of three race wins, with the season resuming in the Netherlands at the end of August.
Shanice Beckford’s fairly successful debut season with West Coast Fever in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League has not only rekindled her passion for the sport but also strengthened her resolve to continue representing Jamaica on the international stage.
Simply put, Beckford has found a new lease on life in her career.
Prior to joining West Coast Fever, where the professional environment, high level of competition, and team camaraderie were just what she needed to lift her spirit, Beckford toyed with the idea of retirement. This, as the wear and tear of the sport in a career spanning over a decade, coupled with personal and professional challenges, had taken its toll.
That, along with the fact that Beckford was convinced she had accomplished all she set out to, was among reasons why she was ready to walk away from the sport she first fell in love with as a teenager.
“I was seriously considering hanging up my shoes because, at that point, I was struggling to find the motivation to play netball at all levels. I felt like I had reached a point where I couldn't give it anymore,” Beckford shared.
“But I am now feeling more motivated than before after experiencing the game at a new level. Every week in the SSN felt like a grand final and that reignited my passion for the game, so sometimes it just takes a change of scenery and a competitive atmosphere to get back in the right frame of mind because it definitely reminded me of why I fell in love with netball in the first place,” she told Sportsmax.TV from her base in Perth, Australia.
While her task on the star-studded Fever cast was to play a supporting role for compatriot and decorated goal-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Beckford’s agility, sharp shooting, and strategic play were not to be outdone.
In fact, those attributes not only made her a standout player in the league, but the goal-attack quickly became a fan favorite and a key player for the Fever. The Perth-based franchise ended the season in third place as Adelaide Thunderbirds—the team of Jamaicans Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson, and Romelda Aiken-George—retained their crown.
Beckford registered 100 goals from 151 attempts, complemented by four intercepts, nine deflections, four rebounds, and 678 Nissan Net Points in 16 games played for the Dan Ryan-coached franchise.
“I believe that my performances exceeded both my coach's and my own expectations. Personally, being in this high-functioning, high-performance environment has greatly contributed to my development and assisted me in unlocking the next level of my game.
“From a team perspective, I feel that my role as a team player, bringing a unique skillset, has been invaluable to our collective efforts and was great to work with. The level of competitiveness in the team ensured that every game felt like a new opportunity to prove myself, so I am very pleased considering it was my debut season,” Beckford noted.
Still, the 29-year-old, like any athlete who aspires to greatness, knows there is much to improve on.
“I've always known that embarking on this new journey would present significant challenges for me. It's an unfamiliar environment and a step up from what I'm used to. Throughout the season, I found it difficult to maintain consistency and awareness, and that resulted in a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” Beckford explained.
She continued: “Nevertheless, I exerted maximum effort in every possible way to persevere and continue working diligently. This experience has taught me the lesson that during trying times, resilient individuals push through, and so I have to stay focused amidst the chaos.
“So I know that there are always areas for me to constantly improve on, and the biggest one for me would be consistency because for any player, continued improvement is crucial. Although I maintained a positive mindset, I am aware of specific areas I need to enhance in order to remain competitive and consistent throughout the season.”
Whether she will be retained by West Coast Fever is left to be seen, but Beckford is optimistic about staying with the club for the foreseeable future.
“The evaluation process is currently underway where the club determines which players will be re-signed, so I am not sure what the outcome will be, but I would love to continue playing in SSN,” Beckford stated.
“If it doesn’t work out, then I will leave knowing I gave it my all and had a wonderful experience, one that I'm grateful for. The league offers unparalleled exposure and experience, and I am confident that I will be better prepared to handle the upcoming season because I’m playing with a renewed sense of purpose and joy,” she added.
By all indications, Beckford’s positive experience with the Fever will certainly spill over on the international stage, as she has committed to the next four-year cycle with the Sunshine Girls with hopes of adding to her three Commonwealth Games medals, three Fast5 medals, and one Netball World Cup medal.
The soft-spoken player’s first assignment will be a home-and-away series against England in November, where she aims to not only display her improved skills and strategies but also a renewed enthusiasm that is contagious.
“Playing in the Super Netball (SSN) league has significantly influenced how I plan to approach the upcoming international games. It has provided me with valuable experience and insights, shaping my mindset and enhancing my performance. The opportunity to compete at such a high level consistently is a great feeling, and I am confident that this experience will greatly contribute to my level of readiness for the England series, should I be chosen to participate,” Beckford stated.
“So I am really looking forward to it, but my goal is to be selected first and then get stuck back into national training because I am committing to the next four-year cycle to focus on playing some great netball and being courageous. I'm also excited to work with a former teammate [Sasher-Gaye Henry], who is now head coach for the Sunshine Girls,” she ended.
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache has said the Austrian-based teams RB20 "didn't deliver what was expected" in every area this season.
Red Bull claimed a sixth Constructors' Championship in 2023, with Max Verstappen winning his third World Drivers' Championship in a row, scoring 575 points, which was more than double of second placed team-mate, Sergio Perez.
Despite their dominance, the team wanted to remain at the top of the grid and made significant changes to this year's RB20.
Verstappen and Perez would secure three one-two finishes in the first four Grand Prix's of the season, but performances of late have seen the team's around them close in.
Both McLaren and Mercedes have continually improved and have looked competitive since May, with Wache saying the cars' performance this year has fallen below expectations.
"I would say not really. We improved compared to last year, without doubt, but we didn’t deliver what we expected in some areas," Wache told Motorsport.com.
"Especially in the high-speed corners we expected a little bit more than what we have. Without thinking about the competitiveness of the car, so just based on our own references, we expected a little bit more with our tools.
"In medium-speed and low-speed we improved quite a lot compared to last year. We were a little bit weaker in the high-speed corners compared to last year relative to the competition.
"In kerb riding we are clearly weak, but we were already last year. I think we didn’t make the improvement we expected in that aspect."
While Verstappen still holds a comfortable advantage over McLaren's Lando Norris in the Drivers' Championship, the same cannot be said for the Constructors'.
McLaren are now just 42 points behind Red Bull, with Ferrari just 11 points behind the British-based team.
That subsequent dip in results has largely been down to the form of Perez, who is yet to finish on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Verstappen's fourth placed finish at the Belgian Grand Prix last time out was also the first time since 2020 that the Dutchman had failed to win a race in four attempts.
Despite their recent form, it did not come as a surprise to Wache, who said he expected the rival teams to catch up as the season went on.
"We expected the opposition to come earlier, to be honest with you," Wache added. "When we started the 2022 season, we didn’t have the quickest car.
"Ferrari had the quickest car in the beginning of 2022. We expected a massive competition in 2023, but that didn’t happen.
"In 2024 we also expected the competition to be there more or less from the start, because the performance you can find with the car is limited under the same regulations.
"After the first four or five races the others came back, maybe with a bit of delay, but we expected that from the start.
"The limitations you have with these regulations are quite high and what you can find to make more steps is getting more difficult. Then it is almost sure that the opposition will come back at some point."
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache has said the Austrian-based teams RB20 "didn't deliver what was expected" in every area this season.
Red Bull claimed a sixth Constructors' Championship in 2023, with Max Verstappen winning his third World Drivers' Championship in a row, scoring 575 points, which was more than double of second placed team-mate, Sergio Perez.
Despite their dominance, the team wanted to remain at the top of the grid and made significant changes to this year's RB20.
Verstappen and Perez would secure three one-two finishes in the first four Grand Prix's of the season, but performances of late have seen the team's around them close in.
Both McLaren and Mercedes have continually improved and have looked competitive since May, with Wache saying the cars' performance this year has fallen below expectations.
"I would say not really. We improved compared to last year, without doubt, but we didn’t deliver what we expected in some areas," Wache told Motorsport.com.
"Especially in the high-speed corners we expected a little bit more than what we have. Without thinking about the competitiveness of the car, so just based on our own references, we expected a little bit more with our tools.
"In medium-speed and low-speed we improved quite a lot compared to last year. We were a little bit weaker in the high-speed corners compared to last year relative to the competition.
"In kerb riding we are clearly weak, but we were already last year. I think we didn’t make the improvement we expected in that aspect."
While Verstappen still holds a comfortable advantage over McLaren's Lando Norris in the Drivers' Championship, the same cannot be said for the Constructors'.
McLaren are now just 42 points behind Red Bull, with Ferrari just 11 points behind the British-based team.
That subsequent dip in results has largely been down to the form of Perez, who is yet to finish on the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Verstappen's fourth placed finish at the Belgian Grand Prix last time out was also the first time since 2020 that the Dutchman had failed to win a race in four attempts.
Despite their recent form, it did not come as a surprise to Wache, who said he expected the rival teams to catch up as the season went on.
"We expected the opposition to come earlier, to be honest with you," Wache added. "When we started the 2022 season, we didn’t have the quickest car.
"Ferrari had the quickest car in the beginning of 2022. We expected a massive competition in 2023, but that didn’t happen.
"In 2024 we also expected the competition to be there more or less from the start, because the performance you can find with the car is limited under the same regulations.
"After the first four or five races the others came back, maybe with a bit of delay, but we expected that from the start.
"The limitations you have with these regulations are quite high and what you can find to make more steps is getting more difficult. Then it is almost sure that the opposition will come back at some point."
Harrison Butker's contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs makes him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, according to reports.
Butker has penned a new, four-year deal with the Chiefs, who have won back-to-back Super Bowls.
Indeed, the 29-year-old has won three rings while with Kansas City, and converted the crucial field goal in their Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in early 2023.
The Chiefs have now tied Butker down until 2028, with the deal reportedly worth $25.6million, with $17.75m guaranteed, more than any other NFL kicker.
"There's no place I'd rather be than with the Chiefs, excited to finalize a [four] year extension," Butker said in a post on social media. "To the Heights!"
Butker has a field goal percentage of 89.1 across his career, while he has been on the Chiefs' roster since 2017.
The Chicago White Sox tied an American League record with their 21st consecutive loss after being handed a 5-1 defeat by the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
Chicago mustered just one run and three hits through seven innings against A's starter JP Sears to match the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the second-longest losing streak in Major League Baseball since 1900. The 1961 Philadelphia Phillies own the longest skid in the modern era with 23 straight losses.
Max Schuemann snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the fourth inning to help support Sears (9-8), who retired the final 10 batters he faced after surrendering Andrew Benintendi's run-scoring single in the top of the fourth to improve to 5-1 over his last six starts.
Benintendi's hit brought home Andrew Vaughn, who doubled earlier in the inning, to knot the score at 1-1 before the A's answered with two runs in their half of the fourth.
Oakland loaded the bases when White Sox starter Ky Bush hit Darrell Hernaiz with a pitch after giving up a double to JJ Bleday and walking Zack Gelof. Schuemann then delivered a single to left to drive in two runners and provide Sears with a 3-1 advantage.
Oakland increased its lead on Lawrence Butler's solo homer in the sixth inning, then tacked on another run in the eighth when Gelof scored from third on a pitch that got past White Sox catcher Korey Lee as Schuemann struck out.
Bush, called up from Triple-A Charlotte earlier in the day, allowed just two hits over four innings in his MLB debut, but issued five walks and permitted three runs.
The rookie left-hander walked three batters to load the bases in the first inning, which led to the A's first run when Tyler Nevin plated Daz Cameron with a sacrifice fly.
Ohtani's homer helps Dodgers down Phillies in Freeman's return
Shohei Ohtani hit his National League-leading 34th home run of the season as the Los Angeles Dodgers made Freddie Freeman's return to the lineup a winning one with Monday's 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Teoscar Hernandez added a two-run homer in Freeman's first game since July 25. The All-Star first baseman had been away from the Dodgers for 10 days to attend to his 3-year-old son, who had been hospitalized with an autoimmune condition before being released Sunday.
Ohtani also drove in a pair of runs while finishing 2 for 3 to help Los Angeles win the opener of this marquee three-game series between the NL's top two teams.
The Dodgers also received a solid start from Tyler Glasnow (9-6), who struck out nine over six innings while allowing three runs. Three Los Angeles relievers then finished off the victory, with Daniel Hudson tossing a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save.
Aaron Nola (11-5) worked six innings for the slumping Phillies but was touched for four runs, all of which came in the third inning as Los Angeles erased an early 2-0 deficit.
Philadelphia has now lost seven of its last eight games and is just a half-game ahead of the Dodgers in the race for the NL's best record.
Nola cruised through the first two innings but quickly ran into trouble in the third, as Jason Heyward and Andy Pages delivered back-to-back doubles to get the Dodgers on the board. After Pages advanced to third on Nick Ahmed's infield single, Ohtani lifted a long sacrifice fly to right field that tied the contest at 2-2.
Hernandez followed with a line drive into the seats in left to put Los Angeles ahead with his 24th homer of the season.
Glasnow kept it a 4-2 lead until the sixth, when Kyle Schwarber singled and reached third on Bryce Harper's one-out double before scoring on a groundout off the bat of Alec Bohm.
Ohtani restored the Dodgers' two-run advantage, however, with a solo homer off Tanner Banks to open the bottom of the eighth.
The Phillies reached Glasnow for two second-inning runs with the help of a misplay by Pages, who couldn't come down with Nick Castellanos' long fly ball to center field that resulted in a two-out triple.
Bryson Stott then plated Castellanos with an infield single, and Austin Hays followed with a base hit to advance Stott to third. Stott would score on a wild pitch uncorked by Glasnow to give the Phillies a 2-0 edge.
Rangers shock Astros on Smith's homer in 10th
Josh Smith came through with a game-winning two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to a stunning 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros in the opener of a key three-game series between AL West contenders.
Smith's blast off Caleb Ferguson sent slumping Houston to a third straight loss and prevented the Astros from moving within a half-game of the first-place Seattle Mariners in the division standings.
The defending World Series champion Rangers are now five games behind Seattle after winning for just the third time in 10 games.
After the Astros took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th when Texas closer Kirby Yates hit consecutive batters with pitches to force in a run, Ferguson entered the game and struck out the first two men he faced with a designated runner on second base.
Ferguson fell behind in the count to Smith, however, and the utility player sent a 3-1 fastball deep into the right field seats to end the game.
The Rangers opted to intentionally walk Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez in the top of the 10th to put two runners on base, but the strategy backfired when Yates hit Yainer Diaz in the hand and then plunked Jeremy Pena with the bases loaded to put the Astros ahead.
Texas had tied the game on Corey Seager's solo homer off Ryan Pressly in the bottom of the eighth, erasing a 2-1 lead the Astros had taken in the top of the inning when Jose Altuve singled, took second on a wild pitch from Rangers reliever David Robertson and later scored on Pena's infield single.
Alex Bregman gave Houston an early 1-0 advantage with a solo homer in the third inning off Andrew Heaney, the only hit the Rangers' starter allowed in six innings of work.
Texas pulled even in the fifth when Nathaniel Lowe drew a walk against Houston starter Hunter Brown, advanced to third on Adolis Garcia's single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leody Taveras.
Brown yielded just one run and three hits over six innings.
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