Max Verstappen is confident that Red Bull's mid-season struggles are now firmly in their review mirror ahead of the United States Grand Prix this weekend.
Verstappen started the season with seven wins from the opening 10 races, with the Dutchman on track to claim a fourth consecutive world championship at a canter.
However, a combination of Red Bull taking a wrong turn with car development and McLaren's resurgence has seen the campaign take on a new complexion for the final six races.
Verstappen has gone eight races without a victory, seeing his lead in the drivers' championship cut to 52 points by Lando Norris, with Red Bull also surrendering top spot in the constructors' standings to McLaren after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
For now, Verstappen is optimistic that Red Bull have turned a corner after they introduced an update to their floor in Baku.
“Yes, it felt better,” Verstappen confirmed. “That was already a good step for us. I do think we are moving in the right direction now.
"It will take some time. You can’t turn something like this around in one or two weeks. But I do think the team was happy with what they saw in Baku as well.
“Yes, I do think so to be honest," Verstappen added about their season struggles being behind them. "Hopefully we can continue to make good steps from here.”
If either Verstappen or team-mate Sergio Perez scores points in the United States, Red Bull will have put at least one of its two drivers in the points for 62 consecutive races, equalling the third-best run in Formula One history.
Red Bull are also 45 laps led away from reaching 7000, and would be the fifth team to reach this figure in the competition after Ferrari (15888), McLaren (11029), Williams (7584) and Mercedes (7255).
But that particular milestone could have come much sooner, with Verstappen saying he was surprised by Red Bull's dramatic drop-off after a dominant period on the track.
“In the beginning, I was surprised as well, but if you look at what our problems were, then I fully understand it," Verstappen told Autosport.
“At some point, we have gone in the wrong direction. The other teams have either not faced that particular point yet or they developed the car in a slightly different way.
"That is always difficult to assess.”
Davante Adams will be reunited with Aaron Rodgers.
The Las Vegas Raiders traded Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday for a conditional third-round draft pick that can become a second-rounder depending upon his production from the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.
The trade, which was being finalised less than 24 hours after the Jets suffered a tough 23-20 home loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, makes Adams and Rodgers team-mates again.
Adams and Rodgers played together for eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-21, with Adams catching 615 passes from Rodgers for 7,529 yards and 68 touchdowns.
Among active players, no quarterback-receiver combo has more receptions or touchdowns.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Adams ranks second among all active players in touchdown catches (96), and fourth in both receptions (890) and yards (10,990).
The Raiders acquired Adams prior to the 2022 season for a first- and second-round draft pick, and then signed him to a five-year, $140million contract with $65.7million guaranteed.
In his first season in Las Vegas with his former college quarterback, Derek Carr, Adams had 100 catches for 1,516 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns to earn a third straight first-team All-Pro selection. The Raiders, however, finished 6-11 and Carr was benched late in the season.
Las Vegas went 8-9 in 2023, with Adams finishing with 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and eight TDs.
The Raiders are off to a sluggish start this season at 2-4 and Adams has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, while there had been speculation that the star receiver was seeking a trade.
He now joins a team that is also scuffling, as New York also dropped to 2-4 with its latest defeat with Rodgers throwing a costly interception in the final minutes.
If his hamstring is healthy enough, Adams could be on the field Sunday night, when the Jets visit the 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Reigning champions Jamaica is set to field the largest team to the Caribbean Golf Association's (CGA) Four-Ball Golf Championships, as 64 players from eight countries are set to contest this year’s edition of the tournament scheduled for October 17 to 20 in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Jamaican contingent comprises 20 players, with hosts Trinidad and Tobago fielding 14 players, while Barbados and Bahamas are set to field 10 and eight players, respectively. Bermuda (6) with Cayman Islands (2), Puerto Rico (2), and St. Lucia (2) have also been confirmed for what should be a competitive event at the Plantations Golf and Country Club.
Jamaica copped the overall title last year ahead of the Bahamas.
They were victorious in the Ladies 25 plus, as well as the Men's Senior and 70 plus divisions, while the Bahamian players copped the Men's Mid-Amateur and Super-Senior Categories. Trinidad and Tobago claimed the Ladies' 45 plus honours.
The teams are scheduled to arrive in the Twin Island Republic on Wednesday, with the opening ceremony set for Thursday at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort.
Tournament action will get underway on Friday and continue until Sunday, starting at 8:00am each day, with an award ceremony to follow on the final day.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, and Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, are both expected to grace the tournament with their presence.
Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for the rest of the Los Angeles Clippers’ preseason due to an ongoing knee issue.
The inflammation in his right knee has prevented him from playing any of their four preseason matches so far, including Monday's 110-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The injury also saw him miss the final eight games of the last regular season, while he was limited to just two appearances in their six-game, first-round loss to Dallas in the postseason.
Clippers coach Ty Lue confirmed that Leonard will not play in their final warm-up game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, and he is a doubt for their NBA season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 23.
Meanwhile, former Clippers star Paul George suffered a hyperextended left knee injury in Monday's preseason 104-89 win against the Atlanta Hawks.
George was playing just his second game since joining the 76ers as a free agent on a four-year max contract, but planted his left leg awkwardly, jarring his knee.
He did not play the rest of the game, but when asked about the injury, he was not too worried.
"I felt that it hyperextended, and immediately it was, all right, I need to get taken out and [looked at], but if you ask me, I'm not too concerned about it," George told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The 76ers begin their NBA season against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 23.
LeBron James is uncertain if he will get the chance to play on the same team as fellow great Stephen Curry before one of the duo retires.
Curry and James teamed up for the first time to help Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics this summer.
But with 39-year-old James and 36-year-old Curry in the twilight of their careers, the chances of them teaming up at another Olympics are slim.
Indeed, with James committed to the Los Angeles Lakers and Curry to the Golden State Warriors, the best fans can likely hope for is a joint All-Star appearance.
"I have no idea," James said ahead of the Lakers facing the Warriors in preseason.
James and Curry formed a thrilling NBA Finals rivalry between 2015 and 2018, facing off against each other 22 times.
"It was everything and more," James said of teaming up with Curry at the Olympics.
"I was super excited to be able to finally team up with him in a win-or-die type atmosphere. That's what it was, being a part of the Olympics.
"It was everything that I dreamed of and aspired to want to be a part of that team, along with Steph. Great memories. Something that I'll remember from my basketball career for the rest of my life, for sure.
"I understand what Steph has done for this game. I understand what he's done for his organisation, what he's done for the community, people all over the world.
"Just by his approach to the game and how he is as a man. How he is as a family man. How he is as a husband, a dad, a son, all that stuff.
"So when you have that type of respect for somebody and then you get to be around them every day and you see the way they work and how they treat their craft, it's a pretty cool thing. You're able to just respect that and not take it for granted."
Michael Chang is confident men's tennis is in good hands with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, following confirmation of Rafael Nadal's retirement.
Nadal will feature at the Davis Cup Finals for Spain before ending his glittering career next month, becoming the latest of the "Big Four" to walk away from the court.
Roger Federer called time on his career in 2022, while Andy Murray retired after the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
While Novak Djokovic – who is one win away from claiming a 100th Tour-level title – remains the last active player from that iconic quartet, Chang is delighted with the next generation.
"I think it's pretty clear at this point, if you look at the matches of both Alcaraz and Sinner, their games are dominating," 1989 French Open winner Chang told Stats Perform.
"Novak is still playing great tennis and to be able to win the Olympic Games is huge. You know he will still continue to fight for grand slam titles, but the games of these younger players and their confidence on court suggest they will be around for a while, barring any injuries.
"Jannik and Carlos have learned from the previous generation, they learned what it takes to go out and play unbelievable tennis.
"Carlos talks about how he watched these players growing up, how he has learned from them and taken their best qualities to improve his own game, which is very evident.
"They've inspired the younger generation and are well-liked off the court as well.
"Fans can relate to them, they're very humble in nature yet competitive on the court, which is a continuation of that kind of atmosphere and attitude that is really wonderful for our sport of tennis."
Sinner's triumph at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday saw him claim his place at the top of the ATP year-end world rankings, with only Djokovic and Nadal doing so quicker in a season since the modification of those rankings in 2009.
The Italian has won 65 of his 71 Tour-level matches this year, claiming seven trophies, including the Australian Open and US Open.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, won the other two grand slams.
The Spaniard has won all three of his meetings with Sinner this season, and Chang believes this is only the start of a blossoming rivalry that will go beyond the sport as a whole.
"I think they've already begun to do that. Carlos, in particular, is involved in many non-tennis-related activities and I think that will be pretty commonplace for them," Chang added.
"They're young and vibrant, with interests outside tennis, which is great to see.
"I don't think they'll get side-tracked like some players who have done really well in tennis, and then all of a sudden have this modelling contract over here or this and that over there and then all of a sudden, where did their tennis go?
"I don't see that happening with Alcaraz and Sinner. They seem disciplined, focused, and one-track-minded, but they won't shy away from being involved in other pursuits.
"I think they will keep that focus and will be good for our sport."
Francisco Lindor ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' streak of 33 consecutive scoreless innings with a lead-off home run, and Mark Vientos had a grand slam later on as the New York Mets evened the National League Championship Series with Monday's 7-3 Game 2 victory.
New York, the sixth and lowest seed in the NL play-offs, also received five-plus effective innings from Sean Manaea to bounce back from a 9-0 loss to the top-seeded Dodgers in Sunday's series opener.
Los Angeles entered Game 2 off three straight shutout victories to tie the 1966 Baltimore Orioles for the longest run of consecutive scoreless innings in a post-season in MLB history.
Lindor quickly prevented the streak from going any further, however, as he blasted a pitch from opener Ryan Brasier into the right field seats to begin the contest. The Mets then broke the game open with five runs off Landon Knack in the second inning.
Starling Marte started the second with a single for his first of three hits on the day, and Knack walked Jesse Winker before surrendering Tyrone Taylor's one-out double that plated Marte for a 2-0 lead.
After Lindor was intentionally walked to load the bases with two out, Vientos extended the margin to 6-0 with his third homer of this post-season.
Manaea kept the Dodgers off the board until Max Muncy's solo homer in the fifth, though the left-hander departed after issuing back-to-back walks to Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez to start the bottom of the sixth.
After an error by Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias loaded the bases, Tommy Edman drove in Betts and Hernandez with a single off Phil Maton to bring Los Angeles within 6-3.
The Dodgers threatened again in the eighth by putting two on with two out, but New York closer Edwin Diaz got Enrique Hernandez to fly out and protect the Mets' three-run cushion.
After Marte singled in Pete Alonso in the top of the ninth for the Mets' final run, Diaz worked out of another jam in the bottom of the inning by striking out Betts, Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in succession with two runners on.
The Mets will now host the next three games of this best-of-seven series, with Game 3 to take place Wednesday.
Rodon pitches Yankees to 1-0 lead over Guardians in ALCS
New York's other team also came out a winner on Monday, as the Yankees opened the American League Championship Series with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians behind six sharp innings from Carlos Rodon.
Rodon struck out nine without a walk and held Cleveland to one run on three hits to help give the Yankees the early upper hand in this clash between the AL's two best teams of the regular season. The left-hander did not permit a run until Brayan Rocchio led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer.
Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton backed Rodon's gem with solo homers, and the Yankees also capitalised on seven walks and five wild pitches thrown by Cleveland hurlers.
Top-seeded New York will attempt to take a 2-0 lead behind ace Gerrit Cole on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, with the Guardians slated to throw 12-game winner Tanner Bibee.
Soto started the scoring with a lead-off homer off Alex Cobb that ignited a three-run third inning for the Yankees. Cobb would issue three walks before departing with two out in favour of Joey Cantillo, who uncorked a pair of wild pitches that enabled Aaron Judge and Stanton to score.
Cantillo threw two more wild pitches after walking Gleyber Torres in the fourth, which set up Judge's sacrifice fly that brought in Torres for a 4-0 lead.
Rocchio's homer in the sixth got Cleveland on the board, but the Yankees countered in the seventh on Stanton's 13th career post-season homer.
The Guardians made a bid to get back in it in the eighth with three singles off reliever Tim Hill, including Steven Kwan's hit that knocked in Andres Gimenez and trimmed the deficit to 5-2.
New York then summoned closer Luke Weaver, who struck out pinch-hitter Will Brennan and retired All-Star Jose Ramirez on an inning-ending groundout to strand two runners.
Weaver recorded three more strikeouts in the ninth to end the game and earn his fourth save of the post-season.
Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another touchdown, and the Buffalo Bills intercepted Aaron Rodgers with under two minutes left to hold on for a 23-20 win over the turmoil-laden New York Jets on Monday.
Tyler Bass' 22-yard field goal with 3:43 remaining snapped a 20-20 tie and helped send New York (2-4) to its third straight loss in its first game since firing head coach Robert Saleh last week and replacing him with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
The Jets also stripped offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of play-calling duties during their shake-up, with passing game coordinator Todd Downing taking over that role for Monday's game.
The switch allowed Rodgers to throw for a season-high 294 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yard Hail Mary heave to Allen Lazard to end the first half. However, the four-time NFL MVP's final pass of the night, a deep ball intended for Mike Williams, was picked off by Taron Johnson with 1:52 left to play before the Bills ran out the clock.
Allen had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then connected with Mack Hollins and Dawson Knox on touchdown passes in the second as the Bills built a 20-10 lead prior to Lazard's leaping grab in the end zone just before half-time.
The Jets tied the game at 20-20 on Greg Zuerlein's 22-yard field goal with 6:13 left in the third quarter, but the veteran kicker missed two other attempts later on that would have put New York ahead.
Allen finished with 215 yards on 19-of-25 passing as Buffalo (4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak and extended its lead atop the AFC East to 1 1/2 games. Rookie Ray Davis rushed for a career-high 97 yards in place of Bills' top running back James Cook, who was inactive with a toe injury.
Lazard racked up 114 yards on six catches in the loss, while the Jets also got 107 yards and a touchdown on eight catches from Garrett Wilson and 113 rushing yards from Breece Hall.
Rashida Bignall, a salsa dance instructor, made waves at the 2024 Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness National Championships in September, where she placed third in the Bikini Wellness category. Despite being relatively new to the sport, Bignall’s dedication and hard work over the last nine months have inspired her to take on bodybuilding full-time, marking a significant shift in her life and career.
Bignall, who debuted in bodybuilding at the Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association's Novice, Junior, and Elite Championships in June, has been on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and transformation. Reflecting on her initial experience in June, she admitted it was a learning curve. "The first one was a little more pressuring because I didn’t know what to expect, but this one I had an idea, so I was a little more comfortable and confident," she said. The improvement was evident as she displayed her progress on stage in September, crediting her first competition for helping her prepare mentally and physically for the nationals.
Physically, Bignall underwent a noticeable transformation between the two competitions, improving her physique by getting leaner and more muscular. "I lost some body fat, my tummy went down significantly, my legs came down," she said, explaining that feedback from the June competition highlighted the need for her to work on her leg definition. She took that advice to heart, though she admitted that balancing her busy schedule made it challenging to achieve all her goals in the time available.
"Time and the fact that I was always tired were the biggest challenges," Bignall shared. "I have a 9-5 job, I am an entrepreneur, and I teach dance, so I had to juggle all of that with my gym schedule. It was stressful, but I made it work."
Despite her busy life, Bignall has no plans to cut back on any of her commitments but is instead reorganizing her schedule to make more room for bodybuilding. "It’s not cutting back, it’s more about reorganizing to create more time to facilitate the sport," she explained. "Once I sat down and realized all the things I had to do, I knew I had to make time for the gym."
The mental aspect of preparing for competitions also became a major focus for Bignall. "Meal prep became a part of me," she said, explaining how she adjusted her diet and mindset leading up to the nationals. "You can break your body to do certain things, and you can will your mind to do certain things. I mentally prepared myself to cut out certain things from my diet, so it wasn’t as hard in terms of self-control this time around."
One of the toughest sacrifices for Bignall was eliminating her favourite comfort foods, particularly Tutti Frutti ice cream and Cadbury Fruit and Nut chocolate, which she allowed herself to enjoy once the competition was over. "That was the first thing I had Sunday when the competition was over," she admitted with a laugh.
Looking ahead, Bignall is determined to continue her journey in bodybuilding and plans to go all-in on the sport. "These last nine months have taught me so much about myself. It has got me back to a point where I am ready to take on the world, and I am now going to take on the sport 100 percent," she said. "I’ve listened to the feedback from the last two competitions, and I am determined to get first place next year."
With her eyes set on future competitions, including some at the start of 2025, Bignall is back in the gym and ready to push her limits. "You can call me a dancer/bodybuilder from now on," she declared, fully embracing her new identity as she prepares for the next chapter of her bodybuilding journey.
For Bignall, the sport has become more than just a hobby—it's a new way of life, and she's determined to make her mark in the world of bodybuilding.
Rafael Nadal's dominance on the clay courts remains "unfathomable" and will not be matched in our lifetime, says former French Open champion Michael Chang.
Chang is still the youngest man to win a singles major, doing so aged 17 years and 109 days at the 1989 French Open, but the former professional believes no one will come close to the retiring Nadal.
The Spaniard will bring an end to his storied career after next month's Davis Cup Finals on home soil in Malaga, having managed 22 grand slam titles in total.
A remarkable 14 of those came at the French Open, the most of any player at a single major in history, and Chang cannot see another competitor getting close to Nadal's exploits.
Asked by Stats Perform if another player can dominate like Nadal at Roland-Garros, Chang said: "It's difficult to say. I don't think we'll see anyone as dominant as Rafa on clay in our lifetime.
"His record is unbelievable. For him to win 14 French Opens is unfathomable."
Nadal's unbelievable 96.6% win rate at the French Open (112 wins from 116 matches) is the best of any player at a grand slam event in men's singles.
Indeed, only Novak Djokovic (twice), Robin Soderling and Alexander Zverev have ever beaten the 38-year-old at the tournament.
His 14-0 record in Roland-Garros finals is also the best recorded by anyone at an event in the Open Era, with Chang lauding his dominance on clay, as well as his adaptability on other surfaces.
"He grew up playing on clay in Spain, and being a lefty, for him to know the angles and calculations better than anyone else," Chang added.
"What's amazing is that he's been able to take that style of play and modify it for success on grass and hard courts.
"We've had great clay-court players who couldn't translate that success to other surfaces, but Rafa is not one of them.
"His volleying skills are among the best on tour, which you wouldn't normally say about other Spanish players, except for [Carlos] Alcaraz now."
Only three tournaments have been won more than 10 times by the same player in the Open Era – Roland-Garros (14), Barcelona (12) and Monte-Carlo (11), all by Nadal on the clay.
For that reason, Chang believes Nadal's legacy will leave a long-lasting impression on those who witnessed his greatness on the French clay.
"It is incredible what he has done at the French Open and his passion and love for winning there is incredible. His record speaks for itself," Chang concluded.
New Audi chief Mattia Binotto has admitted the task of turning the current Sauber team into Formula One winners will be like “climbing Everest”.
Sauber, the team which has been bought by Audi and will transform into the German manufacturer’s works outfit in 2026, are enduring a torrid season.
The Swiss team are rooted to the bottom of the constructors' championship, with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu failing to score a point in 2024 so far.
In fact, their best finish came at the Bahrain Grand Prix in the opening race of the season, with Guanyu finishing in 11th place.
Former Ferrari team principal Binotto, who was installed as chief operating officer and chief technical officer in August, has been tasked with spearheading Audi’s F1 project, though he acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead.
"It’s not only climbing a big mountain, it’s climbing Everest. It will take several years," Binotto told BBC Sport.
"Our objective is by the end of the decade to be able to fight for the championships."
Binotto added: "When you are here and you start looking into the details, the more you look, the more you realise where you are and what are the main differences to what I knew from before from Ferrari.
"Certainly the gap and the differences are many and the gap is big.
"It’s big because of dimensions, because of the number of people, because of mindset, because of tools, facilities.
"Whatever you look around, it is really comparing a small team to a top team."
Sauber are yet to decide who will complete their driver line-up for the 2025 season alongside new signing Nico Hulkenberg.
Bottas is a leading contender to join the German on the grid in 2026, though Williams stand-in Franco Colapinto has impressed since replacing Logan Sargeant.
Binotto has also confirmed that Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher, who lost his full-time F1 seat with Haas at the end of 2022, is also in the frame.
Michael Chang feels Rafael Nadal knew the time was right to move on after confirming his impending retirement.
Nadal announced last week that he would call time on his glittering playing career after the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in Malaga next month.
The 38-year-old, who has won 22 grand slam titles, with his last coming at Roland-Garros in 2022, has struggled with injury in recent seasons, and has not played a singles match since losing to old foe Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics.
Chang, who is the youngest man in history to win a singles major, having clinched the 1989 French Open at the age of 17 years and 109 days, believes Nadal has made the right call.
He told Stats Perform: "I think we all knew he was nearing the end of his career. With the injuries he's had over the past couple of years, he knew it was coming sooner rather than later.
"To be honest, we would have thought that this generation, between Roger [Federer], Rafa, Andy [Murray], and Novak would have retired a few years ago, but their love for the sport is truly amazing.
"Their dedication and competitive spirit really kept them out there for so long, still competing at an extremely high level. It's one thing to be out there and just chugging along, but these guys are still winning grand slams and vying for grand slams.
"Roger and Rafa did it for so long, and obviously, Novak's still going, it's incredible. Rafa has accomplished everything you could in the sport of tennis, and he's unbelievably well-respected in every regard, whether you're a tennis fan or not.
"You would never want to see a champion like that go, but it’s time to move on. You can't play at this level forever, but the times we've had to enjoy him on tour and witness so many unbelievable matches around the world, it's certainly been a joy to watch and witness."
Djokovic (24) is the only man to win more major titles than Nadal, who has won a record 14 French Open crowns.
And while Chang is unsure if Nadal ranks as the greatest of all time, the 52-year-old believes other factors than grand slam titles must come into consideration.
"I think for him to be known as one of the greatest tennis players that we've ever seen is special," Chang added.
"I think there's no question that Novak, as far as results go and titles go and grand slam titles go, there's no question that his results stand above everybody else, but when we think about these great champions, you think about their admirable qualities.
"Rafa's grit, heart, forehand, his ability to move and get around, the mental toughness in intense situations, is remarkable.
"Those are the things we'll remember about him as a tennis player. His interactions with fans and fellow players also show he's extremely well-respected. Those are the qualities we will always remember. I hope he stays involved in the tennis scene because he'll always be a great ambassador for the sport."
When it comes to Nadal's legacy, Chang believes the Spaniard's character is what sets him apart.
He said: "That's one of the reasons he's so admired. All tennis players want to do well; they want to reach number one and win grand slam tournaments, but some players have a more selfish mentality and don't care much about others or what they think.
"Rafa is not like that. He takes time to give back, he takes time for fans, and he appreciates people coming to watch him play. He has a ton of respect for everyone he comes in contact with and because of the way he's conducted himself on and off the court, people admire him as more than just a tennis player.
"Look at what he's done for Spanish tennis, he's inspired the next generations and embraced them. He's been nothing but complimentary towards this new generation of players, like Carlos Alcaraz leading the way."
Netball Jamaica has announced a powerful 15-member Sunshine Girls squad for the upcoming Horizon Home and Away Series, set to be contested over four games between Jamaica and England. The series, which will begin in Manchester, England, on November 16 and 17, before shifting to Kingston for the final two matches on November 25 and 26, promises to be an intense showdown between two of the world’s top netball teams.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Jamaica’s ace shooter and captain, will once again lead the Sunshine Girls as they prepare to take on England, the number 3 ranked team in the world. Fowler-Nembhard, who played a pivotal role in the team’s bronze medal performance at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, will be at the helm of a squad that blends seasoned international stars with emerging talents.
The 12-member squad traveling to England includes a mix of attacking powerhouses and defensive stalwarts. Alongside Fowler-Nembhard, Shanice Beckford, Mischa Creary, and Rhea Dixon will lead the attack, while the center court will be commanded by Abigale Sutherland, Khadijah Williams, Crystal Plummer, and Theresa Beckford. On the defensive end, Shamera Sterling Humphrey, Kadie-Ann Dehaney, Latanya Wilson, and Jody-Ann Ward will provide the backbone for the Sunshine Girls.
Three members of the current Fast 5 squad—Zaudi Green, Kimone Shaw, and Simone Gordon—will join the team for the Kingston leg of the series, further strengthening the squad as they face England in front of their home crowd.
Newly appointed head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry expressed confidence in her team’s ability to rise to the occasion. "It will be two weeks of high-intensity, top-quality netball action at home and away. We just want all netball fans to come out and support the girls for the games in Kingston," Henry said. "We are happy that our full senior squad is fit and ready for action, and that the new members of the team will have a chance to be fully integrated."
The Sunshine Girls, ranked 4th in the world, are looking forward to an exciting series. Captain Fowler-Nembhard shared her enthusiasm, noting the significance of the rivalry between Jamaica and England. "We are always happy to be on court, and England and Jamaica are the number 3 and number 4 ranked teams in the world. We are expecting the usual high-energy support from the Jamaican fans in England and hoping this series will help us to improve our ranking," said Fowler-Nembhard.
The Horizon Home and Away Series kicks off at the AO Arena in Manchester on November 16 and 17 before concluding at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) in Kingston on November 25 and 26. Tickets for the series will go on sale next week.
The Sunshine Girls squad will be supported by specialist coach Rob Wright, performance analyst Kyle Hendricks, and team managers Roxan Long and Lydia Wilks. Team doctor Dr. Michelle Holt and physiotherapists Nicole Reid and Orianna Blackwood will also be on hand to ensure the team is in peak condition. Simone Forbes will serve as head of delegation.
Netball fans can expect an exhilarating series as Jamaica aims to shine on both home and foreign soil against one of their fiercest rivals.
Jannik Sinner confirmed his place at the top of the ATP year-end world rankings, with only two players in history having done so quicker.
Sinner had actually sealed his spot at the summit with his semi-final victory over Tomas Machac before defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday.
On the back of his title run, Sinner – who picked up 910 points to move to a grand total of 11,920 – has opened up an unassailable 4,800-point lead over Carlos Alcaraz in the standings.
And only Djokovic and the soon-to-be-retired Nadal have managed to seal the year-end number-one spot earlier in a season than Sinner, since the ATP rankings were modified in 2009.
Djokovic was crowned as 2015's year-end number one on September 14, while Nadal secured that position for the 2010 rankings on October 9 of that year.
Sinner has won 65 of his 71 Tour-level matches this year, and claimed seven trophies, including the Australian Open and US Open.
The 23-year-old is the 19th player to claim the year-end world number-one ranking and just the fourth active player, joining Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz.
He has already held top spot for 17 weeks, and ranks 18th among the 29 players who have reached world number one for weeks spent at the top of the pile.
Richard Wigglesworth has been promoted to England's senior assistant coach after a reshuffle of their backroom staff ahead of the upcoming Tests.
The former scrumhalf will remain in charge of England's attack but will also now act as the number two to Steve Borthwick, collaborating with him on the team’s game plan.
The pair previously worked together at Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, leading the team to the title in 2022.
"Richard's deep knowledge of the game and his excellent tactical understanding means he has become a key figure in our coaching team," said Borthwick.
"He shares our emotional commitment to English rugby, and I am certain he will play a crucial role in driving the standards of this England team."
Wigglesworth, who made 33 appearances for England, added: "This is an exciting time for England rugby.
"Steve has created a coaching environment based on collaboration and hard work, and we are constantly evolving and growing and striving for success."
Meanwhile, Joe El-Abd is working as the defensive coach, while Kevin Sinfield has agreed to stay on with the team in a reduced capacity.
England take on New Zealand on November 2 before continuing their other autumn internationals against Australia, South Africa and Japan.
Nick Kyrgios is planning to make a comeback in December and has ambitions to win a grand slam in order to "shut up" his doubters.
The Australian has suffered with wrist, knee and foot injuries over the last two years, playing just one ATP Tour singles match in that period.
He lost in straight sets on that occasion to Wu Yibing in Stuttgart in June 2023 and has not played since.
Though he has hinted at retirement in the past, he is now planning for his return at the World Tennis League event in Abu Dhabi later this year before the Australian Open in January.
He has previously reached one grand slam final in singles, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022, and Kyrgios has a clear plan of what he wants to come out of his return to the sport.
"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he told News Corp's Code Sports podcast.
"I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a grand slam, won a doubles title in a grand slam, won multiple titles and made money.
"But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a grand slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.
"That'll be my deep motivation."
Kyrgios earned a reputation for his outbursts and meltdowns early on in his career, with some writing him off due to his temperament.
However, the 29-year-old has brushed off the idea that he was a "bad boy".
"I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said.
"I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."
Dallas Cowboys suffered their worst home defeat during Jerry Jones' time as owner and general manager, but he says he has no intention of changing his coach.
Mike McCarthy has started the season with a 3-3 record, with all three of their losses coming at the AT&T Stadium, including their 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
It was their worst defeat in 36 years, while the 38-point deficit was the Cowboys' largest at home since a 43-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Texas Stadium in 1988.
McCarthy is in the final year of his contract, but even with the poor start on home soil, Jones says he is going to stick with his coach.
"Oh, I haven't even considered that," Jones said of a potential change. "I'm not considering that. Just so you're clear, I'm not considering that."
When reminded of an in-season coaching change he made back in 2010, replacing Wade Phillips with Jason Garrett, Jones doubled down on his backing of McCarthy.
"That would be a hypothetical," he added. "In that matter, do you think I'm an idiot? Do you?
"OK. Well, I'm not going to be hypothetical with you about would I consider a coaching change in light of the timing we're sitting here with. I'm not. At all."
Prior to Sunday's game, the largest defeat suffered under Jones' ownership was 36-3 against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001.
Including last season's play-off loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys have now trailed by 15 or more points at half-time in four consecutive home games.
"Well, we're disappointed that we're 3-3," Jones said. "The three-loss side of it, I don't necessarily totally blame on McCarthy.
"The players will tell you they had something to do with it, too. His other parts of the staff will tell you. And the owner sure will tell you he had something to do with it, so it's not all on him."
The Cowboys now have a bye week before they resume action against the San Francisco 49ers on October 27.
Breanna Stewart believes she showed resilience in bouncing back from New York Liberty's defeat in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, praising her team-mates for their support.
The Liberty avenged their shock defeat to the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, this time holding off their comeback to win 80-66 in Game 2 on Sunday.
Stewart scored 21 points, adding eight rebounds and five assists, also setting a WNBA Finals single-game record with seven steals.
The two-time league MVP was disappointed with the performance in the opener but was much more upbeat after helping to level the series at 1-1.
"The moment the game ended Thursday, I was looking forward to Sunday," Stewart said.
"I can't strive to be the best, to be great, but then be afraid to fail. This is what happens when you put yourself in high-stress, important situations.
"You face possible failure. Yeah, I was upset because we could have won [Thursday's] game. But I'm happy I took the shots. Throughout this entire process, my team has my back every step of the way."
Having played the first two games at home, the Liberty now have two games at the Target Arena to look forward to.
"We embrace it; we like it when it's loud, when it's difficult," Stewart added of their trip to Minnesota. "Hopefully it's going to be an incredible atmosphere for both of those games.
"[It's about] not getting too high or too low; things are going to seem bigger than they are because they are playing at home. I'm sure Minny said the same thing when they're playing here."
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who struggled with knee injuries in the regular season, was also on top form, going 4 of 6 from 3-point range and finishing with 20 points for New York.
Having knocked down the 3-pointer to give the Liberty the lead ahead of their final surge, Laney-Hamilton is hopeful she will be able to build on this performance going forward.
"I think it gives me a little bit of momentum as we continue to go through the series," she said.
"It felt really good because I know I've been struggling, physically, mentally as I've been going through everything."
Game 3 takes place on Wednesday in Minnesota.
Jared Goff had three touchdown passes and David Montgomery added two more on the ground as the Detroit Lions extended the Dallas Cowboys' problems at home with a 47-9 rout on Sunday.
Detroit (4-1) dominated from start to finish to hand Dallas (3-3) its most lopsided home loss in 36 years and drop the defending NFC East champions to 0-3 at AT&T Stadium this season. The 38-point margin of defeat was the Cowboys' largest at home since a 43-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at Texas Stadium in 1988.
Goff completed 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards while connecting with Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown for touchdowns. Montgomery finished with 80 rushing yards on a day in which the Lions out-gained Dallas by a 492-251 advantage in total yards.
Detroit's defence shined as well by forcing four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions of Dak Prescott. Dallas' franchise quarterback was also sacked four times while managing just 178 yards on 17-of-33 passing.
The Lions were dealt a major injury blow, however, as top pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson was carted off in the third quarter after fracturing his left tibia on a sack of Prescott. The star defensive end entered the contest with an NFL-best 6.5 sacks through the season's first four games.
Detroit's offence scored on each of its first five possessions to take a commanding 27-6 lead after two quarters.
Including last season's play-off loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys have now trailed by 15 or more points at half-time in four consecutive home games. Dallas is the first team to do so since the Oakland Raiders in 2013-14.
Jackson, surging Ravens halt Commanders' four-game winning streak
Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson outperformed 2024 No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels as the Baltimore Ravens ended the Washington Commanders’ four-game winning streak with a 30-23 victory.
Jackson threw for 323 yards and a touchdown, Derrick Henry ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns and Zay Flowers caught nine passes for 132 yards to help Baltimore win its fourth straight game after an 0-2 start to the season.
Daniels passed for a season-best 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns – both to Terry McLaurin – but Washington fell to 4-2 with its first defeat since Week 1.
Jackson, who also was the NFL MVP in his second season in 2019, has thrown for 1,009 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception during Baltimore’s four-game win streak, while adding 236 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Daniels shined again, but Washington played without leading rusher Brian Robinson Jr. due to a knee injury and was held to 52 rushing yards after averaging 178.4 over its first five games.
The Commanders also struggled on defence, allowing a season-high 484 yards.
Rookie Williams stars in London as Bears drop Jaguars to 1-5
The top overall pick of this year's draft, Caleb Williams, threw four touchdown passes as the Chicago Bears dropped the Jacksonville Jaguars to 1-5 with a 35-16 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Williams completed 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards with an interception and rushed four times for 56 yards. The former Heisman Trophy winner threw two touchdowns each to Cole Kmet and Keenan Allen.
Chicago (4-2) has won three straight for the first time since Weeks 14-16 in 2020, with Williams completing 74.1 percent of his passes (60 of 81) for 687 yards during the winning streak to go along with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Jacksonville lost again after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 last week for its first win of 2024. Trevor Lawrence went 23 of 35 for 234 yards with two touchdown passes – both to Gabe Davis - and one interception.
Two-time Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram returned to the Jaguars' lineup after missing the previous four games with a hamstring injury and had 10 catches for 102 yards.
Mayfield's four touchdown passes lead Buccaneers past slumping Saints
Baker Mayfield threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the second half to rally for a 51-27 victory over the reeling New Orleans Saints.
Mayfield shook off three second-quarter interceptions to lead four touchdown drives in the second half as Tampa Bay (4-2) overcame a 27-24 deficit at intermission by outscoring New Orleans 27-0 over the final two quarters.
The Buccaneers took a 31-27 lead on Mayfield's 55-yard touchdown strike to Chris Godwin with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Godwin also had a touchdown catch in the first quarter and compiled 125 yards on 11 receptions. Tampa Bay also got rushing touchdowns from Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving, with Tucker adding a touchdown catch while recording 136 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
New Orleans trailed 17-0 after one quarter before battling back with 20 consecutive points in the second, but failed to get anything going offensively in the second half and was dealt a fourth straight loss following a 2-0 start.
Spencer Rattler, making his first NFL start at quarterback in place of an injured Derek Carr, threw for 243 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-40 passing. The rookie was intercepted twice in the second half, however, and didn't get much help from a New Orleans defence that surrendered 594 total yards.
The Saints also played much of the game without wide receiver Chris Olave, who sustained a concussion after making a catch in the first quarter. Olave fumbled on the play, with Tampa Bay safety Antoine WInfield returning the turnover 58 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bucs a 14-0 lead.
Texans spoil Patriots rookie Maye's first start, move to 5-1
The New England Patriots also had a rookie quarterback make his first NFL start Sunday, though Drake Maye's three touchdown passes weren't enough to prevent his team from a fifth straight loss.
C.J. Stroud also threw three touchdown passes as the Houston Texans continued their strong start to the season with a 41-21 win over the rebuilding Pats.
Stroud found Tank Dell and Joe Mixon for early touchdowns as Houston (5-1) built a 14-0 lead after one quarter, then connected with Stefon Diggs for a 10-yard score early in the second half to give the Texans a 21-7 advantage.
Houston sealed its third consecutive victory with a pair of long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, a 20-yard burst from Mixon and a 54-yard scamper from Dameon Pierce with 7:47 left.
Mixon had 102 yards on 13 carries in his return from a three-game absence caused by a sprained ankle, with Pierce adding 76 yards on just eight attempts.
Maye, the No. 3 overall pick of this year's draft behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards with touchdowns to Kayshon Boutte, Hunter Henry and DeMario Douglas. The former North Carolina star also threw his first two career interceptions as New England dropped to 1-5.
Douglas led the Patriots with 92 yards on six catches.
Eagles hold off scuffling Browns to bounce back
Jalen Hurts' 45-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith with 7:54 remaining broke a tie game and sparked the Philadelphia Eagles to a 20-16 win over the still-struggling Cleveland Browns.
Both Smith and A.J. Brown returned from injuries to haul in touchdown passes from Hurts as Philadelphia (3-2) rebounded from a 33-16 loss to Tampa Bay that preceded the team's Week 5 bye.
Brown returned from a three-game absence caused by a strained hamstring to record 116 yards on six catches. Smith had three receptions for 64 yards after missing the Tampa Bay game with a concussion.
Cleveland, meanwhile, dropped to 1-5 with its fourth straight loss after once again having trouble scoring points. The Browns, the only team this season to be held under 20 points in every game, also failed to reach 300 total yards for the fifth consecutive time after managing just 244.
The Browns' lone touchdown came on one-time Eagles safety Rodney McLeod's 50-yard return of a blocked field goal attempt late in the second quarter that tied the contest at 10-10.
After both teams traded field goals, Hurts hit a wide-open Smith on a short pass and the standout receiver raced untouched down the sideline to snap a 13-13 deadlock midway through the fourth quarter.
Cleveland marched down to the Eagles' 3-yard line on the ensuing possession, but had to settle for Dustin Hopkins' third field goal of the game after two false-start penalties and a third-down incompletion from quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The Browns never got the ball back thereafter, as Philadelphia successfully ran out the clock following Hopkins' kick with 3:54 remaining.
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