Tag: Women’s Sport

Categories
Uncategorized

Brighton & hove Albion hold PSG to tight draw on South Coast

Image via Wing Chong (@thoughtsofawing) for Constancy Sport

It’s set to be an interesting match up today as Brighton & Hove Albion host Paris Saint Germain in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium this afternoon.

Brighton go into today’s game having finished seventh in the league last season but after reaching the FA Cup final at Wembley and strengthening multiple positions over the summer, the Sea Gulls are hoping to have a positive start to the 26/27 campaign.

Meanwhile, PSG finished third in the league last year, were runners up in the Coupe de France and were knocked out of the champions league in the league phase, which by their standards, is sub par. They too have signed a variety of players this summer however have gone for a more youthful outlook on things.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Starting XI: Loeck (GK), Auee, Hayes, Minami, Olislagers, Walti, Joramo, Kirby ©, Murphy, Garcia, Seike

PSG

Starting XI: Kiedryzynek (GK), De Almedia, Karchaoui, Jourde, Chagas, Groenen, Leuchter, Feller, Mbock, Charlier, Olga

Paris Saint Germain kicked off on the South Coast this afternoon through Romee Leuchter, although both sides looked surprisingly even in the opening stages.

PSG soon earned the first corner of the game but Leuchter’s delivery sailed straight into the gloves of Melina Loeck.

Brighton registered their first real chance of the game in the ninth minute, with Kiko Seike applying pressure deep on the right-hand side. PSG’s Naomie Feller however was able to regain possession for the visitors and break through on the counter attack, but her effort flew well over the bar.

PSG looked to have a chance to break the deadlock in the 15th minute with Sakina Karchaoui and Leuchter linking up in front of goal. However, Moeka Minami produced a fantastic block to stop the visitors getting ahead.

The hosts soon won their own first corner of the afternoon, with Marissa Olislagers delivering into a dangerous area. Olivia Garcia was unable to make contact with the cross, however. 

The next real chance of the game came courtesy of a stellar cross from Isabela Chagas, Naomie Feller however missed the target once more.

Moeka Minami provided a huge ball over the top from within her own half in the 35th minute, sending Fran Kirby racing up the pitch, the seagulls looked to be through on goal, the latter however was unable to find her footing though, and the opportunity went begging. 

PSG finally found the opener three minutes later after Sakina Karchoui sent Caitlin Hayes spinning on the left, providing the perfect delivery for Alyssa Charlier to slot the ball home.

38’ GOAL – Alyssa Charlier

Brighton were awarded a free kick in dangerous territory moments before half time. A short pass from Marissa Olislagers found  Fran Kirby, who crossed the ball towards goal, Brighton looked to Caitlin Hayes, whose header sailed into the gloves of Kiedrzynek.

Seconds later, Brighton regained possession from the resulting goal kick and came close once again, with the ball flying within inches of the post. 

With two minutes added time announced, PSG earned a free kick on the edge of the box. Romee Leuchter’s ball looked to be heading straight towards the face of goal, however the host’s wall proved to be the better, standing tall and sending the ball back to the feet of Leuchter and preventing the deficit being doubled.

HALF TIME: BRIGHTON 0-1 PSG

Second half XI:

Brighton: Heeps (GK), Vanegas, Pegram, Symonds, Haley,Cankovic, Rayner, Tvedten, Peskett, Tsunoda, Rule

PSG: Kiedryzynek (GK), De Almedia, Karchaoui, Chagas, Groenen, Leuchter, Feller, Elimbi Gilbert, Ebayilin, Mbock, Morissaint

With a full team of subs from Brighton, the second half was under way. 

Sophie Peskett provided the first chance of the half in the 49th minute, crossing the ball to Madison Haley who was unable to find the target.

An unexpected misplaced pass from the PSG back line gifted Brighton the first corner of the second half. Jelena Cankovic delivered, but her effort failed to cause any real danger. 

A relatively quiet ten minutes meant that the next piece of action was a six way substitution from the visitors at the 60th minute mark with Thiniba Samoura, Paulina Dudek, Tante Diakite, Noemie Fatier, Jade Le Guilly and Marie Estella Lafontaine replaced Elisa De Almeida, Isabela Chagas, Jackie Groenen, Romee Leuchter, Naomie Feller and Griedge Mbock on the field.

Five minutes later, it looked as though PSG were about to find their second of the game. Elimbi Gilbert broke free from Charlie Rule on the wing and pushed high on the pitch, Jelena Cankovic however, denied the visitors once more.

With 20 minutes on the clock, the final hydration break of the game was made and Sakina Karchoui made way for Gabrielle Le Roux

Brighton earned yet another corner in dangerous territory once again once play continued, however Cankovic’s ball was deflected back into the possession of the parisians

After 75 minutes, Jelena Cankovic made way for the gulls’ latest addition, Gabby George, who received a warm welcome from the Albion supporters upon her home debut.

Kiedryznek was put to action soon after, with a double attack from the gulls putting the visitors’ lead under serious pressure.

With five minutes remaining, Sophie Peskett earnt Brighton another free kick on the edge of the box and it was here that the hosts found their first of the game, with Maisie Symonds shooting the ball beyond the keeper and bringing the game level.

85’ GOAL – Maisie Symonds

Four minutes of added time were announced, but Brighton were to deal with a late blow when Bex Rayner was forced off the pitch. Tahirah Heron was introduced as the hosts’ final substitute.

PSG were still searching for a late winner, with Eleanor Heeps forced into a save from a long-range effort in the dying moments. It proved to be the final attempt of the afternoon.

Full time – Brighton & Hove 1-1 Paris Saint Germain

A positive performance from both sides meant that the game ended in a stalemate on the south coast. PSG looked to have the win in the bag for the first 60 minutes however Maisie Symonds free kick provided an extra life from Brighton, who saw the game out at a goal a piece

Categories
Netball

Breaking the Tradition: Why Uniforms in Netball need a change 

Screenshot

photo taken from @ldnmavericksnetball on instagram

The modern dress in netball has been worn as part of the uniform since the early 2000’s but in recent years, there has been a change from the tradition. Players from the very top of the game to the grassroots level are starting to dislike the figure-hugging short design that it tends to have. 

In 2022, it was said that in the following year, Netball Australia would change to a new “inclusive” uniform including the option to have a singlet, bodysuit, shirt and skirt, shorts or long pants. This would therefore recognise the personnel preferences, religious beliefs and the different climates but in the Commonwealth games, they all wore dresses and this took a turn. 

In a game versus England in the Commonwealth Games is where the malfunction first came apparent with many players pulling them down: “I feel like, as a netballer, I’m always tugging my dress down… Obviously we’ve noticed lots of the comments from other people, but on the court we’re used to dresses coming up and down.” says Australian Sophie Garbin. 

Netball Uniform has always been a growing problem, whether that is sports bras or different colour shorts under the dress showing a different colour to the dress itself. 

England and Manchester Thunder Shooter Eleanor Cardwell has always been an advocate for change in the sport and the use of sports bras with her saying: “When I’m comfortable in my kit, I perform my best. Why should you wear clothes that don’t fit correctly or feel horrible?”

London Mavericks changed confidence for women in the elite level sport as in 2025 it was announced that they would change the way their kit is designed from 2026 onwards. Dresses are still in, with many still wearing the option but they also included the option of shorts, skorts, leggings and longer vests, including a variety for everyone. 

The team believe that it will make the sport more welcoming to the young generations that are scared from the sport year after year because of the way that the dress will suit their body type. 

Ex-London Mavericks and England defender Razia Quashie said to the BBC that: “I always train in leggings and that’s what I feel most comfortable in, rather than the traditional dress.” 

“To be able to wear this on the court in a match is something that I know will help me feel my best, which can only have a positive impact on performance.” 

She also stated that the new choice will help the youngsters stay involved, allowing them to dress in a kit that would suit them best rather than an outfit that might be unflattering or uncomfortable, dragging them away from the sport. 

Netball is a rapidly growing sport for females and to continue the growth, the uniform needs to be inclusive for everyone involved. 

Categories
The Hundred

The Hundred 2026: Players to Watch 

Screenshot

Photo taken from @sunrisersleeds on instagram 

The Hundred will return for the sixth edition this month (21st July) with Sunrisers Leeds looking to go back to back (got the last title under Northern Superchargers). Earlier on in the year, the competition hosted the first auction, with many new players joining different teams, showing a different exposure for women’s cricket. 

Birmingham Phoenix: Davina Perrin  

She became the youngest player in either competition when she made her debut aged 15 in 2022 and was the youngest to score a century in the 2025 Eliminator, with 101 runs in just 43 balls. This made her announce herself on the cricketing stage for Northern Superchargers and was named 2025 Professional Cricketers’ Association Women’s Young Player of the Year. 

She was the first player ever acquired at the The Hundred Auction where she returned to Birmingham Phoenix after two years away for £50,000. She has become a young player to watch throughout the tournament due to her calmness on the ball and becoming relentless, never allowing time for the bowlers to take a break. 

London Spirit: Marizanne Kapp 

Having been in the competition since the inaugural season, Kapp has become part of the furniture for the tournament and won player of the match in the final for Oval Invincibles in 2022. Being a confident all-rounder, she bowled the first ball in the hundred and took the first wicket in the competition. 

In the Auction, she was a pre-picked player and joined London Spirit hoping to bring her experience and all-rounder knowledge to the team to help them get far in the competition. 

Manchester Super Giants: Smriti Mandhana 

Vice-Captain of the Indian Women’s National Team, Smriti Mandhana is comfortable in front of any bowler and showed that in the recent test match against England. After missing the previous tournament, she joined this year for the Manchester Super Giants as an overseas direct signing after having a standout performance in the WPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

Having appeared in many franchise leagues, she looks to maintain her form again in The Hundred and secure steady batting partnerships in the Manchester Super Giants squad. 

MI London: Melie Kerr

New Zealander, Melie Kerr joins MI London from Manchester Originals (now known as Manchester Super Giants) and was a direct signing pre-auction as an overseas player. The comfortable all-rounder knows what it takes to be in the competition after previously being with London Spirit and aims to bring her expertise to the MI London Squad, batting alongside the likes of Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge. 

Last year for Manchester Originals | Photo taken from @meliekerrr on instagram

Southern Brave: Lauren Bell 

Being with the Brave since the inaugural season, she has become an integral player within the squad and an important bowler playing within the 100 balls. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL, they won the league earlier on in the year and she was an important piece in the puzzle for England, during the T20 Women’s World Cup. 

Bell will be an important player in the Southern Brave squad hoping that her quick bowling style will help get players out efficiently and in less balls, making her a player to watch. 

Sunrisers Leeds: Phoebe Litchfield 

Recently winning the T20 Women’s World Cup with Australia, Phoebe Litchfield won last year’s competition with Northern Superchargers (now known as Sunrisers Leeds) and stuck with the group this season. Being an important player for the Australians, the 23 year old is a vital batter for any team she is with and her batting expertise, despite being young, makes her one to watch in this competition. 

Prior to the auction, she was one of three players that stuck with the squad and was pre-picked, alongside Annabel Sutherland and Kate Cross making her a trusted batter within the squad looking to go back to back. 

Trent Rockets: Nat Sciver-Brunt 

All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt was another player who stuck with their original team before the auction, being trusted with her teammates and coaches. Being among one of England’s greatest cricketers, she is a massive loss when being injured and is feared by every opponent she faces. 

The experienced England international is one to watch this tournament as a paced bowler and an established middle-order batter, helping any team get runs on the board with a trusted partner on the field. 

Welsh Fire: Freya Kemp 

England allrounder, Freya Kemp changed from Southern Brave after staying there for the last five tournaments and was secured by Welsh Fire prior to the auction. The all-round youngster has huge potential in domestic, franchise and international cricket of all formats and can reach a boundary with ease. 

She is one to watch this tournament and has also had a 62-ball hundred to her name in the past during The Hundred. With a good partner on the field, the pair of them can get runs on the board and help Welsh Fire get some wins on the board after a poor couple of last competitions. 

Freya Kemp for England | Photo taken from @freyagkemp on instagram

Categories
Cricket

How a Home World Cup changed the way women’s cricket is perceived

Screenshot

Photo taken from @englandcricket on Instagram

On Sunday (5th July), the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finished at Lord’s Cricket Club with Australia winning their 7th title. They faced England who were dominant throughout their home tournament but this appearance in the final was more than just a second place, it changed how Women’s Cricket was perceived in the UK. 

This tournament also secured four countries’ places in the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA – South Africa, India, Australia and Great Britain (taking the place of England). Netherlands also qualified for the first time in this tournament but defending champions New Zealand were eliminated in the Group Stage, with the latter being a shock. 

Australia’s Beth Mooney was revealed as Player of the series with England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge having the most runs throughout the tournament (302 runs) and Shree Charani from India got the most wickets throughout (14). 

There were seven venues throughout the tournament including the semi-finals at The Oval and the final at Lord’s. The other venues included Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Bristol), Headingley (Leeds), Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester) and Rose Bowl (Southampton). 

Match 28 between New Zealand and England saw the latter win by 9 wickets with over 21,000 in attendance for the game. Match 29 and 30 was a double header with Bangladesh facing South Africa and India playing against Australia, with 27,163 in attendance across both matches seeing South Africa win by 4 wickets and Australia winning by 6 wickets. 

Semi Final 1 and 2 was another big one for attendance statistics, improving the competition as a whole. Despite it being during a weekday where many people are at work or school, just over 10,000 watched Australia win by 8 wickets against West Indies in just 13 overs. Meanwhile for England vs South Africa, being held on a Thursday night helped attendances as 21,128 fans were in attendance, watching some of the best people in international cricket battle it out for a place in the final. 28,887 fans were in attendance during the final which was the highest attended women’s match held at lord’s and was packed out right until the final bat of the ball. 

In 2026, the WPL season (held in India) featured many of the same players who played throughout the tournament and drew 37.1 million viewers for the Eliminator and Final on television. The tournament saw a number of new fans taste cricket for the first time with 42% of women saying this will be the first time watching the tournament and a quarter of men saying this will be the first time they would be watching any form of women’s cricket (YouGov, 2026). 

England Women’s Cricket has definitely benefited from the recent successes of both the Lionesses and Red Roses with around 27% saying that this is one of the reasons as to why they planned on watching the tournament. 

The opening weekend of the T20 World Cup was the most watched ever of any ICC T20 Women’s Tournament (since being shown on Sky Sports and since 2016) on Sky Sports with 3.3 million viewer hours over a few days of cricket. The opener between England and Sri Lanka drew the highest average on record (393k) for the T20 tournament on Sky Sports with a peak audience of 510k watching England’s first win of the tournament. The opening game was also streamed on Youtube where nearly 75,000 people watched and 90,000 people were on the live blog on Sky Sports. 

The tournament was shown multiple times on the Sky Sports app and free-to-air to make it more accessible for people getting into the sport. With the games only lasting around two and a half hours, there wasn’t a long lasting commitment to people watching, compared to a one day international. 

Women’s Cricket doesn’t stop there for the summer. The first ever test match at Lord’s sees England face India on Friday (10th July) at 11am BST. The Hundred starts on 21st July lasting for an entire month and if you liked some of the players from the tournament, you will more than likely spot them.

Categories
Netball NSL

Hometown Heroes: Manchester Thunder claim their 5th NSL win against London Pulse

Screenshot

Celebrations | Photo taken from @eleanor_cardwell on instagram 

Manchester Thunder claimed their fifth Netball Super League win at Manchester’s Co-op Live against London Pulse as they won 54-51. Coming on during the game, Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match, Sophie Fawns was the standout player throughout and changed the game. 

After a dominant season, Manchester Thunder are now tied with Team Bath for Netball Super League titles and their first title since the undefeated 2022 season. With the Co-op Live hosting the final, it held a backdrop for the future of netball in the North West.  

Manchester Thunder won the toss with Amy Carter taking the first ball as centre and the home side took full advantage in the opening minutes. Quick passing across the shooting circle helped with the pace of the game with Eleanor Cardwell dominating in the goals across the four players. With three super shots and seven one-pointers for Eleanor Cardwell, Thunder were three points ahead going into the first break of the afternoon with them also using every player possible on the court effortlessly transitioning between thirds.

Alicia Scholes and Taylor McKevitt battled together across the court throughout the period and beyond with Halimat Adio vocal on the court for Pulse as Vice Captain. Funmi Fadoju was gamechanging throughout as she has been all season with multiple pickups and intercepts to help London Pulse fall just three off in the first quarter. 

End of Quarter One: Manchester Thunder 15-12 London Pulse

Starting the second quarter, there were no changes with London Pulse’s Liv Tchine chasing away with one-point shots but in the Amex Super Shot zone, failed to convert. This was the same for Sophie Kelly as she only put two goals on the board throughout the 15 minutes but worked well with Liv Tchine to get her tally, in the quarter, to 13 goals. First goal for Eleanor Cardwell came six minutes in, proving just how dominant Pulse was in the second quarter with Alicia Scholes firing a pass to Tchine around 9 minutes left on the clock from one side of the court to the other. 

A Tactical Change for Manchester Thunder saw Sophie Fawns come in at Goal Attack or Thunder with 7 minutes 45 on the clock and changed the game for the home side. After just one super shot in that quarter, she fired more and more in as the game went on. Various pick ups happened in the game from both Zara Everitt and Josie Huckle with Sophie Fawns performing an intercept in the centre third just before the Amex Super Shot period. Both Pulse defenders continued to double stack in the circle as they have done all season leaving Sophie Fawns open at times as they focused on shooter Eleanor Cardwell. 

Half-time: Manchester Thunder 25-27 London Pulse

Photo taken from @londonpulsenetball on instagram 

Changes from Thunder happened prior to the quarter with Cerys Finn came on as Goal Defence and Lois Pearson came back on but in the Wing Attack position with this changing the game. Cerys Finn defended against Sophie Kelly really well as she only put one one-pointer on the board with London Pulse missing opportunities throughout this quarter, slipping a two goal lead and tilted it to Thunder’s favour by six goals. 

Gracie Smith had an intercept and pick up to her name with Sophie Kelly having a turnover in the quarter. Thunder had multiple passes around the court, making it difficult for Pulse to follow what they were doing with fresh legs helping the movement throughout the fifteen minutes. 

End of Quarter Three: Manchester Thunder 42-36 London Pulse

Sam Bird did not change the lineup at all during the 60 minutes, and stuck with the same starting seven for majority of the season which confirmed a challenge for Alicia Scholes who just came off the back of an ankle injury and was yet to play a full game until then. Taylor McKevitt and Josie Huckle continued to intercept the ball ahead of the Pulse attackers with Pulse pressured to take shots and passes at times. 

Manchester Thunder used all players when in the shooting third and even coming up to the centre third to change the flow of the game, with Funmi Fadoju reading the situation and adding another intercept to her list. After the second time out of the game, Pulse looked to try and attack with three super shots in a row for Sophie Kelly but a mis-timed pass from Alicia Scholes to Liv Tchine wasn’t read from the Goal Shooter. A Supershot from Eleanor Cardwell secured the win for Thunder and a one-pointer on the buzzer from Sophie Fawns earned her Player of the Match after her impressive performance throughout. 

Full-time: Manchester Thunder 54-51 London Pulse

Starting Sevens: 

Manchester Thunder: GK: Josie Huckle, GD: Elia McCormick, WD: Taylor McKevitt, C: Amy Carter, WA: Natalie Metcalf, GA: Lois Pearson, GS: Eleanor Cardwell. 

Impact Players: Sophie Fawns, Emma Rayner, Cerys Finn. 

London Pulse: GK: Halimat Adio, GD: Funmi Fadoju, WD: Zara Everitt, C: Gracie Smith, WA: Alicia Scholes, GA: Sophie Kelly, GS: Liv Tchine. 

Impact Players: Tyler Orr, Darcie Everitt, Kamogelo Maseko

Thunder celebrations post match | Photo taken from @netballsl on instagram