Tag: Women’s Sport

Categories
Cricket

WPL: A Successful Competition 

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The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is a T20 competition based in India and founded in 2022, having its first tournament in 2023. This year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their second title on Thursday 5th February with both Mumbai Indians and RCB winning two titles each. In the inaugural competition, Mumbai Indians were winners with Delhi Capitals finishing in second. 

The WPL is a five team competition with a round-robin format, followed by playoffs and proves to be successful in the T20 competition, following the likes of The Hundred in the UK and Women’s Big Bash League in Australia. The five teams include Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz of which all five have played in all four versions of the competition. 

In India, the cricket craze was always there but after their win in the ODI World Cup 2025, the rise continued throughout the tournament. The final had close to 31,000 fans in attendance which made it an almost sold out occasion, despite being around an hour drive outside of the city with their home team not qualifying for the final. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru won against Delhi Capitals in the final which was held in Vadodara. This was the highest chase that was in the final as Capitals put on a target of 203 runs, with RCB reaching this having two balls remaining and winning by six wickets overall. 

After chasing this target (which was the highest set in a final), the RCB recorded the highest successful run chase in WPL history and was helped with a masterclass from youngster Georgia Voll and Captain Smriti Mandhana (after their 165-run partnership). The side was dominant throughout the whole of the tournament after finishing top of the table and going straight to the final. After hitting 87 runs off 41 balls, she was named Player of the Match with Georgia Voll having a composed 79 runs off 54 balls, helping take the game away from the Delhi Capitals. 

In the fourth edition, there were many players that stood out throughout the tournament including some that did not make the final. The top-scorer and therefore winner of the Orange Cap was Smriti Mandhana from Royal Challengers who put on 377 runs across her games. She recently was announced to join the Manchester Super Giants for this upcoming Hundred tournament in the Summer of 2026. Harmanpreet Kaur finished with the highest average overall (68.40 across the games) and reached a total of 342 runs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Grace Harris had the highest strike-rate (178.19) winning the Super Striker of the Season with both Harmanpreet Kaur and Sophie Devine hitting the most sixes (at 13 each). 

The winner of the Purple Cap (the highest wicket-taker) was tied between Gujarat Giants’ Sophie Devine and Delhi Capitals’ Nandani Sharma with 17 wickets each. Amelia Kerr had the best average overall (15.00), with Lauren Bell having the best economy rate (5.52) and Sophie Devine having the best strike-rate (11.58). 

Receiving the Most Valuable Player of the Season and the best game intelligence award was Sophie Devine with the Emerging Player of the Season being rewarded to Nandni Sharma. 

Categories
Ice Hockey

Laila Edwards: A Women’s Ice Hockey defense making history

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photo taken from @badgerswhockey on instagram

The Winter Olympics Ice Hockey campaign commenced on Thursday 5th February in Milano Cortina and at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena with the side winning 5-1 against Czechia, to open up their Olympic games campaign. Goals from Alex Spencer, Joy Dunne, Hilary Knight and a double from Hayley Scamurra helped secure the win for the side. The team have medaled in all seven Olympic appearances to date including gold in 1998 and 2018. 

On the same day, Laila Edwards made her Olympic Debut but this was more than just making her debut. She became the first black player to make her Olympic debut for the USA Ice Hockey team. The Ohio Native plays for collegiate side, University of Wisconsin with the 22 year old senior graduating this year. The youngster has won two World Championship medals including a Gold and Silver at the 2025 and 2024 World Championships respectively, being named Tournament MVP aged just 20 (the youngest to do so). 

In 2023, She made history as the first Black woman to play for the USA Senior Women’s National Team and the first to score a goal for Team USA at the Worlds in 2024. Meanwhile at Collegiate Level, she calls University of Wisconsin her home and has won two NCAA National Championships with the Badgers (in 2023 and 2025). Alongside this, she was a top-three finalist in the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2025 and led the nation with 35 goals in her junior season. In 2024, the right forward also won the USA Hockey Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award. 

Born and raised in Ohio, she began figure skating aged three before moving to ice hockey the year later and was enrolled in the Cleveland Heights Youth Hockey Program. By the age of eight, Edwards was travelling out of state for tournaments and played AAA Hockey with different boys’ teams, as well as participating in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls Hockey Program. She moved to a different High School aged 13 for its elite girls’ hockey program and during her career there, she scored 147 goals and 266 assists in 287 games between 2018 and 2022. 

Laila Edwards in Team USA Colours | photo taken from @teamusa on instagram

She began her collegiate career in the 2022-23 season and during her freshman year, she had 13 goals and 14 assists in 41 games, ultimately being named in the WCHA All-Rookie Team. She was named in the NCAA All-Tournament team after she recorded four goals and one assist to help her Wisconsin side to their seventh national championship, in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament. 

In her sophomore year (2023-24), she recorded 21 goals and 35 assists in 41 games and was named in the All-WCHA Third Team. For the 2024-25 season, she was named as the alternate captain for the season and in her junior year she put on 35 goals and 36 assists in 41 games, leading the nation with her goal scoring attributes. Her goals were the most by a Wisconsin Badger since Brianna Decker in 2011-12 when she recorded 37 goals. In that season, she was named in the All-WCHA First Team and during the semifinals, she recorded a hat-trick which helped the side reach the final for the third consecutive season. 

For the USA Hockey team, she represented the U18’s in 2022 for their IIHF World Women’s Championship where she was also named alternate captain. She led the team with eight goal contributions in five games and won a silver medal and was named the most valuable player, the best forward and in the All-Tournament team. The following year, she was named in the senior team and played in the November Rivalry Series against Canada. 

In March 2024, she was named in the squad for the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship and during the preliminary round, she was the first black woman to score a goal for the team in the Championship. During the semifinal stage, she recorded a hat-trick and led the squad to a silver medal in the series with six goals and two assists in seven games. In the same tournament, she also won Tournament MVP and was named in the All-Star team, ultimately becoming the youngest to be named MVP at the IIHF World Women’s Championship. 

Laila Edwards is one to watch across the tournament and in the future as she moves from forward to defense and is learning to adapt to this new lifestyle. USA continue with their Olympics campaign on Saturday 7th February as they face Finland at 3.40pm (GMT Time).

Categories
Netball NSL

An Overview into NXT Gen Netball 

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photo taken from @jlf_visuals on instagram

Ahead of the revamp in 2025, England Netball and Netball Super League 2.0 introduced the new U23 league, NXT Gen. This replaced the old U21 NPL League where emerging talents broke through with the NXT Gen consisting of nine teams, all of the Netball Super League sides and the addition of Team Bath. The 2025 competition was a tight one with Loughborough Lightning being champions. 

The competition starts tomorrow (23rd January) prior to the new Super League season, with most teams playing the same side they would face in the league as they would in the NXT Gen. This essentially creates a “double header” sort of atmosphere with fans able to watch the game with their match ticket. 

Last season, the Netball Super League player pool was reduced with 11 teams becoming 8 and 12 player squads becoming 10 which made it more of a struggle to get into the first team. The league allows players to continue to play under club settings but also will let them have a pathway towards the first team. 15 players are allowed in each side and four of the 15 can be older than 23, the players can also be called up as a temporary replacement into any of the eight NSL sides. 

This season has introduced the Super Shot after its debut in the NSL during the 2025 season. For the last five minutes of each quarter, players who score from the zone will get two goal points instead of the usual one. There are also no draws so if a score is level at the end of play, it will continue until a team goes three points ahead with a win equalling three points and a loss having one point. If a game ends with five goals or less between them, there will be one extra point to the losing side. 

Many of Team Bath’s players moved on since their removal from the league prior to the revamp but some stayed with the group and joined their NXTGen side. Current Co-Captain Ellie Ervine played for the side in the Netball Super League during her debut season in 2024 wearing the centre court positions. She was competing alongside her studies at University of Bath and stayed with the side while finishing her studies. She is a player to watch this campaign aiming to put the “gold” in blue and gold and using her NSL expertise to help her side improve from last season. 

Some players play alongside university, have been in the NSL squads previously or even have played in the senior squads as temporary replacements. Some Players to watch across the league would be London Pulse’s Hannah Gibson, Team Bath’s Ellie Ervine, Manchester Thunder’s Shannon Mahlik, London Maverick’s Hannah Knightbridge and Loughborough Lightning’s Ellen Withington. 

Loughborough Lightning winning squad from 2025 | Photo taken from @lborolightning on instagram

After coming through the ranks at Pulse, Hannah Gibson stays with the NXT Gen squad for another season becoming Vice Captain for this season. She was with the England Squad for the World Youth Cup in Gibraltar last year where they won bronze and the attacker looks to help her side this year in the league and even play in the senior side with her skills. She was also NXT Gen’s Player of the Season in the inaugural year.

Manchester Thunder’s Shannon Mahlik was performing alongside the senior squad last season and hopes her experience in the squad will help the thunder side this season. The shooter has been part of the pathway since she was 12 and proves to be a player to watch this season and hope her shooting skills will help her side. 

Hannah Knightbridge made the move to London Mavericks this season after being with London Pulse in the past. The centre and wing attack performer was England’s captain in the Netball Youth Cup and after her season with London Pulse in the NXT Gen last year, she is a player to watch helping the movement across the court from the centre pass to the shooting third.

Ellen Withington is a player to watch this season after moving from Birmingham Panthers to Loughborough Lightning for the 2026 campaign. During last season, she made her debut for the Panthers and helped her side when needed during injuries, eventually replacing Gabby Marshall towards the end of the season. She hopes to bring her midcourt expertise to her new side and bring her quick transitional skills between defence and attack. 

The games are shown on englandnetball.tv with fans also able to watch the games when in attendance watching the senior side in the NSL. The website offers fans to watch the NXT Gen games as well as the younger players in action such as the PL1 and NPL. Users can pay between £49.99 to £69.99 for a yearly pass depending on the leagues and single tickets cost £5.99 per match with the ticket valid for 2 days after. 

Categories
WSL

Chelsea Thrash Crystal Palace 5-0 in Bid to Retain FA Cup

Photo: Wing Chong for Constancy Sport

Chelsea XI: Hampton (GK), Bright ©, Buurman, Cuthbert, James, Reiten, Thompson, Girma, Kaptein, Rytting Kaneryd, Kerr

Substitutes: Bronze (46’), Nüsken (46’), Carpenter (60’), Potter (60’), Sarwie (71’)

Crystal Palace XI: Yanez (GK), Napier, Arthur, Cato, Everett ©, Sharpe, Weerden, Nolan, Ladd, Blanchard, Larkin

Substitutes: Howat (62’), Hughes (78’), Riley (78’)

Chelsea FC looked to keep their hopes of a quadruple winning season alive this afternoon in another London Derby at home to Crystal Palace. For Palace, this was their final real chance at collecting silverware this season, with the team currently sitting fifth in the WSL 2, eight points behind current league leaders Charlton Athletic, despite their current game in hand.

The sides met three times last season, including in the quarter finals of this same competition where the blues won 1-0 at home once again. The Eagles were also victim to an 11-0 loss on aggregate in the league, but with relegation at the conclusion of last season, the teams performances against WSL sides has seemingly improved, so can the team claim their first win against Chelsesa and knock the current champions out of the cup?

Chelsea’s Lauren James took the kick off, with the Blues’ wealth of experience in the competition showing from the off.

The first shot on target of the game came from Crystal Palace’s Abbie Larkin, providing a cross from the left hand sude straight into the gloves of Hannah Hampton. Chelsea however, were quick on the counter attack, immediately proving threatening in the Eagle’s box.

The opening stages were relatively even in south London with Chelsea earning the first corner of the game after Alyssa Thompson’s shot slid wide of the goal.

By the tenth minute, Chelsea had found their rhythm with Naomi Girma ensuring Palace stayed out of the attacking third and out of trouble.

A foul from Molly-Mae Sharpe meant Chelsea had a free kick in dangerous territory and with  Erin Cuthbert standing over the ball, her cross met the head of Millie Bright who knocked it straight into the back of the net, giving Chelsea the lead in just the 13th minute.

In the 17th minute Chelsea were on the attack again and with a miss timed attempt at the ball from Lauren James, the ball found the feet of Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who’s cross met the head of Sam Kerr in the box, her shot was however blocked by Palace’s Shae Yanez.

In the 22nd minute Chelosea found a second through the boots of Sam Kerr, the striker’s first goal in the competition since her goal in the final at Wembley Stadiumn in 2023, warranting her iconic backflip celebration.

Lauren James came close to finding the Blue’s third in the 26th minute however a dodgy touch meant that her attempt bounced directly into the keeper’s gloves.

With Chelsea on the attack once again, Guro Reiten was brought down in the box, earning a penalty in the 29th minute. Guro Reiten was the chosen penalty taker, who of course slotted it home with ease.

Despite being 3-0 down, Palace still proved their determination, with Ashley Weerden breaking through the Chelsea defence moments later.

Chelsea came close to a fourth in the 35th minute, with a cross finding the feet of Johannan Rytting Kaneryd whose shot crossed the front of goal, failing to be picked up by a Blue’s player.

Alyssa Thompson thought she found a fourth just moments later with the forward finding the net from the left, however was punished for her foul in the lead up, meaning the score remained 3-0.

Crystal Palace had the opportunity to shrink their deficit through a free kick infront of goal, however with the pass taken short, Chelsea saw straight through their plan, keepinng th ball well clear of goal.

With a minute of added time announced, the Blue’s had the final effort of the half, a Guro Reiten cross effortlessly finding Erin Cuthbert, whose shot was impressively saved by Shae Yanez meaning the half time scire was 3-0 Chelsea.

With a change of sides, the second half was underway with two changes from Chelsea, Lucy Bronze replacing Naomi Girma and Sjoeke Nusken replacing Lauren James, the two players likeloy being rested ahead of a busy couple of weeks.

The first corner of the second half came in the 50th minute, however Erin Cuthert’s kick failed to meet any Chelsea players.

Sam Kerr found both her second and Chelsea’s fourth goal of the game at the 50th minute mark with yet another header from the Australian international.

Moments later Hannah Hampton was called into action with Ashleigh Weerden finding herself against Wieke Kaptein and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, not a single blues defender in sight.

Chelsea consistently proved threatening throughout the second half with Alyssa Thompson finding Chelsea’s fifth from a rebound after Sjoeke Nusken forced a world class save from Shae Yanez.

Palace’s second set of substitutions saw Molly-Mae Sharpe and Abbie Larkin make way for Indiah-Paige Riley and Elise Hughes.

Ashleigh Weerden once again came close to making a breakthrough in the 80th minute however substitute Ellie Carpenter steered the ball clear of the Chelsea goal, prompting another Chelsea attack.

With yet another shot on target, Lucy Bronze’s shot from range in the 83rd minute forced Shae Yanez into another great save.

Hannah Hampton was forced into action in the dying stages when Ashleigh Weerden’s cross came close to the head of Elise Hughes inside the box.

The final substitution of the game saw Izzy Sibley replace Ashleigh Weerden with three minutes injury time on the clock.

This didn’t stop Alyssa Thompson however, the forward still searching for Chelsea’s sixth despite the Blue’s dominant display.

With the full time score being largely in Chelsea’s favour, the blues found themselves progressing to the fifth round once again and breaking their streak of seemingly underperforming in this competition against the side, but will they be able to keep up their strong form against Manchester City and Arsenal in the coming weeks?

Images via Wing Chong (@thoughtsofawing)

Categories
PWR Rugby

Meet Upcoming Red Rose, Sophie Hopkins 

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Photo taken from @sophieh15_ on instagram 

Among the 11 uncapped players in the Red Roses Squad is Sale Sharks Outside Back, Sophie Hopkins. The England Under-20s player is currently on her year abroad which is included during her Biochemistry and French degree from University of Manchester. She is currently with French top-flight side Lyon and is the only player abroad in the squad of 47 Red Roses. 

When speaking to others, she stated that her rugby role model included fellow back and Red Rose, Ellie Kildunne and would now be training alongside her this January. “I like her speed and agility, I really admire her and look up to her – that’s the kind of player I want to be when I’m older.” 

When the Red Roses were preparing for their Rugby World Cup opener against USA, She was invited alongside fellow Sale Sharks player, Eva Wood to train with the squad which gave her a good experience and learning curve. Now knowing what the players are like in the squad, she can train alongside them this January camp. 

When speaking about the opportunity she said: “Everyone’s been so welcoming, the standard of training is so high but it’s been so fun getting stuck in and getting some good learnings to take back to club.” 

“I know what’s out there and what’s possible. I just have to work as hard as I possibly can to reach there.” 

In a short time at Lyon, she has made an impression for the club playing alongside a number of French and Italian internationals but she is one of the most highly-rated young wingers coming through the ranks. When she returns back to Sale Sharks, a lot of things would have changed after many additions and a World Cup added to the ranks, making it a more competitive environment. 

“I think I’ll come back [to sale] as a more confident player and I will have had the opportunity to find out who that is this year… I definitely want to come back and make my impact known on the team.” 

“Coming back to [Sale] Sharks next year, that’ll be a good challenge. To see whether I can play in this PWR environment – it’s so much more professional now.” 

In the AXA Elite 1 Championship, Lyon finished 8th last season and prepared to launch ahead of the season back in October with Sophie hoping to learn a new, different style of play and bring some “joue” back to Sale when she returns. At the end of the 2024/25 season, she won the Sale Sharks Young Player of the Season and hopes to bring her creative flair back to the North West after her placement year. 

In the January training camp is the entirety of the squad that won the Rugby World Cup bar from the retired Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow. Meanwhile, Lark Atkin-Davies who is expecting a child in June will join the squad but will follow a personalised training programme. 

Sophie Hopkins (14) with her Sale Sharks teammates | Photo taken from @sophieh15_ on instagram