A-LEAGUE WOMEN
Wellington sign Priestman
Bev Priestman, who was sacked as Canada’s women’s coach for her part in the use of drones to spy on the opposition at the Paris Olympics, is to make her return to the game in New Zealand with the Wellington Phoenix. The 39-year-old Englishwoman, who led Canada to Olympic gold in 2021, has just completed a one-year FIFA ban from soccer-related activity for her role in flying a drone over a closed New Zealand training session at last year’s Summer Games. Priestman was handed a two-year deal by the Phoenix to coach their women’s side, who finished ninth of the 12 teams in the otherwise Australian A-League Women earlier this year. “We’re really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football,” Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said in a club statement. “We all know she’s had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we’re really comfortable with this appointment. This is a step up in an exciting era for the Phoenix women’s team.” Priestman is no stranger to her new home, having previously served as New Zealand Football’s director of soccer development and married former Football Ferns midfielder and Phoenix academy director Emma Humphries.
Photo: AFP
LA LIGA
Mbappe to wear No. 10
Kylian Mbappe is to follow Real Madrid greats Ferenc Puskas, Clarence Seedorf and Luis Figo by wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey after Luka Modric’s departure to AC Milan, the club said on Tuesday. The 26-year-old France forward wore the No. 8 shirt in his debut season after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. He scored 44 goals in all competitions in the 2024-2025 season, although he failed to lift a major trophy. Among the other elite players to wear the No. 10 shirt for Real Madrid are Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrop, Robinho and Mesut Ozil.
LA LIGA
Barcelona honor Bryant
Spanish club Barcelona are paying tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant with their second uniform launched on Tuesday. The La Liga champions said that their new jersey would replace the usual Nike swoosh logo “with the Kobe Sheath — the sword in the sheath logo that identifies the Kobe Bryant brand.” Barcelona said that the club had a special relationship with Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in southern California in 2020. He made appearances alongside club members and first-team players during his visits to Barcelona and when the club visited the US. “The shorts are black with Persian violet details and a textured snakeskin outline, a reference to the Black Mamba alter ego of Kobe,” Barcelona said. The change, made in collaboration with Nike, would last three seasons. “All in all, it is part of a brand collaboration between the NBA legend and FC Barcelona that is born out of a shared culture of sporting excellence that characterized Bryant and is also part of FC Barcelona’s DNA,” the club said. “This agreement aims to keep alive that notion of brotherhood and at the same time create a link between Kobe fans and FC Barcelona to make the global impact of the American’s legacy even greater amongst the sporting community and fans.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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