In today’s sports news, the AFLW season starts tonight, Alex de Minaur to play in US Open tomorrow and the Boomers play their final two group matches at the FIBA World Cup.
AFLW season begins
The eighth season of the AFLW begins tonight as reigning premiers Melbourne taking on Collingwood at Ikon Park. It is the first time the two teams have played each other in 916 days, a match which Collingwood won comfortably by 35 points.
Melbourne will be without Daisy Pearce, the premiership captain retiring at the end of last season, but coach Mick Stinear believes they will be fine.
“Daisy’s left the place in great shape,” Stinear said. “She created space for others to step up and gave them the skills to do so.”
Other big games in the opening round include Adelaide vs Port Adelaide, West Coast vs Fremantle and Brisbane vs Richmond.
Alex de Minaur through to third round
Alex de Minaur has advanced to the third round of the US Open after winning his match this morning in less than 90 minutes.
He beat China’s Wu Yibing in three sets 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
The world number 13 is the only Australian male left in the Open. His second round win means that de Minaur has advanced to the third round for the fifth time out of his seven US Open appearances. He will play world number 23 Nicolás Jarry tomorrow for a spot in the round of 16.
Boomers last two group games
The Boomers will play Slovenia and Georgia over the weekend in the second round of the FIBA World Cup.
Australia is currently third in Group K and will need to win at least one more game to be a chance to qualify for the quarter finals.
Tonight, the Boomers play Slovenia, who are led by NBA All-Star Luka Dončić, and are yet to lose a game this tournament.
Boomers star Josh Giddey told reporters his team know how important it is to stop Dončić.
“He carries a heavy load for Slovenia, so a lot of our game plan is going to revolve around him,” he said.
Women’s volleyball attendance record
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Volleyball team broke the record for the biggest attendance ever at a women’s sporting event.
The game attracted 92,003 people to Memorial Stadium as the Cornhuskers took on University of Nebraska Omaha.
The previous record was 91,648 for the Champions League semi-final in 2022 at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona.
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