Good evening!

Yesterday we polled the TDA Sport newsletter audience on oval-shaped ball sports.

• The most popular was the AFL/AFLW with 54% of votes

• The least popular was the Wallabies/Wallaroos with 7% of votes

If you’re more into spherical ball sports anyway, Australia’s men’s and women’s cricket teams are in action tonight against England and New Zealand respectively.

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Stat of the day

3
The number of teams joining the WNBA in the next two years. The WNBA announced on Wednesday afternoon (local time) that a team based in Portland, Oregon will join in 2026. The announcement comes following the planned addition of the Golden State Valkyries (San Francisco, California) in 2025 and a yet-to-be-named team from Toronto, Canada in 2026. 

Quote of the day

“Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead. I’m excited for the next chapter in my coaching career.”
Tennis coach Brad Gilbert in a post on social media after he and Coco Gauff ended their professional partnership after 14 months. Gilbert was in Gauff’s corner for her first (and only) grand slam at the 2023 U.S. Open. Recently the tennis star has had a string of disappointing results. She posted: “We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!”

Random fact of the day

Tennis player Billie Jean King is set to become the first individual female athlete to be awarded the highest civilian honour in the U.S., the Congressional Gold Medal. King won 12 singles grand slam titles and is recognised as a champion of women’s rights. Tomorrow is the 51st anniversary of her winning the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match against Bobby Riggs in 1973, the most viewed tennis match of all time.

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In case you missed it…

🏉 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed the NRL’s expansion into Papua New Guinea. The federal government has reportedly come to an in-principle agreement with the Australian Rugby League Commission to see a PNG team join the competition in 2028. Albanese told ABC Radio: "There is no country on earth that is more passionate, including Australia, than PNG when it comes to rugby league."

⚽ Matildas forward Mary Fowler made her mark in the Women’s Champions League overnight, scoring for Manchester City in the side’s 5-0 thrashing of Paris FC. Meanwhile, Arsenal, which features Matildas Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord, were upset 1-0 by Swedish club Hacken, a result that will make their side’s progression through the tournament difficult.

🏉 In the AFLW, the Brisbane Lions beat the Western Bulldogs 81-34. Taylor Smith starred for the Lions with four goals. After four games, the Bulldogs remain winless and sit at the bottom of the table in 18th. The Lions sit in third with three wins from four games. 

⛵ Switzerland is the latest sailing team to be knocked out of America’s Cup contention after they lost a best-of-nine series against Great Britain 5-2. Great Britain will race the winner of the series between the U.S. and Italy, which currently stands at 4-3 in Italy’s favour and will conclude tonight. 

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Australia’s women’s T20 team set to face New Zealand in three-match series

The first of three women’s T20 internationals between Australia and New Zealand is tonight at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. The series will be an opportunity for the sides to prepare for when they meet in the group stages of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai next month.

Context

Australia head into the series as the world’s top-ranked team and defending World Cup champions. The Aussies will be captained by Alyssa Healy. 

On the other hand, the visitors from New Zealand are looking to snap a seven-match losing streak in T20 internationals. The White Ferns are the world’s fourth-ranked team but have not made a World Cup semi-final since 2016. They will be led by veteran player Sophie Devine.

Schedule

Match One: 19 September at 7:10pm (Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay)

Match Two: 22 September at 7:10pm (Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay)

Match Three: 24 September at 7:10pm (Allan Border Field, Brisbane)

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Formula One: Singapore Grand Prix Preview

After Oscar Piastri’s thrilling victory in Azerbaijan last Sunday, Formula One returns this week to the streets of Singapore. 

Singapore Circuit

The Singapore Grand Prix takes place on the notoriously demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit. A combination of a bumpy street surface and high temperatures and humidity can take a toll on the drivers, who’ll race 62 laps of the 4.9km circuit, covering a total of 306km. 

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton set the record for the fastest lap at the Singapore GP in 2023, but Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took out the race. It was the only race all season that wasn’t won by a Red Bull driver (Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen).

Context

McLaren is the in-form team at the moment following Piastri’s win last weekend. The victory saw McLaren overtake Red Bull in the Constructors Championship, which they now lead by 20 points. Verstappen still leads the Driver Standings 59 points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. 

Norris will be looking for redemption after last week’s disappointment where he started in P15 due to issues in qualifying. 

McLaren may encounter difficulties managing the team dynamic since Norris is within striking distance of Verstappen in the Driver Standings, but Piastri has had a stunning run of form and earned the most points of any driver in the last seven races.

How to watch

The race is on Sunday 22 September at 10:00pm. You can watch Formula One on Foxtel or Kayo Sports.

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The Paralympics' impact on accessibility in sport

Samantha Lilly, a Graduate Researcher at Deakin University and an elite athlete with a disability explores in a recent article how the Paralympics enhance accessibility in sport at all levels.

The first Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960 and the Games have grown in scope and influence since then. This growth has improved the global awareness of disabled sports which in turn has helped improve accessibility.

The Paralympics can be attributed to driving innovations in assistive technology to help para-athletes perform. For example, the evolution of running blades for amputee athletes from basic prosthetics to advanced carbon fiber designs. Australia encourages this sort of innovation with over 100 funding schemes for assistive technology.

Increased investment in disabled sports has also led to better training facilities. For example, the NSW Institute of Sport in Sydney is designed to accommodate and develop athletes with various disabilities.

Beyond tangible benefits, the Paralympics has fostered global discussions about inclusion and accessibility and the achievements of Paralympians continue to challenge perceptions of disability concerning sport and athleticism.

Despite the progress that has been made, Lilly notes that accessible sport is often seen as a secondary priority. She urges that accessibility should be integral to sports clubs and society and not just an afterthought.

Think Beyond The Field. Study sport at Deakin.

Looking forward…(All times are AEST)

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