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Over the weekend, the number of subscribers to this newsletter surpassed 30,000. In sporting terms that’s enough people to fill Commbank Stadium in Sydney or AAMI Park in Melbourne.

It’s an absolute pleasure to share the news from the world of sport with you every day and it’s exciting to see the newsletter gaining more and more momentum. Thanks to all of you for your continued feedback and support - without it, we wouldn’t have a newsletter to write!

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Stat of the day

27
The number of PGA Tour titles Rory McIlroy has now won. The Northern Irishman secured his 27th title on the weekend, winning the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California two shots ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Shane Lowry. World number one Scottie Scheffler finished in equal ninth in his first tournament back since a Christmas Day hand injury. 

Quote of the day

“This means a lot to me. We have some amazing women holding our records and to take a record from Kerryn that has stood since 2000 really shows how hard it was. It’s incredible she ran [more] than 25 years ago!”
Australian runner Isobel Batt-Doyle after eclipsing Kerryn McCann’s long-standing Australian women’s half-marathon record. Batt-Doyle finished  The Kagawa Marugame International Half in third with a time of 1:07:17.

Random fact of the day

Cricketer Beth Mooney is the only Australian woman to score a century at the international level in all three formats (T20, One-day, and Test). Mooney achieved the feat over the weekend, posting a score of 106 in the final Test of this year’s Ashes series against England - which Australia won by an innings and 122 runs.

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In case you missed it…

🎾 The Australian Davis Cup team has earned a home fixture for the second round of the tournament, defeating Sweden 3-1 in Stockholm over the weekend. After Alex de Minaur and Aleksandar Vukic both won their singles matches in straight sets, the Olympic gold-medal-winning duo of John Peers and Matt Ebden established an unassailable 3-0 lead with a win in the doubles match. The Aussies will play Belgium at home in September.

🚴‍♂️ Swiss cyclist Mauro Schmid won the 10th edition of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Sunday. With 10km to go in the 183.8km race, Schmid made a break from the peloton and managed to hold on without ever establishing a lead of more than 15 seconds. He said: "It's my first win in a one-day race at world tour level. It's pretty special".

🏉 The opening weekend of the Six Nations saw three favourites begin their 2025 campaigns strongly. On Saturday, France put on a clinical display, dominating Wales 43-0. On Sunday, Scotland held off a comeback from Italy, winning 31-19. Later, Ireland beat England 27-22 in a grudge match in Dublin.

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The most consequential mid-season NBA trade ever? Here’s what you need to know

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Sunday morning that Luka Dončić would be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. The trade marks the first time two reigning All-NBA players have been traded for each other midseason. Players on both teams were reportedly given no warning before the news broke. The vast majority of NBA players are not able to refuse being traded.

The trade

The trade involved three teams: the Mavericks, the Lakers and the Utah Jazz. Along with Dončić, the Lakers will receive Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavs, and $US55,000 ($AU90,000) from the Jazz. With Davis, the Mavericks will also get rising Lakers star Max Christie, the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick, and $US55,000 from Utah. The Jazz will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino from the Lakers, the Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick (from the Lakers), and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick.

Implications

With this trade, the Lakers are preparing for the future. At 25 years old, with his best years likely ahead, Dončić will join forces with 21-time All-Star and one of the game’s greatest-ever players, LeBron James. James turned 40 this year, and Dončić is now poised to succeed him as the face of the franchise in the coming years.

As for the Mavericks, the trade is likely to benefit them more in the short term. Davis will bolster the Mavericks’ defence and team up with 8-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving, giving them a solid chance of making a deep playoff run. However, Davis is 31-years-old, meaning there could be limited time for the trade to bear fruit for the Mavericks.

What they said

In a post to social media addressed to the city of Dallas, Dončić said: “Seven years ago, I came here as a teenager to pursue my dream of playing basketball at the highest level. I thought I’d spend my entire career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship.”

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison defended the decision, saying: "I believe that defence wins championships. I believe that getting an All-Defensive centre and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We're built to win now and in the future."

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The sexual assault trial of former Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales begins today

The trial of former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales for alleged sexual assault begins today. Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso after Spain won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Hermoso alleges the kiss was not consensual, which Rubiales denies. Rubiales has been accused of sexual assault and coercion, and faces a prison term of up to two and a half years if he’s found guilty.

The kiss

Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Sydney on 20 August 2023. During a medal ceremony after the game, Rubiales kissed Hermoso, which she has repeatedly alleged was without her consent. Following the incident, Hermoso alleges Rubiales and three other senior officials, including former coach Jorge Vilda, “persistently” pressured and threatened her to publicly say the kiss was consensual.

High Court

Hermoso filed a legal complaint, alleging sexual assault and coercion. Her complaint was escalated to Spain’s high court, which launched an inquiry to determine whether Rubiales should be tried. During the pre-trial inquiry, the court heard from witnesses including Hermoso. She said the kiss was “unexpected” and she didn’t have time to react.

Co-defendants

Three other men formerly involved with the Spanish football federation face trial for their alleged attempts to coerce Hermoso out of filing the complaint. They include Vilda, ex-marketing chief Rubén Rivera, and ex-sporting director Albert Luque. Prosecutors are seeking 18-month prison terms for all three.

Rubiales, Vilda, Rivera and Luque will testify later this month.

Fallout

The kiss sparked calls for Rubiales’ resignation, and a player boycott and widespread protests were described as Spanish soccer’s #MeToo moment. On 11 September 2023, Rubiales officially resigned as head of the Spanish Football Federation. FIFA later banned him for three years.

A message from Deakin University

Whether it’s home or away, follow them through every game

The Sport Science degree at Deakin University provides students with the opportunity to acquire world-class knowledge in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and sport psychology - essential areas that contribute to optimising elite performance.

Gain insight into cutting-edge training techniques, injury prevention strategies, and advanced performance analytics used in global sporting events.

By studying at Deakin, you'll be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to support athletes at the highest level, preparing you for a dynamic and rewarding career in the field of sport science.

Looking forward…(All times are AEDT)

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