There’s so much sport this weekend, I won’t waste any more time on a preamble. Let’s get into it.

🏀 There was plenty of excitement across last night’s NBL double-header. The Adelaide 36ers were too good for the NZ Breakers, setting up a lead early in the last quarter and holding on to it by the skin of their teeth in the final seconds. Bryce Cotton was crucial for Adelaide, scoring 23 points to hand his side their first win (83-79) in Christchurch. Then, the SE Melbourne Phoenix eked out a one-point win over the Tasmania JackJumpers, despite Bryce Hamilton scoring in the last 20 seconds to bring his total to 36 points. It was the seventh loss in nine games for the JackJumpers, who tried but failed to capitalise on their home ground advantage.

🎾 The WTA Finals semis are set, with Aryna Sabalenka knocking out Coco Gauff (7-6, 6-2), and Jessica Pegula blowing Jasmine Paolini away (6-2, 6-3). World no.1 Sabalenka will be tough to beat, but if anyone’s up for the challenge, it’s Amanda Anisimova. The World no. 4 from the U.S. earned redemption for her crushing Wimbledon final loss to Iga Świątek earlier this week. In the other semi-final, Pegula will take to Centre Court seeking to hand Elena Rybakina her first loss of the tournament. At 31, Pegula is the oldest player left in contention — will age equal experience, or could she be outplayed by Rybakina, five years her junior?

🏀 Over in the WNBL, the Sydney Flames secured their first win since the opening round, keeping the UC Capitals to 64 points and only 18 turnovers. Shaneice Swain (also an Opal and WNBA player) was back on the court after a back injury and made all the difference for the Flames, playing 27 minutes and scoring 19 points. It was the third defeat in a row for the Capitals, who will seek to bounce back tomorrow night against last year’s champions, the Bendigo Spirit.

Grand finale season can’t afford to be taken out by a cold

Whether you’re playing, coaching, or cheering from the sidelines, staying well is non-negotiable. The Blackmores Immune Rapi-Melt is packed with nutrients like vitamin C, zinc and selenium to support immune system health – no pills, no water, just a quick citrus-flavoured melt that fits into your day. 

Take it in the car, on the field, or during your warm-up. It’s a simple way to help your immune system stay ready when it matters most.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

Talking points: West Coast and Carlton meet again at IKON Park, just a week after the Eagles defeated the Blues 42-22 in the final round of the regular season. The Eagles are playing in their first-ever finals after sneaking into eighth spot with a late-season surge. They started strongly last week but were overrun as Carlton took control around stoppages and inside 50s. The Blues will back their midfield depth again, while West Coast will need a cleaner, more disciplined performance. With both teams packed with young talent, stars like West Coast’s Ella Roberts or Carlton’s Sophie McKay could decide it.

How to watch: The match begins at 3:05pm on Saturday. You can watch it on Channel 7. 

Talking points: India now leads the T20 series with Australia 2-1, securing a 48-run victory last night. There were early signs of trouble with Xavier Bartlett dropping a ball and India’s opening batsman Abishek Sharma hitting a six, but things didn’t really fall apart until the second innings. The lower-order batters couldn't stand up to a spin-heavy attack from India, putting the visitors on top of the series overall. Australia will need to pull out a major effort to salvage the series, which will be played to a draw since the first game was washed out.
How to watch: Play begins at 7.15pm tomorrow night. You can watch it on Kayo.

Talking points: Formula One is back with the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo. With just four races to go, all eyes will be on the race between three key title contenders. Just one point separates Drivers’ Championship leader Lando Norris and his Aussie McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen is also still a major threat, just 36 points behind Norris. Piastri will be hoping to revive his mid-season form after a fifth-place finish at the Mexico GP marked his fourth consecutive race without a podium finish. With a sprint race on the schedule as well, there’ll be more points up for grabs.

How to watch: The sprint begins at 1am Sunday (AEDT) ahead of the main race at 4am on Monday. You can watch Formula One on Kayo or Foxtel. 

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