What Happened in Women’s Sports This Weekend
Immigrant City, Wimbledon moolah and (maybe) the first nepo shotputter?
Women’s sports are always in season. This summer, I’m working to shine a bi-weekly light on the biggest headlines coming out of football, netball, tennis and more with Courts + Cleats.
Every Monday, I’ll give you the rundown of what you may have missed over the weekend in the world of women’s sports (Friday-Sunday).
On A Friday, expect bits, pieces, and headlines from the week, too (Monday-Thursday).
On today’s weekend edition: we say goodbye to a netball legend, say hello to the stadium hosting the NWSL 2025 Championship, and bask in the awe of Soccer Aid and the women who graced the pitch at Old Trafford this weekend.
What happened in Women’s Sports on Friday
⚽️ Lewes FC make appeal to fans
English football side Lewes FC has appealed for fans to help fund six-figure stadium costs amid the off season. To maintain The Dripping Man - home of both Lewes women and men - the club need around £120,000 to keep afloat. This is despite having a ‘better-than-break-even season’, according to the East Sussex-based side.
🤼♀️ Brock Lesnar’s daughter wins Major Collegiate Sports Title
Mya Lesnar, the daughter of WWE icon and former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar, won the NCAA Division I women's shot put on Friday with her first throw of 9.01m at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Unreal.
⚽️ SanJose PayPal Park to host NWSL 2025 Championship
Thousands of soccer fans are set to flock to California’s PayPal Park on Saturday, November 22, to see one National Women’s Soccer League side hoist the 2025 Championship trophy. The 18,000-capacity stadium is currently the home to Bay FC and MLS’s San Jose Earthquakes.
🎾 Wimbledon increasing its prize fund
The Wimbledon Championships prize pot has been raised to £53.5 million—a seven percent rise from last year. Whoever storms the 2025 tennis competition will take home a cool £3m (11 percent more than last year) while first-round failures will exit with £66,000 (10 percent more than last year). Nice!
What happened in Women’s Sports on Saturday
⚽️ Angel City rebrand to ‘immigrant city’
NWSL side Angel City FC has stood with the thousands of families affected by the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. 10,000 BMO Stadium attendees were gifted a black T-shirt with the words ‘immigrant city’. They were also greeted with a heartfelt address by Becky G - the Grammy-winning singer who makes up part of the Angel City ownership group.
“The fabric of this city is made of immigrants,” she said. “Football does not exist without immigrants. This club does not exist without immigrants.”
🏀 Caitlin Clark returned from injury
After a few weeks on the sidelines, 23-year-old Caitlin Clark returned from a quad injury during Indiana Fever’s victorious bout against the New York Liberty. Putting 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds on the board, CC led the charge that ended Sandy Brondello’s squad’s nine-game win-streak, and earned herself a shout out from LeBron James in the process. Nice!
⚽️ Rachel Daly recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours
Aston Villa striker and former England Lionesses star Rachel Daly was named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list. Capped 84 times for her country, the 33-year-old receives her MBE for her contributions to football in England.
She is joined on the list by golfer Trish Johnson, gymnastics coach and commentator Christine Still and boxer Natasha Jones.
Ex-Great Britain ice hockey captain Saffron Lane has also received an MBE, alongside Paralympic swimming champion and retired volleyball player Monica Vaughan. Meanwhile, tennis legend Virginia Wade is made a CBE.
What happened in women’s sports on Sunday
⚽️ Former England Lioness Toni Duggan scored a goal at Soccer Aid
Toni Duggan was the only woman to make it onto the scoresheet at this weekend’s Soccer Aid. Hosted at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, Soccer Aid saw the 33-year-old ex-Barcelona and Manchester City icon netting the second goal of the game after Wayne Rooney.
Unfortunately, the pairs goals - as well as a brace scored by ex-Tottenham Hotspur player Jermain Defoe - wasn’t enough to seal the deal for England, with the side failing 5-4 to the World XI.
As well as Duggan, Soccer Aid Sunday saw former Lionesses Jill Scott and Steph Houghton on the field, with ex-heptathlon superstar Denise Lewis, hockey pro and Strictly Come Dancing’s Sam Quek, and actor Bella Ramsay also playing their part.
Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medalist Kaylyn Kyle, comedian Maisie Adam, Al-Shaba midfielder Kheira Hamraoui and Gladiators’ Livi 'Diamond' Sheldon were granted a spot on team World XI.
⚽️ Aston Villa ‘ready to sell women’s team’ to secure Marcus Rashford
One of the most bizarre headlines I’ve read in recent weeks—Aston Villa are reportedly willing to ‘explore’ the idea of selling their stake in their women’s team in a bid to secure Marcus Rashford’s signature. Wild. This comes after the Premier League club announced that if you wanted a better chance of securing a season ticket, you can start attending women’s matches and accruing points.
⛳️ Carlota Ciganda wins Meijer Classic
Carlota Ciganda ended her nine-year LPGA victory drought this weekend at the Meijer Classic, held at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. It’s the 35-year-old Spaniard’s first title since 2016’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
"It feels amazing obviously after all these years," Ciganda said after her victory. "I knew I could do it, but obviously once the years keep going and you start getting older you start doubting yourself.
🎾 Tatjana Maria becomes first Queens Club winner in 52 years
Three cheers for German professional tennis player - the first woman to become a Queens Club champion in 52 years. The 37-year-old fairytale singles run concluded with a straight-sets victory (6-3, 6-4) over Amanda Anisimova in the final. The mother of two is now the oldest WTA Tour champion since Serena Williams lifted a trophy in Auckland back in 2020. She dropped just one set across the seven matches she played—amazing!
🎾 Emma Raducanu becomes British number one
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu is back in the good books—securing her place as the highest-ranked British tennis player. It’s been two years since she was top of the charts, but the 22-year-old is seemingly back where she belongs after reaching the quarter-finals of Queens.
⚽️ Tampa Bay Sun win first USL women’s super league championship
Clinching the inaugural USL Super League title: give it up for Tampa Bay Sun! The sold-out Riverfront Stadium erupted after Cecilie Fløe scored in extra time, putting Denise Schilte-Brown’s side 1-0 up against rivals Fort Lauderdale United.
👏 Geva Mentor retires from netball
The bell has tolled on Geva Mentor’s netball career as she hung up her dress for good on Sunday. Ahead of her final game for the Leeds Rhinos (which ended in a 80-61 defeat by Nottingham Forest), the Commonwealth Games gold medalist was afforded a guard of honour. She later explained how ‘excited’ she is for the game’s future.
Prior to her retirement, the 40-year-old starred for the likes of Surrey Storm and Team Bath in England, as well as the Adelaide Thunderbirds, the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies.
Thanks for reading the weekend edition of What Happened In Women’s Sports. If you liked what you read, please do let me know! Share your favourite bits with your favourite people!
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