Most valuable Shark
The Sharks beat the Auckland Tuatara 91-75 on Thursday to make the top four. They meet defending champions the Canterbury Rams in the semifinal this afternoon. — APL
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NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Claressa Shields v Lani Daniels: Champion's warning for Kiwi rival ahead of undisputed title fight
'I'm grateful and blessed to be here. I'm grateful to have a voice. I'm not as good as these fullas at talking but I think I'm better at fighting,' Daniels said. 'I'm grateful for the talk practice, because it'll prepare me for Saturday when my hands go to work. I don't have too much to say, I just want to thank everyone for making this fight and event possible.' Daniels goes into the bout with an 11-2-2 record, most recently defending her light heavyweight title last September. She faces a big step up in competition against Shields, with the bout scheduled to play out over 10 two-minute rounds. American Claressa Shields will put her undisputed heavyweight crown on the line against Kiwi Lani Daniels (inset) in Detroit this weekend. Photo / Getty Images, NZME 'I have a very sturdy opponent in front of me in Lani Daniels,' Shields said. 'I want to tell you something; I have not taken you lightly. 'People keep saying they don't know who Lani is and sad to say you guys don't know who half of the girls, who any of the girls fighting [are] because nobody works on building their brand like I do. You can't try to shoot me in the foot over that. 'I've been building my brand so I have 1.4 million followers, I think it's over 2 million worldwide, so to share that platform with Lani is very, very special. 'There's going to be more eyes than have ever been on you on Saturday; in the building, online, on DAZN, it's going to be huge... I cannot let you beat me up. I can't do it. 'There's a lot on the line here... I have prepared for you and your coach very, very hard, and me and my team know what you bring to the table. We respect you and I thank you for coming all the way over here from New Zealand, bringing your family. I look forward to sharing the ring with you.' While Daniels goes into the bout as the underdog, Shields was expecting the Kiwi to present her with a challenge. 'Everyone keeps saying that they're a little scared for you. I'm not. I'm not a little scared for you. 'I know you're going to come and you're going to bring it, but if you can bring out a different beast in me to where I have to rise to a different occasion, then I'll be scared for you,' she said. 'I'm not scared for you yet. I am ready to see how hard you're going to come out there and fight on Saturday, and... if you really want to be champion. If you do that, that's when you're going to see a great fight.' How to watch The bout will headline the card in Detroit on Sunday, which begins at midday NZT on streaming platform DAZN. According to DAZN, Shields and Daniels are estimated to make their walks to the ring about 2pm.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Squad's potential excites coach
Georgia Cormick, pictured in action for the Spirit last year, brings experience after a season with the Western Force in Super Rugby Women. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES There is a quiet optimism about where the Otago Spirit could head this season. Head coach Matt Direen unveiled his 35-strong squad last week with an exciting blend of experienced heads and new blood to compete in the Farah Palmer Cup Championship this season. The Spirit made it to the Championship final last year, where they fell short against the Manawatu Cyclones. Direen knows what it takes to get there, having made the step up to head coach this season after several years as assistant, and is excited by the "unrealised potential" among his squad. "I think this squad has ability to go a long way and I don't think they potentially realise [yet] ... exciting to be sort of helping them reach that potential," Direen said. "Obviously some new girls coming in that bring quite a lot and established players that have proven they can do it. "Getting them all to realise just how good they can be as a squad is what we're trying to achieve at the moment." Several wise heads are back, including Tegan Hollows and Eilis Doyle, who played for Matatu, and Georgia Cormick and Sheree Hume, who played for the Western Force in Super Rugby Women. Exciting backs Charlotte Va'afusuaga, who was the Spirit's MVP in 2024, and Naomi Sopoaga also made their Matatu debuts. Former Tasman back-turned-loose forward Sarah Jones has shifted south, and halfback Abigail Paton — both were part of Matatu — returns home after a year with Canterbury. "The value of experience in today's game is massive," Direen said. "Having a few older heads having been in and in amongst that, and know what's required in terms of training and preparation. "You can tell those things from a coach, but seeing them modelled by players like Tegs, and Eilis, and those sort of girls, it's way more valuable than my words." Another experienced campaigner in Greer Muir will take over the captaincy this season. She replaces Julia Gorinski, who has retired but remains with the squad as assistant manager. Muir had developed as a calm head in pressure situations, set high expectations and delivered clear messages her players responded to, Direen said. "You notice a player when they talk [and] everyone else is quiet and Greer's that kind of person. "We've got a few leaders in that space, but Greer was certainly someone that stood out." Bella Rewiri-Wharerau has been ruled out for the season, but remains as an analyst, and Zoe Frood, Paige Church and Te Atawhai Campbell are also among the injury list. Campbell should hopefully be available at some stage, but the others were "not looking quite as promising", he said. The Spirit make the trip to Lincoln on Sunday to play a "game of three halves" against Tasman and Southland. They then head away to play Canterbury ahead of their Farah Palmer Cup opener. Both games were vital for "bridging between club footy and that next level" and preparing them for the season ahead. The Spirit open their season against North Harbour at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 10.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Age no barrier for Venus Williams
Venus Williams serving at a tournament in Washington DC on Tuesday. Venus Williams has received a wild card main draw entry into the Cincinnati Open, the tournament says, as the 45-year-old American enjoys an age-defying return to the spotlight. The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat world No 35 Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday, after a 16-month absence from the game. Williams, who will play Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech in the next round in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, previously declined a wild card entry invite for Indian Wells earlier this year. The Cincinnati Open also offered a wild card invite to hometown talent Caty McNally, who recently returned to action after undergoing elbow surgery last year. The main draw of the Cincinnati Open begins on August 7.
