Latest news with #LizEllis
Daily Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
NSW Swifts: Verity Simmons, Sharni Lambden, Helen Housby discuss the future of netball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stellar. Followed categories will be added to My News. The NSW Swifts know how to produce stars. It's the former club of netball greats Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox. Now, 30-year-old shooter Helen Housby, who originally hails from the UK before calling Sydney home and helping them win two premierships, is their latest star. She's gone viral for both her goals and also TikTok dances during matches. 'I get recognised a lot more than I used to,' she says. 'But I think it's good for the game. If you look at the best sports in the world, they have people that fans want to engage with and want to look up to, and I think netball, because it's such a great team sport, has sometimes shied away from promoting individuals. 'But I feel a responsibility to promote the game because I love it.' Wing defence Sharni Lambden joined the Swifts this season and pinches herself daily that she's part of a team that has played in more grand finals, and won more titles, than any other in the game. Verity Simmons, Sharni Lambden, Helen Housby of the NSW Swifts Netball. Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar Especially considering it took her 10 years in the pathways program to even get her start. 'What motivates me is that little girl that absolutely fell in love with netball when she first started playing at eight,' she says. 'It's been a big journey and she never would have thought she'll be here. She was such a shy, young little girl and now I'm here. I'm trying to really soak it all in.' While Netball is currently the only team sport to compete at the reduced Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. And there is a huge push for it to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because if breakdancing can make it to Paris, why can't a sport which is played in 120 countries around the world be included. For Housby, it's something she wants to be part of. 'I will be 37 then so I'm not sure if I will have the legs in me. I might have to retire for a good couple of years and then get to CrossFit or something to try and stay fit,' she laughs. 'But if it did come to Brisbane in 2032, that would definitely be something that I would look towards.' 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up.' Picture: Steven Chee for Stellar Housby's new teammate Verity Simmons adds that for the sport to be taken seriously as an Olympic sport, America needs to get involved; 'You look at how they work in the States and how they blow up their athletes'. 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up. 'You know everything's bigger in America, right?' The game isn't far off that. In June, the Women's Sport Network founded by Whoopi Goldberg, signed a three-year deal with Suncorp Super Netball which will see the competition beamed into 65 countries around the world with a reach of 900 million. Testament to growing support for the game, this year the Grand Final will be played at Rod Laver Arena for the first time ever. She's red-y! Helen Housby, of the Swifts, in action on the court. Picture: Getty Images Simmons, a 34-year-old centre and wing attack has a unique view on the game. The Diamonds player hung up her bib in 2023 and picked up a pair of footy boots, joining the AFLW and the West Coast Eagles for a season, before returning to the Swifts this year. When it comes to 'professionalism and how clean and tidy we keep the sport,' Simmons believes netballers are the best. 'I love being back around the netball environment. I love the community. I love the fans that we have. 'We have incredibly loyal fans that literally love this sport and are so happy to give so much time and love and energy to it and volunteer. I feel very fortunate to be back involved in a club like this.' There is no doubt the sport has come a long way in the past five years when it comes to sponsorship opportunities, pay increases for players (in 2023, after a civil war between administration and players, both parties agreed to an 11 per cent pay increase) and engagement for fans (Swifts games now regularly sell out.) However for Simmons, it was her time away from the sport that highlighted just how far they'd come. Verity Simmons during the round one Super Netball match between West Coast Fever and NSW Swifts in April. Picture: Getty Images Courting attention! Sharni Lambden of the NSW Swifts: 'I've never done anything like it!' Picture: Getty Images 'I used to think why has it taken so long? We're the most highly participated sport in Australia for women. 'It's been frustrating at times, but, I think stepping away from it and being in the football environment and still watching the sport grow and develop I was like, Wow, this really is something special,' she says. Ultimately, all three enjoyed their exclusive shoot for Stellar. 'I've never done anything like it. It was a really cool experience and I didn't know what I was in for but I'm always up for anything,' says Lambden. Adds Housby, 'when I first joined the Swifts or even when I debuted for England it was much, much harder to be seen on TV or to be in magazines. 'The coverage was just completely different. The payment was completely different but because I've benefited from the rise in netball, I do feel a responsibility to continue that and to champion it. 'I'll probably still be talking about netball into my 90s.' The Suncorp Super Netball Finals series is live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. See the full shoot with the NSW Swifts in tomorrow's Stellar, inside The Sunday Telepgrah (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA). For more from Stellar, click here.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Meet some of Australian netball's brightest stars: From TikTok viral goals to Olympic dreams at the NSW Swifts
The NSW Swifts know how to produce stars. It's the former club of netball greats Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox. Now, 30-year-old shooter Helen Housby, who originally hails from the UK before calling Sydney home and helping them win two premierships, is their latest star. She's gone viral for both her goals and also TikTok dances during matches. 'I get recognised a lot more than I used to,' she says. 'But I think it's good for the game. If you look at the best sports in the world, they have people that fans want to engage with and want to look up to, and I think netball, because it's such a great team sport, has sometimes shied away from promoting individuals. 'But I feel a responsibility to promote the game because I love it.' Wing defence Sharni Lambden joined the Swifts this season and pinches herself daily that she's part of a team that has played in more grand finals, and won more titles, than any other in the game. Especially considering it took her 10 years in the pathways program to even get her start. 'What motivates me is that little girl that absolutely fell in love with netball when she first started playing at eight,' she says. 'It's been a big journey and she never would have thought she'll be here. She was such a shy, young little girl and now I'm here. I'm trying to really soak it all in.' While Netball is currently the only team sport to compete at the reduced Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. And there is a huge push for it to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane because if breakdancing can make it to Paris, why can't a sport which is played in 120 countries around the world be included. For Housby, it's something she wants to be part of. 'I will be 37 then so I'm not sure if I will have the legs in me. I might have to retire for a good couple of years and then get to CrossFit or something to try and stay fit,' she laughs. 'But if it did come to Brisbane in 2032, that would definitely be something that I would look towards.' Housby's new teammate Verity Simmons adds that for the sport to be taken seriously as an Olympic sport, America needs to get involved; 'You look at how they work in the States and how they blow up their athletes'. 'I would love to see netball get in there and I think that would be what blows the sport up. 'You know everything's bigger in America, right?' The game isn't far off that. In June, the Women's Sport Network founded by Whoopi Goldberg, signed a three-year deal with Suncorp Super Netball which will see the competition beamed into 65 countries around the world with a reach of 900 million. Testament to growing support for the game, this year the Grand Final will be played at Rod Laver Arena for the first time ever. Simmons, a 34-year-old centre and wing attack has a unique view on the game. The Diamonds player hung up her bib in 2023 and picked up a pair of footy boots, joining the AFLW and the West Coast Eagles for a season, before returning to the Swifts this year. When it comes to 'professionalism and how clean and tidy we keep the sport,' Simmons believes netballers are the best. 'I love being back around the netball environment. I love the community. I love the fans that we have. 'We have incredibly loyal fans that literally love this sport and are so happy to give so much time and love and energy to it and volunteer. I feel very fortunate to be back involved in a club like this.' There is no doubt the sport has come a long way in the past five years when it comes to sponsorship opportunities, pay increases for players (in 2023, after a civil war between administration and players, both parties agreed to an 11 per cent pay increase) and engagement for fans (Swifts games now regularly sell out.) However for Simmons, it was her time away from the sport that highlighted just how far they'd come. 'I used to think why has it taken so long? We're the most highly participated sport in Australia for women. 'It's been frustrating at times, but, I think stepping away from it and being in the football environment and still watching the sport grow and develop I was like, Wow, this really is something special,' she says. Ultimately, all three enjoyed their exclusive shoot for Stellar. 'I've never done anything like it. It was a really cool experience and I didn't know what I was in for but I'm always up for anything,' says Lambden. Adds Housby, 'when I first joined the Swifts or even when I debuted for England it was much, much harder to be seen on TV or to be in magazines. 'The coverage was just completely different. The payment was completely different but because I've benefited from the rise in netball, I do feel a responsibility to continue that and to champion it. 'I'll probably still be talking about netball into my 90s.' The Suncorp Super Netball Finals series is live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. See the full shoot with the NSW Swifts in tomorrow's Stellar, inside The Sunday Telepgrah (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA).
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DRY BAR COMEDY Achieves Milestone, Reaching Over 6 Billion Views Across Platforms, Including 1.2 Billion YouTube Views
Angel's Stand-Up Comedy Platform Features Top Comedians and Content that is Funny for Everyone PROVO, Utah, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Angel, the film & TV platform curated by over one million members of the Angel Guild, is honored to share that their Angel Original Series DRY BAR COMEDY has reached an incredible milestone, achieving over 6 billion views across all platforms. Dry Bar has also found a passionate audience on YouTube, with over 1.2 billion views on that site alone. "We are grateful to every comedian, viewer, and team member who helped us reach this milestone," said Liz Ellis, COO of Angel. "Laughter has the power to connect, uplift, and heal. That's why Dry Bar Comedy matters—it's not just entertainment, it's a daily dose of joy in a world that needs more light." To celebrate, Angel has launched a 24/7 Livestream featuring the top performing, most laughed at videos from the series, available on YouTube on the Angel App. Dry Bar is also launching a new series, Dry Bar Toons, and has made Adam Carolla's Dry Bar debut Adam Carolla Comes Clean, available free on YouTube. Currently, a new Funny Friday special launches weekly on the Angel app and at The month of June features Rocky Osborn's "As Clean as it Gets," Roman's "Romancharges," Raj Sharma's "Raj to Roger," and Lester Barrie's "A Fan of Marriage." Founded in 2017, DRY BAR COMEDY has become the fastest growing stand-up comedy streaming series, garnering an average of 50 million monthly views across the brand's social and app platforms. The DRY BAR COMEDY series was the first to launch on the Angel Studios platform, and boasts over 650 specials, exclusive original series, and new content each week. Boasting content from some of the most popular names in comedy, including Adam Carolla, Shayne Smith, Jeff Allen, Brad Upton, Leanne Morgan, Josh Blue, Zoltan Kaszas, and Karen Morgan, to name a few. The Dry Bar Comedy Venue in Provo, UT is currently preparing to announce its 17th season. Sample Full Dry Bar Performances: Adam CarollaShayne SmithJeff Allen Josh BlueBrad UptonLeanne MorganZoltan Kaszas ### About Angel: Angel is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Over 1,200,000 Angel Guild members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects Angel will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. Learn more at Additional Information and Where to Find ItIn connection with the proposed business combination transaction between Southport Acquisition Corporation ("Southport") and Angel Studios, Southport filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (as it may be amended, the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 12, 2024, which includes a preliminary prospectus and joint proxy statement of Southport and Angel Studios, referred to as a joint proxy statement/prospectus. The Registration Statement has not yet become effective. When available, a final joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Southport and Angel Studios stockholders. Southport and Angel Studios will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Southport and Angel Studios (when available) through the website maintained by the SEC at The documents filed by Southport with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge upon written request to 8 Bolling Place, Greenwich, CT 06830. The documents filed by Angel Studios with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge on Angel Studios' website at or upon written request to 295 W Center Street, Provo, UT 84601. Participants in SolicitationSouthport, Angel Studios and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Southport, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Southport's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024, under the headings "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance," "Executive Compensation," "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence." To the extent holdings of Southport common stock by the directors and executive officers of Southport have changed from the amounts of Southport common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Angel Studios, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Angel Studios' amended Form 10, which was filed with the SEC on May 13, 2024, under the headings "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management," "Directors and Executive Officers," "Executive Compensation," and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence." To the extent holdings of Angel Studios common stock by the directors and executive officers of Angel Studios have changed from the amounts of Angel Studios common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of any of the documents referenced herein from Southport or Angel Studios using the sources indicated above. No Offer or SolicitationThis communication shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis communication may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Angel Studios and Southport. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of the combined company's securities, (ii) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed by Southport's business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of Southport and Angel Studios, (iv) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction, (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Angel Studios' business relationships, operating results, and business generally, (vii) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Angel Studios or diverts management's attention from Angel Studios' ongoing business operations and potential difficulties in Angel Studios employee retention as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed transaction, (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Angel Studios or against Southport related to the Merger Agreement or the proposed transaction, (ix) the ability to list the combined company's securities on a national securities exchange in connection with the transaction, (x) the price of Southport's securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Southport plans to operate or Angel Studios operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Southport's or Angel Studios' business, and changes in the combined capital structure, (xi) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (xii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees, (xiii) the evolution of the markets in which Angel Studios competes, (xiv) the costs related to the proposed transaction, (xv) Angel Studios' expectations regarding its market opportunities, (xvi) risks related to domestic and international political and macroeconomic uncertainty, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the war in the Middle East, and (xvii) the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive industry in which Angel Studios operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Southport's and Angel Studios' annual reports on Form 10-K and Form 10, respectively, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the Registration Statement on Form S-4, including those under "Risk Factors" therein, and other documents filed by Southport and Angel Studios from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Angel Studios and Southport assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Angel Studios nor Southport gives any assurance that either Angel Studios or Southport, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations. Contact: Press@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Angel Studios, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
