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Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Fan-favourite Toronto hockey star Emma Maltais on her love of fashion and life in the PWHL spotlight
When hockey player Emma Maltais — Toronto Sceptres team member, Olympic gold medal winner, three-time world champion — pauses to reflect on this moment in her life, 'a little overwhelmed' is the phrase she uses. 'It's day-to-day survival,' says Maltais. When we speak with her, she's at home in Toronto, freshly returned from a Sceptres away game in Minnesota and already packing to join Team Canada in the Czech Republic at the Women's World Championship. (They'd claim silver in a nail-biting 4-3 final against the U.S.) Her packed schedule is a direct result of the enthusiasm that has greeted the PWHL [Professional Women's Hockey League] since it launched in 2023, its packed arenas and cheering crowds reflecting the global groundswell for women's professional sports . 'It's a lot, and it's something that all of us aren't used to,' says Maltais. 'When you add the attention that the PWHL has gotten and the attention I've been lucky enough to have, sometimes there can be pressure with that, and responsibility.' Here's how she's navigating it. Maltais is a forward known for her scrappy style and cheeky comebacks, and she's emerged as one of the league's fan favourites. 'I would die for this woman,' wrote one Reddit commenter underneath a video of Maltais' off-the-cuff comments while mic'd up during a game. 'I love Emma's energy,' says another. On TikTok, Maltais documents her life as a professional athlete — locker room pranks, bus rides to games, days off in the cities the teams travel to. One of her viral videos, which has 1.2 million views, features her Sceptres teammates pulling disgusted faces in reaction to a comment about how women playing professional hockey can't be taken seriously. Maltais happens to be five foot two, a beacon to short people who've felt their height was an obstacle to athletic success. 'I don't want to say that it's adversity, but it's something that a lot of women deal with,' she says with a laugh. 'It's important to see that it's still possible if you're short — and it's possible to be one of the stronger, tougher players.' A post shared by Emma Maltais (@emmamaltais17) The growing opportunities for athlete fashion collabs — like a recent Barbie x PWHL fashion collection — are pure joy for Maltais, who loves a 'really high heel,' the butter yellow trend and a hair bow; her most recent purchase is a pink Coach Tabby bag. 'When I was growing up and playing hockey with the boys, I was put into a shirt and tie and I would have to wear the same boys' peacoat,' she says. 'I remember a couple years later, running into one of the boys' parents and they were like, 'Oh Emma, you look girlie,' and I was like, 'Yeah, because I am a girl.'' To her, the PWHL letting players express 'their own unique style' feels like progress. 'I love the feeling when someone looks at me and says, 'Oh I like your outfit, it's different,'' she says. 'I also love feeling powerful in a great outfit.' Emma Maltais in a recent Bravado bra campaign. 'A bra is just another piece of clothing,' says Maltais, who recently starred in a campaign for Bravado Designs, now the PWHL official bra partner. 'It's a miss that we don't talk about it.' The sooner we can dissolve the stigma around bra-wearing, and other women's issues, the better, she adds. So what is a pro athlete looking for in a sports bra? 'Support, so I don't feel like I'm all over the place,' she says. 'I also look for comfort, softness, and a bra that's not digging in. Also, is it pretty? That's important.' Her own bra wardrobe has benefited from this partnership. 'I've had sports bras in my closet that are as old as when I started wearing bras,' she says. '[Working with Bravado] was the first time in 15 years that I actually got my breasts sized and felt good in a bra that wasn't a janky old sports bra where the seams were coming out.' Maltais recognizes that she's part of this trail-blazing vanguard because her own career is blooming at the exact right time. 'There are so many women before me who wish they had gotten the opportunity to play in the PWHL,' says Maltais. Many of her high school friends who played sports have told her they wish they'd known women's pro sports would grow this much, because they wouldn't have dropped out. 'When I zoom out and think about the position I'm in, I'm eternally grateful,' she says. But being around powerhouses like her teammate Sarah Nurse has taught her to keep expanding her ambition. 'As women, we tend to be very grateful for our opportunities, but it doesn't mean we should put limits on things.' She measures success on two levels: The scoreboard on game day, and her impact on the community, like when a young girl asks her for a photo and tells her that she's playing hockey now. 'Those are times where you really realize the impact you can have.'
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Fan-favourite Toronto hockey star Emma Maltais on her love of fashion and life in the PWHL spotlight
When hockey player Emma Maltais — Toronto Sceptres team member, Olympic gold medal winner, three-time world champion — pauses to reflect on this moment in her life, 'a little overwhelmed' is the phrase she uses. 'It's day-to-day survival,' says Maltais. When we speak with her, she's at home in Toronto, freshly returned from a Sceptres away game in Minnesota and already packing to join Team Canada in the Czech Republic at the Women's World Championship. (They'd claim silver in a nail-biting 4-3 final against the U.S.)
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fallon Sherrock shows true colours as she makes feelings known on Beau Greaves
Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves are two of the top female darts players in the world, but they evidently don't let their rivalry get in the way of mutual respect for one another In the electrifying world of darts, few rivalries capture the imagination quite like that of Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves. Sherrock, the trailblazing Queen of the Palace, made history as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship back in 2019. Greaves, the reigning women's world No. 1, has dominated the Women's Series with an unmatched consistency that has cemented her status as a darts prodigy. Together, their rivalry pushes the boundaries of the sport, showcasing the growing prominence of women in a traditionally male-dominated arena. Speaking to Online Darts on Tuesday, Sherrock opened up about the dynamic of their rivalry. "Yeah, it's a fierce rivalry," she said. "But it's because when we play, we bring out the best in each other. "There's never one of us really folding, it's always nip and tuck – and I think that's what makes it such a good watch because we both refuse to give up." Unlike past rivalries where opponents might have given her the cold shoulder, Sherrock showed her true colours as she actually appreciates the camaraderie she shares with Greaves. "I actually enjoy the friendly rivalry. We're sat upstairs, we're talking and stuff like that. In the past, if I've had a rivalry with someone, they would just ignore me. So it's kind of nice." Sherrock, 30, also voiced her support for Greaves, 21, potentially competing in the PDC World Darts Championship instead of focusing solely on the Women's World Championship – as she's done in the past two years. "I hope [she does] because of her run at the UK Open – how she's playing at the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour and stuff like that, her game is in a really good place," Sherrock said. "Why would you not just challenge it and compete at the Worlds? Because if you go on a run at the Worlds, or win the Worlds, your life changes completely." Reflecting on Greaves' talent back in October, Sherrock was full of praise. When asked by Wayne Mardle on Club 501 if she'd ever seen a female player as talented as Beau 'n' Arrow, she replied: "Not as consistent, no. "There are youth players and stuff that you see coming through the system who had talent. But they never had the consistency and never stuck to it. Whereas Beau's always been that good, and then now she's had the consistency doing it on a regular basis, you can see why she's number one." The Buckinghamshire-born star also noted the ripple effect Greaves has on the Women's Series, where opponents raise their game to challenge the top-ranked player, often hitting impressive 90-plus averages. Sherrock's rise to fame began in 2019 with her ground-breaking performances at Alexandra Palace and captured global attention. Greaves, meanwhile, has carved her own path with a relentless work ethic and a game that blends precision with power. At just 21, she has already secured multiple Women's World Matchplay titles and consistently delivers high averages that rival the best in the sport. She recently pushed former world champion Luke Humphries to the limit at the UK Open in February, narrowly losing 10-7 to the world No. 1. "We all know Beau's potential, we all just want her to go and succeed," Sherrock told ITV earlier in the day. "It's so good for the women's game, and I'm like, 'Come on Beau, keep going.'" Greaves has been equally positive about Sherrock in the past. Back in 2022, the Doncaster-born star hailed Sherrock's 2019 run in the World Darts Championship, suggesting it had inspired her own ascent in the sport. "What Fallon did was brilliant, you can't take it away from her," Greaves said. "She did brilliant darts and obviously the opportunities anyone would take... I don't want to be compared to Fallon in stuff like that, what she did was amazing, but I want to do my own thing and just sort of keep to myself and keep enjoying it."
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Top 10 women chess players in India: At No. 1 is the youngest Grandmaster
Top 10 women chess players in India: India has long been a chess powerhouse, producing world-class talent who have made their mark on the global stage. While legends like Viswanathan Anand and rising stars like D Gukesh often steal the spotlight, India's women chess players have been quietly and steadily making their presence felt, both at home and abroad. From prodigies dominating international tournaments to seasoned champions breaking barriers, these women have proven that chess excellence knows no gender. One of the key indicators of a player's prowess is their FIDE rating, which evaluates skill based on consistent performance against ranked the higher a player's rating, the stronger and more consistent their performance is. Here are India's top women chess players, ranked according to FIDE: Source: Forbes Koneru Humpy, born in Gudivada in 1987, showed early promise in chess, guided by her father from age six. By eight, she was winning local tournaments. In 2002, she made history as the youngest female Grandmaster at 15, breaking Judit Polgár's record. Humpy, later, became the second woman to surpass a 2600 Elo rating. Her achievements earned her the prestigious Arjuna Award and Padma Shri. Born in 1991 in Guntur, Harika Dronavalli became a Grandmaster in 2009, showcasing her chess prowess early on. She's a three-time bronze medalist at the Women's World Championship (2012, 2015, 2017) and won the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in 2016. She is the second Indian woman to cross the 2600 Elo mark and has received both the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri for her achievements. Born in 2001, Vaishali Rameshbabu earned the Grandmaster title in 2024. Alongside her brother Praggnanandhaa, they made history as the first sibling duo to both become Grandmasters and qualify for the prestigious Candidates Tournament. Divya Deshmukh, a rising star in Indian chess, earned the International Master title in 2023. One of her major achievements came in 2024 when she clinched the title at the FIDE World Junior Girls Chess Championship. She also played a key role in India's gold medal victory at the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad, further cementing her status as a promising young talent. Tania Sachdev is a renowned Indian chess player who holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. She reached her peak FIDE rating of 2443 in September 2013. A key member of the Indian team, she contributed to their gold medal win at the 45th Chess Olympiad, hosted by the International Chess Federation in Budapest. Vantika Agrawal, born in September 2002, holds the FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and International Master (IM). She has three gold medals at the Chess Olympiad, and two golds at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024. Agrawal also secured a silver medal with the Indian Team at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. Her accolades extend to medals in Commonwealth, World Youth, Asian Youth, and National Championships. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was recently awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award. P V Nandhidhaa from Tamil Nadu, born on April 10, 1996, holds the FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and Woman International Master (WIM), making her the 17th Woman Grandmaster of India. She has achieved significant success in her career, including winning an individual Gold in the Asian Chess Championship in 2022 and becoming the reigning National Women Chess Champion in 2024. She has also secured medals in Commonwealth and Asian-level tournaments across various age categories. Her peak FIDE Elo rating is 2380, and she continues to compete at a high level. Padmini Rout, born on January 5, 1994, holds the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). Rout has won the National Women's Premier Championship five times and was the Asian Women's Champion in 2018. She also earned an individual gold medal at the 2014 Women's Chess Olympiad. Born in 1992, Bhakti Kulkarni holds the prestigious FIDE titles of Woman Grandmaster (2012) and International Master (2019). A recipient of the Arjuna Award for her significant contributions to chess, Kulkarni has achieved notable successes, including winning the Asian Women's Chess Championship and representing India in various international tournaments. Rakshitta Ravi, born on April 24, 2005, holds the FIDE title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM), which she achieved in April 2023. Her parents, T S Ravi and Sai Meera Ravi, are both titled chess players. Rakshitta earned her Woman International Master (WIM) title at 13 and her WGM title at 17, making her India's 24th Woman Grandmaster.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PWHL Finals preview: Ottawa Charge and Minnesota Frost battle for Walter Cup
OTTAWA – The Minnesota Frost are back in the PWHL Finals after winning the league's inaugural Walter Cup last season. The odds, according to Dom Luszczyszyn, say they're the favorites against the Ottawa Charge. Advertisement Could the Frost win back-to-back Walter Cup championships? Or will the Charge win in their first playoff appearance? If you're still looking for reasons to get behind either Minnesota or Ottawa before the PWHL Finals begin on Tuesday, here are three reasons why each team could win the 2025 Walter Cup. Three reasons Ottawa will win 1. A surging Gwyneth Philips Ottawa's semifinals series against the Montreal Victoire was a battle of the goaltenders. And Philips came out on top. The rookie netminder has been dialed in since taking on Ottawa's starting role with Emerance Maschmeyer on long-term injured reserve. She won four of the final five games down the stretch of the regular season and has been the best goalie of the postseason with a league-leading 1.14 goals against average and .956 save percentage. Only Montreal's Ann-Renée Desbiens (132) has made more saves in the postseason than Philips (129). Advertisement 'She's been phenomenal,' said captain Brianne Jenner on Saturday. 'It's great to see her come in and play the way she's playing. We have so much confidence playing in front of her. And I think when you try to go on a run like this, it takes depth, it takes players stepping up in crucial moments, and Gwyn has done that since she entered the net.' It's fair to wonder whether playing against Minnesota — with the most potent offense in the PWHL — might change things for Philips. The Frost scored 18 goals in the first round against the Toronto Sceptres, a marked difference from Montreal's six against the Charge. Minnesota also beat the Boston Fleet 8-1 in its final game of the season. But none of those last five games have been against a goalie who is clicking quite like Philips heading into Game 1. In the regular-season finale, Minnesota faced Aerin Frankel, one of the very best goalies in the world, who was playing her first game after an injury that took her out of the Women's World Championship gold medal game. Against Toronto, the Frost were shooting on Kristen Campbell, who appeared to lose a step once the postseason began with a league-worst .813 save percentage. Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod told media on Saturday that when Philips is at her best, like she appears to be now, she's 'rising to those (big) moments and really embracing them.' Advertisement 'Her tracking and her fight on every puck, every rebound,' she added. 'She just doesn't give up on a play until there's a whistle.' On the other side of the ice, Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney make a solid tandem for Minnesota, but they have been inconsistent at times this season. Against Toronto, Rooney allowed eight goals against in two games (both wins). Hensley allowed six goals. Something worth keeping an eye on: Philips has played more than double the amount of minutes (314) as Rooney (120) or Hensley (134). Without Maschmeyer, Ottawa does not have the benefit of rolling out a tandem. Still, Philips has been significantly better between the pipes thus far. 2. Strong defensive structure While Philips has (rightfully) gotten a ton of the credit for Ottawa's upset against Montreal, the team's defense should probably get a share of the spotlight. Advertisement Since coming back from the women's worlds break on April 26, Ottawa has given up just 12 goals in seven games (1.71 goals per game), the fewest in the league over that final stretch of the regular season and into playoffs. In the semifinals, it was a combination of Philips' strong play and heavy shutdown minutes by Ottawa's top line (Gabbie Hughes, Emily Clark and Mannon McMahon) and top defense pair (Jocelyne Larocque and Ashton Bell) that was able to shut down Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin. MacLeod would argue that it was the team's collective attention to detail on the defensive side of the puck that gave them so much success. 'It's minuscule details when it comes to defending,' she said. 'But when you execute them, they have high impact.' In four games – or 15+ periods of hockey, largely thanks to the quadruple-overtime Game 2 – Montreal only had 45 high-danger chances, or just three per period of play. That kind of stingy defense could really help against Minnesota. Advertisement And beyond just the defensive details, Ottawa plays a fast and physical style, which bodes well for playoff hockey. Larocque specifically played Poulin hard, but made smart plays to get the puck quickly out of Ottawa's zone. She and Bell will be critical against Minnesota's top line of Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Michela Cava. Having home ice advantage could be huge for Ottawa to get its top shutdown players against Minnesota's biggest stars. But the difference between Minnesota and Montreal is that the Frost have more than just one line that can score (more on that later). That's where Ottawa's overall structure and depth on the blue line will come in, with players like Zoe Boyd, Aneta Tejralová and Ronja Savolainen already showing they can step up in the postseason. 3. Scoring depth To no real fault of the organization, Ottawa isn't a market that has been able to attract the same big-ticket free agents as other Canadian teams. Sarah Nurse, Renata Fast and Daryl Watts are all from Toronto and wanted to play for the Sceptres. Poulin and Desbiens are from Quebec, which made Montreal a natural fit. Advertisement That meant Ottawa has largely been built around several good-to-great players, rather than a handful of local superstars surrounded by a supporting cast. Considering the Charge are in the Finals, that method has worked out pretty well. Ottawa isn't as top-heavy as, say, Montreal, with offense spread out across the lineup. The hope for the Charge is that their lines will come in waves with speed and an in-your-face style that can knock the Frost off their game. And on any given night, Ottawa has options on who might step up and be the star. In Game 1 against Montreal, Shiann Darkangelo, Boston's pick at No. 70 in the inaugural 2023 draft, scored the game-winner. In Game 3, McMahon scored the lone goal to win 1-0 and take a 2-1 series lead back to Ottawa. In Game 4, Ottawa native Rebecca Leslie, who scored one goal all regular season, opened the scoring just two minutes into the game. Not to mention, with reasons No. 1 and 2 in mind, Ottawa seems comfortable winning games 2-1. Three reasons Minnesota will win 1. Tremendous star power Having a deep team is great, but so is having depth legitimate star power. And Minnesota definitely checks both boxes. Advertisement Its top line is one of the very best in the league with Heise, Cava and Coyne Schofield combining for six goals and 16 points in the first round and all sitting top-five in PWHL playoff scoring. Cava is a big-time playoff performer and has been since she played for the Toronto Six in the now-defunct Premier Hockey Federation. Heise could very well win back-to-back playoff MVP awards. And Coyne Schofield consistently sparked Minnesota's offense against Toronto, especially with a two-goal performance in Game 4. 'She possesses a unique talent and a unique skill set,' said Minnesota coach Ken Klee. 'For us, she was our MVP this year. She brought her speed and competitiveness which basically raised our whole group around her.' The Frost also have three legitimate No. 1 defenders in Lee Stecklein, Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson spread across the top four. And a second-line center in Kelly Pannek who was among the top scorers for Team USA at women's worlds in April. a third line built around 2024 first-round pick Britta Curl-Salemme, who was third in rookie scoring this season. Her linemate Brooke McQuigge was fourth. Minnesota's fourth line – Katy Knoll, Liz Schepers and Klára Hymlárová – is a pain to play against and contributed two goals in the semifinals. Schepers, if you recall, scored the title-clinching goal last year against Boston. Advertisement No team has scored more goals in the playoffs than Minnesota (18), with 11 different players finding the back of the net. 'We have a team that is built for a series,' said Klee. 'And built to go far.' 2. Offense from the blue line Minnesota's top line takes up three of the top five spots in PWHL playoff scoring. The other two? Those belong to Stecklein and Jaques, who are tied with six points behind Heise's seven. Jaques, the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner, is more known for her offensive game, while Stecklein has long made a name for herself as an elite shutdown defender. Still, nobody has more goals in the playoffs than Stecklein, who has been on an offensive hot streak since women's worlds. She scored three goals in Minnesota's last two must-win regular-season games and now three in the playoffs. Advertisement 'Obviously, she's known as a world-class defensive defender,' Klee said after Stecklein's two-goal Game 2 performance in the semis last week. 'It's the playoffs. We know we have to find different ways to score goals and different people have to contribute. She knows that she exemplifies that and that's why she's one of our leaders and one of our best players.' Between Jaques, Stecklein and Mellissa Channell-Watkins – Jaques' ever-steady defense partner – the Minnesota blue line has combined for six goals, which isn't far off the entire Ottawa team's production in the semifinals against Montreal (8). It's the same amount of goals that Montreal managed to score over the entire series (6). That kind of offense from the blue line should give Minnesota an edge in the Finals. Thompson, the Olympic record holder for points by a defender, is bound to score eventually, too. 3. Playoffs monster Taylor Heise She wasn't one of the very top scorers in the PWHL this season, finishing a modest 10th with 22 points in 29 games, and did not get a nod for Forward of the Year. But Heise is, once again, showing that she's one of the best in the world when it matters most. In Game 4 against Toronto, she scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the Frost back to the Finals. (It was Heise who scored the series-clincher against Toronto last season, too.) Her seven points in four games leads all players in scoring – and is just one shy of her point total from last year's postseason. Advertisement 'She's a big-time player and she wants to shine when the lights are bright,' said Klee. 'For her standing up in (the playoffs) is just a way of reaffirming that she's one of the best players in the world.' Last year, Heise didn't even really turn on the jets until the Finals, where she scored three goals and six points in five games en route to winning the Walter Cup and playoff MVP. So if there's another level to her game when the puck drops on Tuesday, it could spell trouble for the Charge. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, NHL, Women's Hockey 2025 The Athletic Media Company
