Samoa ousts England; WNBA plays historic Finals Game 7 — SkimNews
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- Max Dowman was sent off for kicking out at Harrison Neal as Fleetwood Town won on penalties; Arsenal must file appeal papers by 1pm Thursday.link ›
- Chelsea beat Roma 2-0 at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on Wednesday, with substitute Ellie Carpenter scoring six minutes after halftime.link ›
- Jalen Farmer makes his starting debut for Indianapolis against 9-1 Jacksonville after the Colts traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner.link ›
- Samoa knocked England out of the Rugby League World Cup 24-6 in Wollongong on Friday, with Freedom Crichton Ropati scoring a hat-trick.link ›
- Manchester City Women surrendered an 85th-minute lead when Tara Elimbi Gilbert equalized for PSG three minutes later at the Joie Stadium.link ›
- Ja Morant will miss at least four weeks with a Grade 2 left hamstring sprain, and Jrue Holiday is projected to start for Portland.link ›
- Atlanta Dream forced the WNBA’s first Finals Game 7 by beating Golden State 80-69 in Game 6 after taking a 25-point first-half lead.link ›
- Women’s Super League median attendance rose only 166, from 3,070 in 2023-24 to 3,236 in 2025-26, after a 192% post-Euro 2022 surge.link ›
England’s 24-6 Rugby League World Cup defeat to Samoa in Wollongong was the week’s defining reversal: a side with four previous semi-finals exited in the group stage, while Stuart Barrow pinned the 2030 reset on 11 players aged 23 or under. The reset also lands on part-time players in a rapidly professionalising game. The slogan is clear; the standard is not. Freedom Crichton Ropati’s hat-trick and Samoa’s huge territorial advantage set the tone; Mercedez Taulelei-Siala’s try immediately after halftime made it 16-0. England’s spirited response could not repair the damage. Their 70-6 opening win over Wales, powered by Hawkins’ 11 tries, now looks less like momentum than false comfort. A rebuild cannot be announced by age alone. Samoa made England’s developmental plan pay a brutal World Cup price.
The stories behind this week
Gallagher: Arsenal's Dowman red-card appeal will failArsenal’s 1pm Thursday deadline brings Dowman’s red-card status into focus before Sunday’s Liverpool match, with Gallagher expecting the decision to stand. Merson and McAnuff also fault Arteta’s handling of a 16-year-old after Neal’s challenge, making the manager’s response a substantive part of the case beyond the appeal.
Chelsea 2-0 Roma to stay unbeaten in WCLChelsea have now kept three clean sheets and sit momentarily top of the league-phase table with three fixtures left, against Hacken, Paris Saint-Germain and Leuven. The 2-0 masks a finishing problem Bompastor herself flagged: her side created chances in the first half but did not convert them.
Our guide to every NFL Week 8 game: Matchup previews, predictions, picks and nuggetsIndianapolis lost guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in major trades, forcing rookie Jalen Farmer into a starting debut and Adebawore into Buckner’s role. The reshuffle comes against Jacksonville, which is 9-1 at home, averages 31.5 points per game and holds a plus-11 turnover ratio.
Spirited England out of World Cup after Samoa lossEngland's World Cup campaign ends in the group stage after four previous semi-finals, while 11 players aged 23 or under form the stated basis of their 2030 reset. Samoa advance to the last four and a New Zealand quarter-final; England, meanwhile, remain part-time players in a rapidly professionalising game.
PSG equalize late to deny Man City first WCL winCity’s failure to secure a first WCL win leaves them four points behind the top four, making qualification harder; PSG’s late point preserves their path to automatic quarter-final entry, while City now face mounting pressure to convert late leads into wins.
Ja Morant injury: Trail Blazers star expected to miss at least four weeks with hamstring strainPortland loses a guard averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists for at least four weeks, while Jrue Holiday is likely to take over the starting role. The change matters because Portland ranks second in the NBA in defensive rating at 101.3, and the article says that unit should improve with Holiday starting.
WNBA Finals Game 7 predictions: Will the Dream or Valkyries win their first title on Saturday?Saturday’s winner will earn its first title in the WNBA’s first Finals Game 7. Atlanta’s 19-point recent average and better shooting contrast with Golden State’s defense, which held Atlanta to 48 points on 16-of-47 shooting in Game 6 on the road.
WSL attendance growth stalls amid fan engagement crisisThe WSL’s stalled growth risks undermining clubs’ commercial momentum and fan loyalty just as professional standards rise. With only 15% of past attendees going monthly and inconsistent scheduling weakening routine, the league must balance family appeal with authentic football culture to convert casual interest into sustained support.
Why it matters: England’s group-stage exit leaves the 11-player youth reset without a World Cup knockout test, while Samoa advanced to the last four after a 24-6 win in Wollongong.
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