Dodgers Win 2025 World Series — Sports Illustrated's Best Photos

The Dodgers and Blue Jays delivered a thrilling 2025 World Series that came down to the wire, with Los Angeles coming from behind late Saturday night to capture a winner-takes-all Game 7 for their second straight crown. was on site throughout the Fall Classic in both Los Angeles and Toronto. Here are some of our favorite images from the World Series.

Dodgers Win Back-to-Back World Series TitlesAll Eyes on Shohei Ohtani Blue Jays In First World Series Since 1993 Epic Game 3Fans Pack Rogers Centre and Dodger StadiumDodgers Win Back-to-Back World Series Titles

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was beaming with pride after Game 7. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Dave Roberts has a moment with Dodgers catcher Will Smith. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Anthony Banda’s back tattoo commemorates Los Angeles winning the 2024 World Series. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
The Dodgers rush to the mound in the immediate aftermath of Game 7’s series-ending double play. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Will Smith and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
All Eyes on Shohei Ohtani

There’s no doubt that Shohei Ohtani had a memorable World Series with the Dodgers, finishing the seven-game series with a .333 batting average. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
In Game 3, Shohei Ohtani reached base nine times and hit two home runs. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to record four hits and five walks in the same game during Game 3. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
In Game 4, Shohei Ohtani made his first World Series start. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Shohei Ohtani allowed four runs across six-plus innings in Game 4. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Blue Jays In First World Series Since 1993

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his World Series debut along with his Blue Jays teammates in Toronto’s return to the Fall Classic after more than 30 years. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batted .333 with two home runs and eight walks in the World Series. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Addison Barger hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history during the Blue Jays’ Game 1 victory. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Despite being injured, George Springer hit .333 with one double, one RBI and five hits in the four games he played of the World Series. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Epic Game 3

Freddie Freeman hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the 18th inning to help the Dodgers win Game 3. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
View of the scoreboard just prior to Freddie Freeman’s walkoff homer. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
The Dodgers greet Freddie Freeman at the plate after winning Game 3. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Fans Pack Rogers Centre and Dodger Stadium

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

Ashes squad talking points: Kingmaker Green to dictate Australia's plans

While the selectors named an expanded squad, barring injuries the final choice comes down to two players from three

Alex Malcolm05-Nov-20253:09

Australia’s Ashes squad: No Konstas, Labuschagne to open?

It all hinges on Green’s bowling capabilityIt was known from a long way out that Cameron Green and Beau Webster would be picked in the squad together. The two have played in the same XI in Australia’s last four Test matches. But Green was a specialist batter at No. 3, a spot he had only batted in once in first-class cricket prior, and was not bowling with Marnus Labuschagne opening in one of them before Sam Konstas replaced Labuschagne in the other three.Related

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Green ended up playing very well in the last two Tests on very difficult pitches in West Indies and was arguably Australia’s best batter across those matches. But now that he’s back bowling, the need for two allrounders as opposed to a better structured batting line-up comes into question.However, Green’s bowling progression from back surgery has not quite gone to plan. He has been bowling in the nets since June without interruption, but has only sent down four overs in matches so far. Some minor side soreness saw him withdrawn from bowling in the last Shield game. He instead bowled in the nets and on the centre wicket post game in order to control the intensity.It is understood he has bowled up to 8-10 overs across multiple spells in singular net sessions already. Bailey confirmed he would bowl 15-20 overs in Western Australia’s next Shield game against Queensland at the WACA ground starting on November 11, which would equate to roughly 8-10 overs per innings. How he gets through those overs and how he bowls from a skill perspective could dictate the shape of the Test XI.If he gets through unscathed and bowls well, and the selectors are confident he can deliver the same if not more in the first Test, that will spell bad news for Webster if the selectors believe the sum of Australia’s parts look better with one allrounder and three specialist top three batters. Webster has done nothing wrong in his Test career so far. He’s made four half-centuries in 12 innings on difficult pitches, averaging 34.63 at No.6. By comparison, Green has averaged 38.72 in his last 12 Test innings with all bar one coming at Nos. 3-4 including his 174 not out in Wellington and his recent scores of 52, 46, and 42 on the nightmare pitches in the Caribbean.Webster also has eight wickets at 23.25 but has benefited from those same pitches with the ball. Green’s home Test record with the ball is far superior to even Webster’s Shield record. Green has 22 Test wickets at 25.63 in Australia, striking at 52.1 including dismissing Joe Root, Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes twice each and Ollie Pope once in the 2021-22 Ashes series.Jake Weatherald’s 94 against WA was his standout innings so far this season•Getty ImagesWeatherald could complement KhawajaThe selectors have been desperate to find a solution at the top of the order since David Warner retired. If Green can bowl the requisite overs, and Webster is squeezed out, then Jake Weatherald will be the sixth different opener to partner Usman Khawaja in the last 15 Test matches since Warner retired.Unlike the elevations of Steven Smith, Travis Head and Labuschagne, and the selections of Nathan McSweeney and Konstas, Weatherald is clearly the best performed domestic red-ball opener in Australia over the last 12 months. He has scored 1391 runs at 53.50 in 26 innings since the start of last summer with four centuries and seven half-centuries for Tasmania and Australia A. The fact that Matt Renshaw was so highly fancied by many to pip Weatherald for selection when Renshaw has made 653 first-class runs at 34.36 with three centuries and one fifty in the same period was odd.Beyond the runs, Bailey was extremely complimentary of Weatherald’s style. He has made his runs at a brisk strike rate of 68.65. Khawaja’s Test career rate is 48.56 while Labuschagne struck at 41.47 in his last 14 Test innings before he was dropped. There were times against India last summer where the scoreboard was not moving and it led to Konstas’ inclusion. But Bailey noted that Weatherald’s repeatable method, his first-class experience and the fact his game does not change innings to innings was a big reason for his selection ahead of Konstas.Bailey cited Weatherald’s recent match-winning innings of 94 off 99 against Western Australia in a low-scoring Shield game in Hobart as an example of what he can bring.”That innings is a good example, I think, of what Jake does really well,” Bailey said. “I thought he counter-attacked. It was a wicket that had a little bit in it. Others around him were finding it challenging, and he put pressure back onto the bowlers. And the way he did that, he drove nicely, played off the back foot nicely, he was busy. I think that’s a good example of what he looks like at his best.”Marnus Labuschagne has made five centuries in his last eight innings•Getty ImagesLabuschagne opens or bats at No.3Despite Bailey saying that no decisions have been made on the XI with 16 days to go, it is clear Labuschagne is locked in to return. It would be ridiculous to leave him out after five centuries in his last eight domestic innings for Queensland when the selectors specifically asked him to go away and find his best game after axing him in the Caribbean.But the decision on Green and Webster will dictate where Labuschagne bats. All of his runs for Queensland have come at No. 3. Australia’s selectors do not direct state teams to bat players in certain positions. Labuschagne, as Queensland captain, has batted himself at No. 3 in all those games. It is his preferred position and where he has scored all 11 of his Test centuries. However, he does have two first-class centuries opening the batting and did open in the WTC final. Bailey stopped short of guaranteeing Labuschagne would return to No. 3.”No, not necessarily,” Bailey said. “I think Marn’s got a game that could sit anywhere. It could be three. I think I’ve said a lot in the past if you can bat in the top three, you’ve probably got a skill set that’s capable of opening the batting. I think a lot of those things will be determined by what other resources you need and the makeup of those around you, and is it complementary?”People clearly have spots where they’ve batted the majority of their career and they all have different records when they do change position. But he can bat three, he could open. He’s got the skillset for both, but he’s been looking pretty good of late.”The question of players complementing each other is the biggest hint Bailey could give as to the preferred order. It is clear that the selectors would prefer Khawaja and Labuschagne don’t open together. Labuschagne’s most prolific batting partnerships in Tests have come batting with Warner, Smith, Head and Matthew Wade. He’s averaged above 50 with all four who are busy and free-flowing players at their best and has had multiple century stands with each. He’s had 48 Test partnerships with Khawaja by comparison and averaged 31.61, albeit with two century stands. There is a thought within the Australian camp that Labuschagne is a batting chameleon of sorts in the way that he can mimic his partners style. Whether that is still the case with the remodelled Labuschagne, time will tell.But if Labuschagne is back to his best, then a return of a No.3-4-5 combination of Labuschagne, Smith and Head will certainly look more challenging for England’s attack to penetrate than any alternative.

Milnes five-for seals innings win; lifts Yorkshire out of bottom two

Hughes, Ibrahim fall early but Hudson-Prentice fifty delays the inevitable

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025Yorkshire 545 for 9 dec (Revis 152*, Lyth 115, Wharton 85) beat Sussex 222 (Lamb 48, Coles 47, White 3-25) and 195 (Hughes 57, Hudson-Prentice 52, Ibrahim 51, Milnes 5-31) by an innings and 128 runsYorkshire completed an innings and 128-run victory over Sussex midway through the fourth afternoon at Scarborough to hoist themselves out of the bottom two places in Division One, in turn dragging their visitors into the Rothesay County Championship relegation fight.Sussex started the final day of this 11th-round clash on 115 for three in their second innings, trailing by 208.On a deteriorating North Marine Road surface, their fate was obvious inside the day’s opening 20 minutes as they lost three wickets for the addition of two runs in the opening 26 balls, teetering on 117 for six.So it proved, even though their resistance through to mid-afternoon was impressive. They were bowled out for 195, including five for 31 from 16.4 overs for new-ball seamer Matt Milnes – his first five-for in the Championship since September 2021 following injury. Fynn Hudson-Prentice finished 52 not out off 156 balls.Yorkshire’s third win yielded 22 points, Sussex’s fourth defeat handing them only two.The gap between the two sides is now just a solitary point ahead of the September run-in. The pair meet again at Hove midway through next month, one of three remaining games.The White Rose have been replaced in ninth place in the table – second-bottom – by Durham, who were beaten at home by Surrey this week. The gap between the two is 12 points.Yorkshire would even go above Essex should their game with Warwickshire at Chelmsford finish drawn.In their last three games, Yorkshire not only face Sussex but Durham as well. They meet at Headingley in the final match of 2025.The hosts made the ideal start to the day.Danial Ibrahim and Daniel Hughes fell, the two not out batters overnight, for 51 and 57 respectively added to the departure of captain John Simpson for a duck.Milnes claimed the first two. Ibrahim was caught low down at second slip by Adam Lyth before Hughes was bowled playing back to one which kept low and scooted through.Simpson was then bowled as he tried to leave alone one angled in from Milnes’ new-ball partner Jack White.Danny Lamb was next to go, caught behind off Will Sutherland’s seam – 143 for seven.Lamb fell chasing a wide ball having added 26 with fellow all-rounder Hudson-Prentice. Sussex needed much, much more.Sussex reached lunch at 166 for seven, Hudson-Prentice with 32.He played handsomely down the ground off seam, even using his feet against White on couple of occasion to find the boundary wide of mid-on.Hudson-Prentice was excellent in becoming Sussex’s third half-centurion of the innings, this coming off 138 balls. By the time he got there midway through the afternoon, Sussex were 188 for seven with 48 overs remaining in the day.He shared 47 for the eighth wicket with Jack Carson, who was the eighth man to fall when caught by diving Lyth at slip low down to his right – 191 for eight.Replays suggest Carson was unfortunate to be given out, confirming the initial impression given by the batter stomping off the field.Things happened quickly from there, with Sussex falling almost 44 overs short of survival.This was Milnes’ first five-wicket haul for Yorkshire as he comes to the end of his third year with the club. His last was for Kent. He has since suffered a nightmare with multiple back stress fractures.But he was excellent here, polishing things off by getting Grinder Sandhu caught at point and then Henry Crocombe caught behind with a beauty for a golden duck.In all, Milnes claimed seven wickets in the match.

طريق الأهلي | فاركو يهزم تليفونات بني سويف بثنائية في كأس مصر

حقق فاركو، فوزًا هامًا على نظيره تليفونات بني سويف، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بينهما اليوم الأحد، بهدفين مقابل لا شيء، ضمن منافسات كأس مصر.

وحجز فريق فاركو مقعده في دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس مصر بعدما حقق الفوز على تليفونات بني سويف على استاد حرس الحدود بالإسكندرية في دور الـ32.

جاء هدف التقدم في الدقيقة 46 عن طريق مروان مجدي الذي استغل تمريرة بينية خلف الدفاع، لينفرد ويسدد الكرة بثقة داخل الشباك.

طالع.. فيديو | هاتريك سعيدو سيمبوري يقود البنك الأهلي لسحق بور فؤاد في كأس مصر

وسجل أحمد فؤاد الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 63 من ركلة جزاء، وضعها بنجاح على يمين حارس بني سويف.

ينتظر فاركو في الدور المقبل الفائز من مباراة الأهلي والمصرية للاتصالات، التي سيتم تحديد موعدها لاحقًا.

Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte Says He Lost Six Figures' Worth of Items During Recent Burglary

During the All-Star Game last Tuesday in Atlanta, Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte's home was burglarized back in Phoenix.

This week, Marte shared that around $400,000 worth of items were stolen from his home. He didn't detail what exact items were stolen, but it was previously reported that some jewelry and other big items were taken.

Marte ended up landing on the restricted list when the All-Star break ended on Friday to take some personal time. He returned on Sunday vs. the St. Louis Cardinals and spoke with the media about the home break-in. It understandably shook him up a bit.

“Everyone is clear that it’s not a situation that we can feel good about. I’m losing about $400,000, and I think that’s a lot,” Marte said, via . “It was a bit of a tough situation, but we came back here to try not to think about those things that have happened. It doesn’t feel good. Everyone knows what happened. And we’re hoping that things are remedied.”

Police shared last week that no one was at Marte's home at the time of the burglary. There is an ongoing investigation regarding the break-in, but there haven't been any updates as of the time of this writing.

The incident is just the latest in a series of recent robberies involving well-known athletes across multiple leagues, where players' homes have been repeatedly targeted while they are traveling for events or away games. Among those impacted are NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, as well as basketball bigwigs Luka Doncic and Bobby Portis.

Ollie Price is right as Gloucestershire start with a win

Price century followed by four wickets for departing seamer Zaman Akhter as Derbyshire fall short

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay05-Aug-2025Ollie Price illuminated the final day of the Towergate Cheltenham Festival, scoring a superb hundred as Gloucestershire beat Derbyshire Falcons by 59 runs to make a winning start to their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.The Oxford-born batter posted 103 from 115 balls and staged stands of 141 with James Bracey and 97 with Ben Charlesworth for the second and third wickets respectively as the home side ran up an imposing 341-8 at the famous College Ground. Promoted to open the innings, Bracey contributed an enterprising 83, while Charlesworth and skipper Jack Taylor weighed in with half-centuries.Brooke Guest raised a brilliant 86 from 88 balls and shared stands of 64 with Matt Montgomery and 76 with Amrit Basra, who scored 42 and 40 respectively, as the Falcons made a decent fist of chasing. But paceman Zaman Akhter returned figures of 4 for 47, including a decisive spell of three wickets in six balls, to swing the contest back in Gloucestershire’s favour and ensure Derbyshire were dismissed for 282 in 45.5 overs.Derbyshire won the toss, elected to field and saw debutant Rory Haydon remove Australian Test batsman Cameron Bancroft lbw in a tidy new-ball spell of 1-16 from six overs with one maiden. Driving and cutting fluently, Bracey and Price found runs easier to come by against Ben Aitchison from the Chapel End. these two matching one another blow for blow as boundaries began to flow. When Nick Potts replaced Aitchison, Bracey hoisted him high over mid-wicket for six to bring up the half century stand, twice repeating the feat with further effortless pick-ups a few overs later to afford the innings added impetus.Bracey went to 50 via 40 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes and then smashed Potts for another six over mid-wicket as the innings assumed three figures. Potts was withdrawn after conceding 42 from three overs, but there was no reduction in the rate of scoring from the Chapel End, Price reverse sweeping Montgomery’s off spin for four to raise the hundred partnership in just 15 overs. He brought up his 50 via 59 balls soon afterwards.Derbyshire desperately required a breakthrough and Montgomery obliged, bowling Bracey via an inside edge with the score 148-2 in the 23rd. Bracey had dominated a stand of 141, his aggressive knock spanning 66 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes and affording his side an excellent platform. Price and Charlesworth consolidated thereafter, adding 50 for the third wicket in 63 balls in the face of accurate bowling from Joe Hawkins and Basra.A bumper Festival audience rose to acknowledge Price’s fourth List-A hundred, the 24-year-old reaching the landmark in 111 balls with a swept single behind square off Montgomery. Having hit 10 fours and a six, he was then bowled by Andersson. But there was no respite for the visitors, Charlesworth moving seamlessly to a run-a-ball half century with 4 fours and a six.Aitchison had Charlesworth held at long-on for a 59-ball 60 and Graeme van Buuren caught at the wicket for eight as Derbyshire briefly applied the brakes, only for the experienced Jack Taylor to combine power and deft placement in raising a quickfire 67 from 37 balls with 10 fours and a six to carry Gloucestershire out of sight.Forced to score briskly from the outset, Derbyshire lost Harry Came to scoreboard pressure in the seventh, the opener driving a length ball from Matt Taylor straight to mid-on with 24 on the board. But Caleb Jewell and Montgomery made amends, finding the boundary with sufficient regularity to advance the score to 53 at the end of 10 overs.Returning to Gloucestershire on loan seven years after leaving to join Warwickshire, Craig Miles struck an important blow when persuading Australian Jewell to cut to Charlesworth at backward point for 35 with the score 61 for 2. But the visitors continued to make a fight of it, Montgomery and Guest bringing up 100 inside 18 overs to keep the required rate at around 7.5 an over. The 50 partnership occupied 55 balls, the third wicket pair establishing themselves in a manner which suggested Gloucestershire might not have things all their own way.Having accrued a six and 5 fours in raising a 39-ball 42, Montgomery blotted his copybook, playing back to van Buuren’s slow left arm and chopping on to terminate a partnership of 64 in 11.3 overs as Falcons slipped to 125 for 3. Akhter and van Buuren applied the squeeze during the middle overs and Jack Taylor benefited, having Martin Andersson held at extra cover with the score 152 for 4.Derbyshire were still in with a chance while Guest remained at large, the captain going to 50 from 61 balls, while debutant Basra demonstrated clever improvisation to hit the ground running, plundering sixes at the expense of Jack Taylor, Josh Shaw and Miles to keep the reply on track.Gloucestershire needed a wicket and Akhter responded by taking three in the space of six balls. He bowled the combative Basra for a 31-ball 40, had Guest held at long-on in his next over and then removed Ross Whitely cheaply to reduce the Falcons to 234 for 7 and relieve pressure on his team. Requiring a further 107 from 11.1 overs, Derbyshire were never really in the hunt thereafter, Aitchison succumbing to Matt Taylor for 19 as the chase ran out of steam.

Ten moments that have made the WBBL

A broken bat, a crazy run out, and a multiple Grand Slam winner. What else makes the list?

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-2024

Meg Lanning (and Ash Barty) on opening day

It all began at Junction Oval on December 5, 2015. Melbourne Stars faced Brisbane Heat in back-to-back games on the same day in front of a crowd of 1500. Some players watched on sat in camping chairs. A number of names that remain stars of Australian cricket were on show: Beth Mooney opened alongside Grace Harris for Heat, who had Jess Jonassen at No. 3, while Meg Lanning made 165 off 114 balls across the two matches as Stars came out winners in both. However, in the middle-order for Heat, there is another name which stood out: Ash Barty. Now a retired multiple Grand Slam winner, at the time Barty was also out of tennis, having stepped away in 2014 aged 18 to play cricket. On the opening day of WBBL, she impressed with 39 off 27 balls in the first match before falling to Nat Sciver-Brunt. “It truly was an amazing period of my life,” she said in 2019. “I met an amazing group of people who couldn’t care less whether I could hit a tennis ball or not. They accepted me, and they got to know Ash Barty.” That opening innings would prove to be the high point for Barty who made 68 runs in nine matches – her major sporting success was yet to come.

The first century

This won’t be the only time Grace Harris is mentioned in this piece. In the eighth match of the inaugural season, a few months after her international debut, she struck the competition’s first century with 103 off 55 balls against Sydney Sixers at Aquinas College in Perth. She went from her fifty to her hundred in just 22 deliveries. “I was just after ice cream,” Harris joked after the innings. “When I hit the century, Mooney came down the wicket and it didn’t really click to begin with, and then she said that I had made it because everyone was standing up, and I just said, ‘Ice cream! Ice cream!'” To cap off her day, Harris claimed 4 for 15 from two overs. She remains the only player to have scored a century and taken four wickets in a WBBL match.

Harmanpreet’s landmark signing

It is well-known that India’s premier male cricketers do not appear in T20 leagues outside of the IPL, but that’s not the case in the women’s game – the upcoming season will see a record number of India names in the WBBL. In mid-2016, Harmanpreet Kaur became the first India player to join the league when she signed for Sydney Thunder. “Being the first player from my country to sign a contract for a BBL club is one of my best moments,” she said at the time. During her first season, she made 310 runs in 13 innings which included a 26-ball 56 against Heat. In the 2021 season, she was Player of the Tournament.Harmanpreet Kaur was the first Indian player to join an overseas league•Getty Images

Pushing the boundaries

Here comes Grace again. By 2018, Sophie Devine (48) and Ash Gardner (47) had both gone under the 50-ball mark with centuries. Against Stars at the Gabba, Harris raised the bar further with a blistering 42-ball display which included 13 fours and six sixes. Remarkably, this came in a chase of just 133 as she made 73% of the total herself with Mooney watching on from the other end. With one run needed, Harris was on 95 and set off for the winning run but was sent back by Mooney. Three balls later, she launched Alana King down the ground for six to become the first player with multiple WBBL tons. “I’d told her that we weren’t running again and she finally got there in the end,” Mooney said.

Devine’s double

As mentioned above, Devine had already left a mark on the WBBL but against Stars at Adelaide Oval, she produced what remains a one-off all-round starrer in the competition’s history: the only time a player has scored a half-century and taken a five-wicket haul. She had been within touching distance of matching Harris with two WBBL hundreds when she fell for 95 with an over to go, but that was only half the job done. With ball in hand, she removed four of Stars’ top six and completed her haul by claiming Nicola Hancock.

semi-final run out

It is one of the iconic moments in WBBL history. It had already been a dramatic day with the first semi-final decided by a stunning boundary catch from Haidee Birkett. But the extraordinary three-player run out to force a Super Over in the second match was at another level. With three needed off the last ball, Sophie Molineux, who had batted throughout Melbourne Renegades’ chase, sliced over point and the ball appeared destined for the rope. “She’s got a four,” screamed commentator Jason Richardson. Then came a desperate dive from Erin Burns that flicked the ball back to Sarah Aley, who in turn hurled the return to Alyssa Healy. But the run-out chance was at the bowler’s end. Healy collected and in one motion spun around with a gloveless right hand and threw down the stumps. “In terms of a team play, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more special one in the context of the match and what effect it had on the game,” Ellyse Perry said. Burns added: “It was one of those moments where everything just seemed to fit perfectly. To tap it back but then Sarah to come around and the perfect throw into Midge and then to spin around no look at the stumps and throw down the other end is pretty awesome.”Ellyse Perry celebrates Sophie Molineux’s extraordinary run-out•Getty Images

Mooney, the back-to-back finals hero

Mooney is the WBBL’s leading run-scorer heading into the tenth season. Before her move to Perth Scorchers, she was central in Heat’s consecutive titles in the 2018-19 and 2019-2020 seasons. In the first of those, a week after the epic semi-final mentioned above, in a season where runs had not flowed to her usual standards, she defied a sweltering Sydney day while overcome effects of the flu with 65 off 46 balls to put Heat on course against Sixers. “I plonked myself in the ice bath and was a bit nervous towards the end, I couldn’t really watch,” Mooney said. The following season she was at it again, anchoring a bigger chase against Adelaide Strikers with 56 off 45 balls.

Thunder win in the bubble

Somehow, the 2020 WBBL season was completed despite Covid. Played entirely in Sydney, it was not an edition remembered too fondly by a number of players with all the squads housed in a hotel bubble at the Olympic Park amid tight restrictions. But, as with much in that Australian season, it was a remarkable show of adaptability and resilience. It also concluded with a memorable result in the final where Thunder, who had produced a stunning turnaround in the semi-final against Heat, toppled Stars – one of the standout teams of the competition – by seven wickets having restricted them to just 86. Shabnim Ismail, who claimed the key wicket of Lanning, and Sammy-Jo Johnson combined to take 4 for 23 from eight overs.Broken bat? No worries for Grace Harris•Getty Images

Garth’s powerplay masterclass

Against Thunder in 2021, pace bowler Kim Garth produced one of the more remarkable performances seen in T20s. In the powerplay, she produced figures of 3-3-0-3 to put Stars on course to defend a low total. Garth removed Tahlia Wilson and Phoebe Litchfield in her first over, and then produced another maiden over to Smriti Mandhana. At the start of her third, she had Corinne Hall taken at slip before closing the spell with five more dots. By the time she returned for the 20th over, Stars had breathing space with 25 to defend.

Harris’ broken bat

“Stuff it, I’ll still hit it.” It has gone down as an immortal phrase from Grace Harris. Preparing to face up to Piepa Clearly, Harris noticed her bat handle was broken. But instead of waiting for a new one, she just got on with it. Harris launched the ball over long-on for a 72-metre six, the handle snapping away from the blade in the process to produce an iconic image that went viral. It was part of another astonishing WBBL display from Harris, who piled up a tournament-high 136 off 59 deliveries with a record 11 sixes. “When you get in the zone, you just get in the zone,” she said modestly.

Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player

Manchester United’s spell under Ruben Amorim has been largely unsuccessful, with the 40-year-old’s job even coming into question before his one-year anniversary in the role.

From 15th-placed Premier League finishes to Carabao Cup exits against League Two opposition, his tenure at Old Trafford has been far from what many supporters expected.

However, over the last couple of weeks, the 40-year-old has finally started to show glimpses of being a success in the role in the immediate and long-term future.

His men have now won three league games in a row, with Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest presenting the manager with the chance to extend such a run.

Some of the recent success has been down to the impact of the new summer additions, but also the transformation of numerous players already on the books prior to his appointment.

Man Utd players who have had a resurgence under Amorim

Amad Diallo was a player with a huge future at United after they forked out a reported £36m for his signature back in January 2021, but the early days of his stint in England were limited to say the least.

He was often utilised as a bench player under the guidance of former manager Erik ten Hag, but Amorim’s arrival sparked a newfound sense of belief in the Ivorian.

Since the manager’s arrival, the 23-year-old has operated in an unnatural wing-back role, but it’s allowed for consistent first-team minutes and a total of 20 combined goals and assists in his last 52 outings.

He’s not alone in turning his career at Old Trafford around, with centre-back Matthijs de Ligt often struggling to make the immediate impact many hoped for after his switch from Bayern Munich last summer.

The Dutch international was often called into question for his lack of defensive dominance, but he’s been a key component of Amorim’s side this campaign – subsequently playing every minute in the Premier League to date.

He’s made 1.7 tackles per 90 so far this campaign, along with 3.1 aerial duels won, tallies which have provided the side with the steel they were missing at the back last campaign.

Other players such as Luke Shaw and Mason Mount have also been regular starters throughout the early days of the season – potentially a surprise after being hounded by fans in 2024/25.

Such situations highlight the manager’s individual management with the players at his disposal, which has allowed for the Red Devils to endure a somewhat unfamiliar winning feeling as of late.

The United player who’s becoming one of their best in 2025/26

When you think of some of United’s best players in the current campaign, the imagination no doubt goes directly towards the £200m attacking trio who arrived this summer.

Bryan Mbeumo is just one of the attacking stars who has made an immediate impact at Old Trafford, as seen by his tally of five goals in his first ten outings for the club.

Bruno Fernandes is no doubt another that springs to mind, and understandably so, especially after the club captain registered 37 combined goals and assists last season.

However, the Portuguese international has since dropped into a deeper role, subsequently allowing the likes of Mbeumo to operate in the number ten role in the 3-4-2-1 system.

As a result, Amorim has had to find a dominant ball-winner to operate alongside Bruno, with the 40-year-old decided to utilise the experienced Casemiro in such a role.

The 33-year-old joined in a £60m deal from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2022, with real hope of handing the Red Devils the top-level star they craved in the middle of the park.

However, his stint in England has been largely topsy-turvy, with his disciplinary record of four red cards often holding him back from being a reliable option.

Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher even called the Brazilian “terrible” back in September 2023 – before his infamous ‘leave the football’ quotes in May 2024 – with many expecting the player to depart the Theatre of Dreams during the recent window.

Despite such criticism, Casemiro has managed to transform his career in the Premier League, now appearing in all but one league outing of the 2025/26 campaign.

Games played

8

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

83%

Tackles made

3.1

Ball recoveries

5.3

Duels won

60%

Aerials won

1.6

Fouls won

1.2

Whilst working out of possession is largely his responsibility, he’s managed to star with the ball at his feet – scoring twice and notching one assist in his eight appearances.

He’s also managed to make 3.1 tackles and 5.3 ball recoveries per 90 – highlighting his defensive talent, which has so often been called into question in recent years.

Other tallies, such as 60% duels won and 1.6 aerials won per 9,0 further showcase his dominant ability – making him the perfect partner alongside Bruno at present.

Casemiro deserves huge credit for his recent revival under Amorim, subsequently going from a certain exit to now being one of the club’s most important players.

The duo’s partnership at the heart of the side could allow for a successful 2025/26 campaign and kickstart the manager’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Not Cunha or Mbeumo: Man Utd gem is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have yet another world-class star on their hands under Ruben Amorim.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025

Randal Kolo Muani to wear a mask?! Spurs striker trains in special equipment ahead of north London derby against Arsenal after breaking jaw

Tottenham loanee Randal Kolo Muani has reportedly been training in a specially fitted mask ahead of the north London derby against Arsenal. During Spurs' 2-2 draw with Manchester United earlier this month, the striker suffered a fractured jaw following a clash with Harry Maguire. However, after the Paris Saint-Germain man did not need to have surgery, Tottenham are doing all they can to give him a chance of facing the Gunners this weekend.

Kolo Muani to follow in Kane's footsteps?

Kolo Muani was withdrawn at half time following the coming together with Maguire, with head coach Thomas Frank later saying: "He actually struggled a little bit but nothing big." Initial suggestions were that the France international could miss up to eight weeks with this injury but last week, news emerged that he did not require surgery. The Telegraph is now reporting that he has trained in a mask he had fitted to help protect his jaw. It is not yet known if he will be okay to face Arsenal at The Emirates on Sunday afternoon. If the forward does return to the field soon, he could take after ex-Spurs striker Harry Kane when he wore a mask after breaking his nose, before scoring a truly world-class goal in a 2-2 draw with the Gunners.

AdvertisementKolo Muani failing to fire at Tottenham

On September 1, Kolo Muani joined Tottenham on loan for the 2025/26 season, sparking a great deal of excitement among Spurs fans. He has featured eight times in all competitions for the north London team but is yet to get off the mark. Tottenham supporters will be hoping he can recapture the form he showed at Juventus last season, where he notched 10 goals in 22 games. 

Getty Images SportWhy Tottenham signed Kolo Muani

In the final day of the summer transfer window, Tottenham snapped up the Frenchman for the season as they sought to add more firepower to their attack. With Dominic Solanke and Richarlison often struggling with injuries and being somewhat goal-shy, the loan move seemed a savvy deal. Following the move, Frank said the 26-year-old gave their frontline something a bit different.

"Randal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years, playing for big teams in the Champions League and also with good experience for the France national team," Frank said of his latest addition in early September. "He's a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third being able to play out wide and through the middle."

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What comes next for Tottenham?

Tottenham sit fifth in the Premier League with 18 points from 11 matches. Next up, they travel to bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday, who sit four points clear at the top of the table. A win will boost their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League, but a loss could leave them languishing behind their neighbours.

"I've said before" – Jamie Carragher admits he got one thing very wrong about Arsenal

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions and sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table, boasting a 100 per cent record in the Champions League to boot.

Mikel Arteta answers Arsenal critics

There is a sentiment going around that the Gunners have adopted a ‘boring style of play’, but as long as they get the job done, Mikel Arteta won’t be in the least bit bothered.

Besides, this ongoing narrative is in stark contrast to their imperious win over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League last Wednesday, and club legend Paul Merson was quick to note that nobody blows away Diego Simeone’s side like Arsenal did that night.

Four goals inside just 14 minutes cemented what was a statement three points for Arteta’s men, and summer signing Viktor Gyokeres silenced his own doubters with a quick-fire brace to end his barren run without scoring.

The result means Arsenal still haven’t lost a single game in all competitions since their narrow defeat at Anfield in late August, and even that was down to a sumptuous late free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai which David Raya could do nothing about.

The catalyst for Arsenal’s amazing run has undoubtedly been their rock-solid defence, which has leaked the fewest goals of any Premier League side, with just three scored past them in nine top flight games.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Much to pundit Jamie O’Hara’s detest, who said last week that Arsenal are “killing” the Premier League with their guerrilla tactics, the north Londoners have proved a constant menace through dead balls and long-throws — which have acted as a secret weapon that no opponent can match.

Gabriel already has four goal contributions as a direct result of corners and free-kicks, bagging a header against Atlético and setting up Gyokeres for his second, and teams barely have an answer to the Brazilian’s constant set piece threat.

It’s been a very promising start to 25/26, and their excellent Champions League run has now forced Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher into a U-turn.

Jamie Carragher admits he got one thing very wrong about Arsenal

Speaking live on CBS Sports last week, analysing Arsenal’s win over Atlético, Carragher admitted that Arsenal are now one of the favourites to win the competition — despite previously saying they’re not a Champions League team.

After a summer of lavish spending, where Andrea Berta splashed nearly £270 million on eight major signings, the pressure is on Arteta to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for a league title.

Arsenal’s water-tight defence has formed the backbone for what could well be a successful challenge after years of near-misses, with both Gabriel and Saliba privately promising to remain at the club for years to come last summer.

With David Raya, who’s won back-to-back Golden Glove awards, commanding his area and defenders who don’t give an inch, Arsenal are proving they can grind out results when it matters most.

That kind of steel is exactly what you need to win a marathon like the Premier League, where every point counts and slip-ups are severely punished, with Arteta’s looking like real favourites for the crown as things stand.

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