Netball

This year has been very eventful for netball as 2025 squads have been revealed recently. On Saturday 9th November and Sunday 10th November 2024, the Vitality Roses competed in the FAST5 Netball World Series 2024. After a hard battle against several other competitors during the weekend, they managed to come in 5th place, losing their last group match 41-27 to Australia.

The Netball Super League (NSL), which is the UK’s top level competition, is making a comeback as it is being relaunched next year. This highlights a significant milestone in England’s netball with the new Super Cup on March 8th and the Grand final on July 6th at the O2 arena. This new competition consists of 8 teams with 50% of the matches now being played at major arenas.

Netball participation is rapidly growing as around 321,200 people in England are playing it on a fortnightly basis and this number is still increasing as it continues to be one of the largest female participation sports. England Netball is promoting more programs, such as Back to Netball, Walking Netball and Bee Netball, to increase participation levels.

The UEFA European Football Championship

From the 14th June until the 14th July, 24 national teams fought to become European champions in the Euro football tournament of 2024.

This year, Germany hosted the tournament, and included new technologies including the "Fussballliebe," a match ball embedded with a microchip designed to assist with handball decisions, blending tradition with cutting-edge technology.

Here are some more interesting facts and stats collected from the tournament:

1. There were 117 goals scored at EURO 2024, at an average of 2.30 per match.

2. Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player to ever appear in a Euro final when he started Spain's 3-0 win against Croatia at the age of 16 years and 338 days.

3. The environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy for EURO 2024 was backed by an investment of €32m. Fans benefited from a 36-hour public transport pass included with match tickets, reducing the event’s carbon footprint.

Euro 2024 also saw what could be the final international competition by some of football's most famous legends - Messi and Ronaldo. While Ronaldo left the competition in defeat and without any goals, Messi left victorious and with the Euro Cup. Will we see these two battling again for the title of greatest side in the world in the World Cup 2026?

Basketball

1. NBA All-Star Weekend (February 2025)

The NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the most highly anticipated events, featuring the NBA All-Star Game, the Slam Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest, and the Rising Stars Challenge. It’s a celebration of the league’s biggest stars and emerging talent.

2. FIBA Basketball World Cup (August 2025)

The 2025 FIBA Basketball World Cup will bring together the best national teams from around the world to compete for the global title. With teams like the USA, Spain, and Australia vying for the championship, this event will be a showcase of international basketball talent.

3. NBA Draft (June 2025)

The NBA Draft marks the entry of the next generation  of superstars into the league. This is a major event for basketball fans to get a glimpse of potential future stars. Teams will pick young talent from colleges and international leagues.

4. NBA Playoffs (April-June 2025)

The NBA Playoffs bring the best teams in the league to compete for the championship. With intense series, dramatic moments, and high stakes, the play offs are one of the most-watched events globally.

5. WNBA Finals (October 2025)

The best of the Women's National Basketball Association will face off for the WNBA Championship. With players like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, the WNBA Finals showcase some of the best women’s basketball talent.

6. NBA Summer League (July 2025)

The NBA Summer League is a chance for rookies, second-year players, and undrafted talent to showcase their skills in front of NBA teams and scouts. It’s a chance for fans to get a first look at promising young players.

7. FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup (2025)

The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will see the top women’s national teams from around the world compete for the global championship. Expect a highly competitive tournament with stars from the USA, Australia, and other top teams.

Cricket

Ashes 2025

The Ashes is a major cricket series which involves 5 test matches between England and Australia. It takes place every 2 years, with both teams in the hope of retaining the famous “Urn”. The next series will take place next year, during Australia's summer, between December 2025 and February 2026. The matches are expected to be played at iconic Australian stadiums like the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground), Adelaide Oval, and others.

One of the key events is the Boxing Day test match, which begins on the 26th December, next year. The game will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground(MCG), which can hold around 100,000 spectators. It is renowned as one of the biggest cricket events on the calendar. The game brings families together to watch it, shortly after their Christmas celebrations. The Boxing Day test is one of the most watched sporting events in Australia. The tradition began in 1974 and has continued since then. In the most recent test(2021), England lost terribly by 275 runs, which led to them losing the series 4-0 to Australia. Over the years, Australian superstars like Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Johnson have produced memorable performances in the Boxing Day Ashes Test, while England have a very poor record in the matches, where they have often lost by large margins. Hence, due to the great entertainment and the fact the match only comes about every 4 years, the Boxing Day test is significant in the cricket world and one of the highlights of the year for some people.