Welcome to The Wrap, a weekly podcast covering women's sports news.
Bez, what have we got around the grounds this week?
Caitlin Clarke has set another record.
Patterson and Olds Lagers are on the high jump podium again.
They jumped up onto it.
They possibly flopped.
We just went to make the same joke.
They flopped onto the podium.
And Australia will have the most women's singles competitors
in 35 years at the upcoming US Open.
How good is that?
For the key story, we'll chat about a bit of football news.
The NWSL has become the first major US professional sports league
to abolish the draft system with a groundbreaking new collective
bargaining agreement.
This is interesting.
It is interesting.
My name is Chloe Dalton.
I'm joined every week on the show by my co-host, Bez.
We are recording on Gadigal land.
Hey, before we get into around the grounds,
we came up with an idea the other day.
We're going to give a YT.
G had a way to the best review that's left on the podcast.
You're looking at me like, yes.
Go give us a review on the podcast.
We'll pick our favorite one and we'll send you a YT.
Let's take a look around the grounds.
In some surfing news, the Fiji Pro was held last week in Texas,
born and nearly recently, nearly minted Canadian Aaron Brooks.
Bit of a tautology about it.
She won the Fiji Pro competing in her first tour event as a wildcard.
The 17 year old had to move through the world.
Number one, four and five ranked surfers.
Katie Simmers, Molly Picklem and Tatiana Westenweb to take the crown.
Facing Olympic silver medalist Westenweb in the final, Brooks was able to dig deep,
putting a pair of seven point scores on the board to not only earn her first CT
tour victory, but the first ever.
Ever to a win from a surfer from Canada.
They've got some all right surfing Canada.
Um, look, I've got a friend who recently went and he took, he said it was freezing,
took like full steamer gloves hood situation.
I'm picturing like the place where they've got some really cool, tall,
dark timber trees, you know, that kind of vibe.
Sounds like the Pacific Northwest of America.
Like you're talking Vancouver ish.
I don't really know where I'm talking about.
Do they have surf on Vancouver Island?
I've been there a few times.
Played rugby, didn't surf.
Anywho, when we say Canadian, she has a half Canadian father.
Yeah, she's never lived there.
She lives in Hawaii.
So, but anyway, play on.
That's a lot of surfers doing that these days because I think they're all from
such a concentrated, they tend to be from a few concentrated countries.
So if there's an opportunity for them to diversify in their nationality representation,
they do so because obviously there's only a couple of surfers can compete in the Olympics
from each country.
So we've seen a lot of that happen lately.
After the win, Brooks told media as a wildcard, I've just been having so much fun.
Everyone on tour is focusing on their final five spots.
I just wanted to surf and get good waves.
Currently rated number four on the WSL Challenger Series with two events to go in that season.
She's on a strong trajectory to qualify for the championship tour in 2025.
Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
In a bit of basketball news, Caitlin Clarke has set another record.
She is just another level, isn't she?
The Indiana Fever star dropped 23 points, eight assists and five rebounds on Saturday
in a 90 to 80 loss, unfortunately, to the Minnesota Lynx, putting her over the 500 point
and 200 assist mark in just 29 career games.
It was a nice little step back bucket, her 500th point.
I haven't seen that highlight yet.
The only highlight I've seen is Aussie Alana Smith.
Just rejecting her in the paint.
Did you see that?
No, I haven't seen that.
Also, a bit of my more Jersey retirement happened up into the rafters.
Was that the same game?
Who'd she play for?
Connecticut Suns.
No, it would have been the game before.
They played the Liberty and won.
They beat New York.
I thought it was at Minnesota.
Have I just made that up?
I'm sounding really dumb today, if so.
It's a Sunday night.
We're going early.
We're a bit off kilter.
We're going early.
Clark became not only the fastest player in WNBA.
history to record 500 points and 200 assists, but the first player to achieve both of those
numbers in their rookie season.
Stop hating her, people.
She's really very good at the basketball.
In the Diamond League, reversing their placings from the Olympic Games just last fortnight,
Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Oleslager reinforced Australia's dominance in the women's high
jump, with Patterson taking silver to Ukraine's Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchik as Oleslager's
She landed out the podium with bronze.
Patterson sailed over her season's best of 1.96 on her first attempt, using all three
attempts to clear 1.92, while Oleslager's needed only two jumps to land third place.
Patterson told the media afterwards, I'm very excited to come away with the season's best.
Honestly, I had a ball out there.
My parents were there with me, and I enjoyed having them in the crowd so much.
I had so much fun.
I'm happy, and I'm in good form, so I feel like I can go higher again.
Meanwhile, Paris 2024 semifinalist Georgia Griffith returned to the 3,000 meters to record
her second fastest.
Time ever over the distance, and the sixth fastest time ever by an Australian when finishing
in fifth place in 8 minutes, 31.91 seconds.
Discuss Olympic athletes getting back into training straight after the Olympics.
It's been mind-blowing.
I saw Nina Kennedy's story, I think it was, and she was back training after winning gold
in the pole vault.
What do you mean, why?
Because Diamond League pays their salary.
It's all about the money.
A lot of the big dogs have been like, oh, yeah, not okay.
On that note, very interesting to see that Serena Williams' husband, that's how he should
be known, Alexis Ohanian, his new brand that he started, Athlos.
I don't know if that's a very Australian pronunciation.
But, yeah, just on your point about Diamond League pretty much paying their salaries,
it's going to be very cool.
We're starting to see a whole new range of different athlete-centric models to pay athletes
more. We're talking track and field athletes because they've historically not been paid very
well. In NRLW, no comment from you. The Gold Coast Titans have punished an error ridden Roosters side
26 to 6 in what was a rematch of last year's semi-final. The Roosters wilted in dramatic
fashion making 16 errors and missing 38 tackles across the 70 minutes. The Titans had no such
troubles on and on the back of a dominant performance from her pack led by 187 meter
effort from Shannon Marto. Lauren Brown created chaos with ball in hand. She set up two of her
sides five tries and scored two herself. Shannon Marto. There was a bit of a, almost a biff. Did
you see it? It was a bit of heat. The Roosters were fired up. They were not happy. You're just
moving your Paralympics mascot around as we discuss and you're throwing me off. Sorry, my bad. I thought
you were ready to hold it up. Oh no, I was just playing with it. Very easily distracted.
In some, a golf update, obviously the time recording, there's still a final round to be
played, which is probably being played in a couple of hours at the AIG Women's Open,
but it's been pretty tight so far. We're going to get there. I probably shouldn't jump ahead,
but I just have to open this with, have you seen the weather for this week? What's been
happening at the Open Golf? No, I have not. It's a beautiful, been a beautiful weekend in Scotland.
Beanies, gloves, puffer jackets, the whole kit and caboodle. The golfers themselves? Yeah.
Are you serious? Nellie Corden.
Corden rocking a beanie in yesterday's third round. Freezing. Apparently 60 kilometer per
hour winds. That's not fun for golf. That's not nice. No. So leading for the first two days,
Nellie Corden whilst wearing a beanie stumbled and two-time champion Daya Shin charged the top
of the lead ball with a tremendous third round performance as Corden and several others endured
struggles on another day of gusty crosswinds. Gusty. The vastly experienced Shin put together
Packed with magical moments to reach seven under. Shin will head into the final round at
St. Andrews, leading reigning champion Lillia Vu by one with world number one quarter a shot further
back. Meanwhile, Steph Kiriakou and Grace Kim were the only two Aussies to make the cut and
currently sit tied at 19th and 70th respectively. So as we said, pretty wild conditions. Kiriakou
told media the conditions were like that at her home course in Sydney. She said,
my golf course at home is right on the water. So I play in the wind a lot. So,
it's kind of a little taste of home. There's something about being creative and the challenge
that gets me excited. Where does she play? I'm going to have a little Google. Is she a long
reefer? That's very much on the water. Continue your story.
Okay. Thank you so much, boss. In tennis, five Australian women have completed successful
qualifying campaigns and set new records in the process at the US Open 2024. This is the first
time in tournament history that five Australian women have earned main draw berths through
qualifying and all-time record. So, it's a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,
almost triples the previous record of two. Love that. They've really gone hard. So,
there was two in 2009 and 2014. Arida, Rodionova, Maya Joint, Kimberly Birrell, Priscilla Hon,
and Destiny Ieva boosting the total number of Aussie women. And this year's singles main draw
to eight. It also marks the first time in 11 years that Australia has had qualifiers in both the men's
and women's events at Flushing Meadows. Four of the players won their qualifying in straight sets
while 26-year-old Hon.
And top seed Camilla Rakimova, 7'6", 6'7", 6'4", in a two-hour and 47-minute battle. These efforts
ensure Australia will have the most women's singles competitors in 35 years.
So good. I love that. And for anyone that was wondering, Kiriaki's home course is St. Michael's
in Little Bay, eastern Sydney. Yeah, right. Yeah. There you go. Ever played around there yourself?
No, I'm not much of a golfer. I haven't seen your golf swing. I did have lessons. My dad had
dreams of me being on the circuit, but it's a bit boring. It goes for a long time.
You don't really have a golf personality, do you?
I do like the idea of being able to stop for a beer halfway around. That's nice.
That is your golf personality. Let's take a look at the key story.
The National Women's Soccer League, or NWSL, has become the first major US professional sports
league to abolish the draft system. It comes as the NWSL and its Players Association,
have announced a new collective bargaining agreement that includes improved salaries,
better benefits, and revenue sharing for the first time. The new agreement, which runs
until 2030, means the NWSL draft and expansion drafts will no longer be held.
So, Chloe, can you please tell me, what is a draft system?
Great question. A draft is a process used in some countries in sports to allocate certain
players to teams. So in a draft, teams take turns selecting from the pool of eligible players.
When a team selects a player, they selects a player from the pool of eligible players.
So in a draft, teams take turns selecting from the pool of eligible players. When a team selects
a player from the pool of eligible players, they selects a player from the pool of eligible players.
When a team selects a player, the team receives exclusive rights to sign that player to a
contract and no other team in the league may sign the player. So NWSLPA president,
so the Players Association president, Tory Huster, said in a statement,
the draft is an antiquated model that empowers teams to decide for players instead of players
deciding for themselves. Okay, I'm liking where this is going because it's a weird concept. I
mean, we've got it in AFLW, majority of sports use a draft.
Yeah, it is an interesting, for me, a draft always seems like the choices,
is removed from the player.
Yeah, particularly when, sorry, I'm just totally going sideways from this quote, but
particularly with AFLW, we're starting next year to have a national draft,
which is going to be compulsory, whereas this year it was opt-in.
You could be moving to the other side of the country as an 18-year-old. See you later.
Yeah, it's rough. I mean, on one hand, you say that's sport, but on the other hand,
if you can actually come up with a system that works, that removes that and gives the player
a little bit more ownership of their destiny, I like it.
Yeah. I'll go back to, I've got a lot to say about this. I'll go back to Tori's quote. I'll
let the proper professional talk about this. She said, now players can choose the team
environment that fits their needs and maximizes their opportunities. Teams will need to step up
to create environments that appeal to players. I like it. I'm watching the footy.
We're only down by seven.
Oh my gosh. Sorry, everyone. We've just actually had a pause when I looked at Bez to say,
you say something. She's actually streaming the Carlton game.
In the men's, men's football. Can you believe it?
Very rude. The move will align the NWSL closer to other women's football leagues around the world
with FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players. As part of this, we see the league
scrap the discovery rule, which permitted clubs to hold the rights to individual players without
signing them. That occurs in a few different sports where you effectively, yeah, it's like
we hold the rights to negotiate you as a commodity with other clubs. I don't love that.
I don't like it at all.
All players will be able to enter unrestricted free agency once their contracts expire, while
all trades and transfers will require player consent before going ahead. Love a bit of
The base salary cap will increase significantly from US $3.3 million for the 2025 season to
at least US $5.1 million in 2030. The minimum salary for players will also more than double
over the duration of the CBA starting at US $48,500 next year and will eventually increase
to US $82,500 next year.
That's the minimum. So we're talking US$120 minimum by 2030?
In addition, all contracts will now be guaranteed. A player's base pay will also be supplemented
by a new revenue sharing agreement, which will see income generated from the league's
prior year media and sponsorship agreements added to each team's salary cap. This is awesome.
This is really where it's at. The league said it expects further increases to the
salary cap as broadcast and sponsorship revenue goes further. Its current media rights deals,
which are worth US$250 million overall and were signed last year, will expire in 2027.
The NWSL has also agreed to expand parental leave and child care benefits as well as mental
health services, the number of health professionals clubs can use. Teams will be able to take
charter flights for up to six legs within the league season. The NWSL and their players
agreed to increase the number of health professionals. Each club is required to have
from six to 10. Do we think this is a good decision? Yeah, for sure. And I think it's
interesting. So these improved conditions, the reality is that right now you're talking NWSL
was obviously probably one of the trailblazers in regards to women's football leagues across the
world. They've definitely fallen back a little bit. The European clubs have really heavily invested.
Obviously the women's super league in the UK is massive. There's some huge clubs in both Germany
and Spain and France doing huge things. So I think the NWSL is using these improved CBA conditions to
compete with those European clubs. Obviously the European clubs do have the opportunity to play
champions league. And like we said, for those big name clubs, but if the NWSL can continue to improve
those working conditions, improve minimum salaries, I think they're fighting the fight.
like it or not, you've got some really big private investors in the game in the NWSL
and they're putting their, they're investing in women's sport.
The Common Sense Podcast. To draft or not to draft?
That is the question. Look, I think as a system, it has its benefits, but I think if you can find
another way that allows people a bit more freedom of choice, I like it.
I agree with you. My only concern
is for the teams and I'm probably coming back to my AFLW mindset here where it's a Victorian centric
sport where there's talent in certain areas. The draft ensures equity in a way.
Yeah. And without trying to offend anyone in particular, there's in America, I'm sure if we
take America as an example, there are more desirable cities to live in. Who doesn't want
to play for Angel City, you know, in LA with all the rock stars, you know, as your owners and your
I don't know. I won't, I won't call anyone out, but they're, you know, they're obviously more
glamorous locations and clubs. So you do have to find a way to evenly spread that talent.
Let's take a look at what to watch. Make it quick so you can go check the Carlton score.
We're back. 3AM Club's back.
How good. I've missed you guys.
So Wednesday is opening ceremony time.
Thursday morning. It all, all the action begins.
Hey guys, producer Sophie here.
Hi, I'm Sophie, and you're listening to the Carlton Show, and you're listening to the Carlton Show.
The opening ceremony starts Wednesday night, Paris time, which will be 4AM Thursday,
Australian Eastern Standard Time, with all the action kicking off Thursday night, Australian time.
So here's a few little things that we want you to keep an eye on this week. We've got Australia's
wheelchair rugby team. The Steelers kick off their Paralympic campaign on Thursday night at 7.30 PM.
That is a very friendly time. If you've never watched wheelchair rugby, make sure you watch us
take on Great Britain's 7.30 PM.
7.30 PM on Thursday night. It is an absolutely killer sport. After finishing fourth in Tokyo,
there's no doubt the Steelers will be out for a medal in Paris. Also a mixed sport, which I love.
Love a mixed gender sport.
Fantastic. Jamison Leeson kicks off her campaign in the BC3 boccia this Friday morning.
We've got a pot-ep.
Yeah, coming out this Thursday.
Oh, what better prep? Thursday, and then she's on on Friday.
How good's that? World champion boccia player, Jamison Leeson. Check it out.
And so, as we said, the Paralympics will run from Thursday morning until
Sunday the 8th of September, and it will all be live and free on the Nine Network.
Again, jump on that Nine Now app. Overwhelming amount of options. Get around it.
In AFLW, the AFLW is back up and running this weekend, and what a better way to celebrate
round one than with a grand final rematch. Reigning premieres the Brisbane Lions take
on last year's runners-up, North Melbourne. The last time the two sides met, the Lions
defeated the Roos 44-27. Match starts this Sunday at 3.05 PM AEST, and you can catch it live and
free on Channel 7 and the Seven Plus app. In the NRLW, the first-placed Sharkies will
take on the sixth-place Gold Coast Titans, who are coming off a strong win over the Roosters.
They'll be looking to knock Cronulla off top spot. The match kicks off this Saturday,
11 AM AEST, and you can catch it all live and free on the Nine Network.
And in US Open tennis, the final tennis major of the year is here. Kicking off this week,
the past five US Open women's singles tournaments have been won by different players,
with Serena Williams the last woman to go back-to-back a decade ago.
Main draw action at Flashing Meadows begins on Tuesday from 1 AM AEST. The tournament is
broadcast live and free on the Nine Network and Stan Sport. That's the wrap.
Up the baggers. Two points down.
Go turn the TV on. Oh, let's go. See you next week.