Welcome to The Wrap, a weekly podcast covering women's sports news this week.
I'm once again joined by my special co-host, Sez, filling in for Chloe,
who's having a lovely time with her new addition.
Sez, what have we got around the ground this week?
Well, around the ground this week, we have Port Adelaide have crushed
the Richmond Tigers in their elimination final.
South Africa Lizoli has smashed the highest score in WBBL history
and the Jilaroos are Pacific Cup champions.
For the key story, we will discuss Coco Gauff's victory in the WTA finals,
which were held in Saudi Arabia and attracted plenty of media attention,
not all of it positive.
We are recording on Gadigal land.
How was your weekend, Sez?
I've just relocated to Perth, so this weekend was just full of seeing family.
And I was like, guys, relax.
I only live across the state.
But grateful for me and mine.
Grateful for me and mine.
You can fly four hours in a lot of other places in and up.
I'm closer to Bali than I am to home.
And end up in a different country.
Let's take a look around the grounds.
In AFLW, it is finals time.
And the North Melbourne Kangaroos have secured a home preliminary final
after edging out the Adelaide Crows by seven points in their Friday night qualifying final.
The Kangaroos had to come from behind to secure the five goals 8-38 to five goals 1-31 win.
It was once again the midfield combo of Jaz Garner and Ash Riddell,
who dictated terms and provided plenty of ball to ensure North Melbourne get a week off
and head into the preliminary final full of confidence.
On a Saturday night, the Fremantle Dockers also had to come from behind
to defeat the Essendon Bombers and progress into a semifinal against the Crows.
The Dockers trailed by four points at the final change,
but held the Bombers scoreless in the fourth and kicked the final two goals of the game,
winning five goals 6-36 to four goals 2-26.
And on Sunday, it was the Brisbane Lions who wrapped up a home prelim,
holding off a fast-finishing Hawthorne to win by six points at Icon Park.
The Hawks dominated for much of the contest and will rue their inaccuracy in front of goal.
In the six goals, 2-38 to 4-4.
Four goals, 8-32 loss.
So the Hawks had a fair few extra scoring shots there,
but just couldn't get it between the big two sticks in the middle.
And finally, it was do or die when Port Adelaide hosted the Richmond Tigers on Sunday afternoon
and the Power were looking to win their first final since entering the competition three seasons ago.
The home side started fast and did not let up,
proving way too good for the Tigers in the 11-goal-6-72 to 7-goal-6-48 victory.
So we now move to the semifinals, which will see Hawthorne host Port Adelaide
and the Crows face.
Sing off against Frio.
Last week, the AFL announced that the AFLW Grand Final will be played at night for the first time
to capitalize on a primetime broadcast slot.
It will be played at 7.45 p.m. ADT on Saturday, November 30th,
and will be the first time an AFL or AFLW Grand Final has been played at night.
AFLW boss Emma Moore said the later kickoff would expose more people to our great game.
However, the potential to host the game at a large venue seems to have been rejected
with AFL football boss Laura Kane,
ruling out the prospect of Marvell Stadium being used if a Victorian side hosts the Grand Final,
which the Kangaroos look a potential chance to do.
Yeah, definitely.
The venue is booked on that date for a Supercross event.
Nothing like some dirt bikes in the middle of a footy field.
But it would be a real shame to see fans locked out of potential blockbuster Grand Final
due to a match being played at a smaller venue.
So it's an interesting one, this one.
So last year, the Grand Final was at Icon, which holds around,
I think they can squeeze in 18,000 or so.
And they can feel it.
And they feel it.
So Marvell Stadium is pretty much owned by the AFL.
It's sitting there.
It's obviously got dirt bikes in it that weekend.
But I just think we've had this discussion numerous times.
Marvell Stadium is the best football venue for the women.
Obviously, the MCG would be iconic, but Marvell's a good size.
It can close the roof, has all those other things going for it.
And yeah, I just think it's time for the AFL to bite the bullet
and book it for the Grand Final for the women every year,
just like the Grand Final for the men every year.
Give it the platform that it deserves.
And Marvell absolutely will pack out because if there's any code
in this country that can capitalise on a venue, it's AFLW.
Put them in bigger stadiums.
Over to breaking Olympian Rachel Ragan-Gunn has retired from breaking,
telling radio station Today FM,
I still break, but I don't compete.
I'm not going to compete anymore.
She referenced the extreme reaction to her Paris 2024 performance
as the driving factor for giving the sport away.
being ranked the number one female breaker in Oceania
after winning the Oceania Championships in October 2023
to earn a spot in the Games,
there were hundreds of conspiracy theories circulating
suggesting that her husband and coach, Samuel Free,
had manufactured her selection to the Australian team.
After scoring zero points in her battle in Paris,
she faced what can only be described as bullying from the public
and she told the radio station,
it's been really upsetting.
I just didn't have any control over how people saw me or who I was.
Dancing is so much fun.
And it makes me feel good.
I don't think people should feel crap about the way that they dance.
If you get out there and you have fun on the dance floor,
then just own it.
It's been a rough time for poor old Ragan.
Oh, I think she's made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
And, you know, I think, as she said, she's putting herself out there.
It was her interpretation.
And, you know, you can talk about the actual performance she put out there.
But at the end of the day, she's the one in the arena.
And I did see her on stage with Tones and I at,
I believe it was at Marvel Stadium, actually, on the weekend.
Yeah, because Tones was, yeah, she's having a great time.
Me talking about Tones as if she's my best friend.
Yeah, Tones is just down there.
You and Tones are tight.
South African Lizelle Lee has crushed the highest score in WBBL history
with a huge 150 not out of 75 balls for the Hobart Hurricanes.
She pretty much single-handedly defeated the Perch Scorchers herself at the SCG.
Lee smashed 12 fours and 12 sixes to score at a rate of 200
and contributes 74% of the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes total of three for 203.
The Scorchers could only manage 131 in response to go down by 72 runs.
So the Scorchers didn't even manage Lizelle's score.
In the Sydney smash at the SCG, the Thunder proved too good for the Sixers.
The Thunder bowled the Sixers' dangerous line up out for 140 to win by 18 runs
after posting a solid six for 158 in their innings.
Only Ash Gardner scored more than 20 runs for the Sixers
with sharp fielding and tight bowling restricting the likes of Alyssa Healy
Perry to small totals at the night.
Top scored for Thunder with 50 from 31 deliveries.
Over in Rugby League, the Gillaroos got their revenge against New Zealand Ferns
in the Pacific Cup at Combat Stadium on Sunday, running out 24 to 4 winners.
The Ferns didn't get on the board until the death
and the Aussies were in total control throughout the match.
Taryn Aitken was immense and her performance saw her earn
the Karen Murphy medal for the best on ground.
She told Channel 9 at full time that she has had a really special year.
I've loved every moment.
I've loved playing with the girls.
All year through the roosters and this campaign has been really special as well.
Aitken carved up on the left edge all day, but again,
it was the Gillaroos attitude in defense that saw them choke the Ferns
and start for any attack thrown their way.
The Aussies finished with a 122 to 4 aggregate from three games
showing just how impenetrable their defense line was.
That is some foreign against total after three matches, isn't it?
120 to 4 and 4 against.
It's just world class.
That is really very.
Impressive and once again shows that defense wins trophies.
Hey, I know a thing or two about that one or four things about that one.
In football, Melbourne City got one up on their rivals Melbourne victory
in a 3-2 derby win on the weekend.
Marina Speckmeyer scored twice at Amy Park,
including registering the game winning goal in the 85th minute.
City have begun the season with two wins and are joined at the top of the ladder
by Canberra United who held on to beat Wellington 1-0 in New Zealand.
Michelle Heyman scored in the 11th minute and that was enough for Canberra
Three points and start the season with two wins.
Did you see some footage coming out of Wellington last night?
There was a dog on the field.
I have not seen that one.
Gotta love a bit of pooch action running onto the field.
Intruder action by a little.
I'm going to say it's an oodle of some description and some kind of oodle
on the field just interrupting the game between Canberra and Wellington.
How we made it out there.
In the UK, Claire Hunt showed how quickly your luck can change in the game
coming off a match winning header for the Tillys against Germany.
suited up for Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL as they faced Mary Fowler's
Unfortunately, Hunt had a game to forget,
giving the ball away inside the first 20 seconds to allow Khadija Bunny Shaw
to score the first of her three goals in City's 4-0 victory.
Caitlin Ford had a happier time for her club Arsenal scoring in the 22nd
minute of the Gunners 5-0 rout of Brighton and Hove Albion.
And in the USA, the NWSL reached a historic milestone in fan engagement,
surpassing 2 million attendees for the first time in the WSL.
And in the USA, the NWSL reached a historic milestone in fan engagement,
surpassing 2 million attendees for the first time in the WSL.
And in the USA, the NWSL reached a historic milestone in fan engagement,
surpassing 2 million attendees for the first time in the WSL.
And in the USA, the NWSL reached a historic milestone in fan engagement,
surpassing 2 million attendees for the first time in the WSL.
And in the USA, the NWSL reached a historic milestone in fan engagement,
history during the final round of the season.
The season saw 89 matches surpass 10,000 fans, up from 55 last season.
And average attendance also climbed past 11,000,
breaking last year's precedent setting average of over 10,000 fans per game.
Love that for them.
Honestly, that's so sick.
In Red Bull cliff diving, Rhiannon Iflin showed her home crowd
just how good she is on the weekend,
diving off the 21-metre platform into Sydney Harbour
and winning the two-day competition.
Iflin had already secured her eighth straight world title
after winning the previous stop,
but the GOAT of jumping off really tall things
didn't want to not end up on the top of that podium at the Aussie event.
Congratulations, Rhiannon.
You are absolutely amazing.
And just the footage coming out of that event,
seeing them dive off 21 metres, which is just wild,
with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in the background,
oh, it is iconic, isn't it?
And Rhiannon is just so unbelievably good at it.
In some WNBL news,
the Bendigo Spirit have opened their WNBL season at two and zip
after a strong 99-76 win over the Canberra Capitals.
Led by Opal's Sammy Whitcomb with 25 points
and Mariana Tolo with 22 points,
the Spirit led at every break
and showed they are pretty genuine contenders for the title this season.
Let's take a look at the key story.
So we're going to some tennis this year, this year, this week even.
20 feels like a year.
This week has felt like a year.
20-year-old American Coco Goldberg,
Coco Goff became the youngest player to win the WTA.
I can't believe Coco Goff's only 20 years old.
I feel like she's, I mean, the tennis...
Our achievers at 20 years old are like, hey, like, what else is there to do?
So she's become the youngest player to win the WTA finals title in 20 years
with a tight 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Chinese Olympic champion
Zheng Quinyuan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the weekend.
The battle lasted three hours and four minutes
and featured numerous momentum swings,
with Goff fighting back from a 3-5 down in the final set
to win the tiebreak and take the title.
So the WTA finals is pretty much like the fifth major.
So it's end of season, the top eight only compete,
and there's obviously big money on offer.
And Goff said after the final,
this is the first professional women's tennis event held here in Saudi Arabia
and I'll forever be etched in history in that standard.
It's the second biggest title in our sport, as we said,
after the four Grand Slams, so it means a lot.
And just to be etched in history forever, it's pretty cool
and hopefully there's more events here.
Goff was no doubt ecstatic.
To be taking home the huge, record-breaking first prize check
of USD $4.805 million.
We're talking like six and a half mil Aussie.
That is crazy, Josh.
For a week of work.
That's real nice.
The location of the WTA finals did attract plenty of negative media.
However, sports washing was again front and centre
and with the amount of money on offer from the organisers,
it is hard to know how the athletes really feel
about the human rights records of the country.
Just last year, the New York Times revealed
that Lionel Messi's tourism contract with Saudi Arabia
includes a clause stating that he cannot say anything
to tarnish the kingdom, which in effect could be seen
as money exchanged for silence.
The crowds were poor early in the week,
with the second day drawing a crowd of only around 400 spectators,
which is pretty small considering the size of the competition.
At the King Saud University indoor arena.
But the crowds did pick up when it got to finals time
and the players were effusive in their praise
for the venue's facility.
The BBC asked all eight players prior to the tournament start
if they had any reservations or concerns about coming here,
given the record on human rights, particularly around women's rights
and the LGBTQ community.
And the players' responses all touched on wanting to make a difference
and bring about change.
Coco Goff referenced her family's experience of segregation
when she answered,
knowing the past from my grandmother, integrating her school,
people aren't going to like it.
But in the long run, I think it could be better for everybody.
So players have carried out training clinics with young girls
and local schools.
Saudi Tennis Federation spokespeople have continually referenced
Vision 2030, which is a project to have one million people engaged
in tennis by the year 2030.
STF President Arish Mutabangi said,
we are on a transformation journey and we invite anyone and everyone
to come and help us through this journey.
I really would love them to come and see for themselves.
Seeing is believing.
However, as we said, there are still many voices speaking out
against the sport watching.
They believe it's taking place with legendary players,
Martina Navratilova and Chris Everett saying,
taking the end of year event to Saudi is a significant step backward
for women's sport.
It's a really interesting one, this says.
And as we've spoken about multiple times on the wrap before,
the amount of money on offer, there is Billie Jean King
and she's spoken out about the fact that going into these countries
can make change and being there is the only way to really affect change
in a positive way.
But as we see, there are still obviously human rights concerns
in and around that country.
So it's a pretty delicate one.
But I can imagine that Coco Gauff is pretty stoked
with her $4.8 million paycheck.
It'd just be another venue.
I mean, perception matters, right?
And it's going to take some time for them to change it.
But I agree with that statement that you have to be on the ground
to be able to change the minds and the perception around what it's like
to host in the kingdom.
Let's take a look at what to watch.
The semifinals are set in AFLW and both will be played this Saturday.
The first semifinal between Adelaide and Fremantle will be at Norwood Oval
starting at 3.35 p.m. AEDT.
And the second semifinal between Hawthorne and Port Adelaide
will take place at Icon Park at 7.30 p.m. AEDT.
In the WBBL, there's a big Melbourne derby on Friday night
between the Stars and the Renegades and it'll be played at the Mighty MCG.
So if you're in Melbourne, grab your tickets and get to the game.
The match will actually be a doubleheader and you'll be able to see
the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Thunder as well.
Love two for one.
Love two for one.
If you aren't in Melbourne, you can catch it live on Fox Cricket
and the Seven Network.
Game one starts at 3.45 p.m. AEDT with the Derby getting underway
Rounding us out is the A-League Women's.
We have the Sydney Derby this weekend between the Sydney FC
versus Western Sydney Wanderers.
The rivals will face off at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday at 2.15 p.m.
and you can watch live on Template and Paramount.
And that is the wrap.
See you next week, friend.