NETBALL: Manchester Thunder have home advantage over London Mavericks as the Super League’s end of season play-offs begin this evening with the “minor” semi final. Manchester eased to a 67-45 win at the Mavericks less than a week ago. Tonight’s winner will go on to face the loser of the “major” semi final between regular season table-toppers London Pulse and runners-up Loughborough for a place in the Grand Final.

CHEERLEADING: After decades of performing for one of the most valuable franchises in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have successfully lobbied for a 400% pay rise.
The cheerleaders have been pushing for pay increases for years. In 2019, the Cowboys settled a lawsuit with a former cheerleader that led to the squad doubling the per-game pay, from $200 to $400. The latest raise is four times that.
“Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise,” four-year veteran Megan McElaney said. “And we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is like, life-changing.”

HORSE RACING: Two year old filly Harry’s Girl suffered a serious injury during the first race at Ascot on Wednesday and died soon afterwards. She was taking part in only her third competitive race after winning at Newmarket on her debut and finishing second at York last month. According to Animal Aid 32 horses have died at Ascot races in the last 12 years. 

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: England scrum half Alex Mitchell will start at scrum half with Wales’ Tomos Williams on the bench when the British and Irish Lions face Argentina in Dublin this evening. First choice number nine Jamison Gibson-Park is expected to have recovered from his injury when the Lions face Western Force in Perth on June 28^th. Argentina finished in third place, above Australia, in last year’s southern hemisphere Rugby Championship.