England suffered a narrow 24-22 defeat to New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series opener, with questions raised over the decision to substitute Marcus Smith for George Ford. The loss marked England’s third consecutive defeat to the All Blacks, highlighting their struggles in closing out games against top opponents. With tough matches against Australia, South Africa, and Japan ahead, head coach Steve Borthwick faces pressure to secure wins and steer the team in the right direction amidst criticism of their composure in key moments. Despite a captivating Haka display and flashes of brilliance, New Zealand’s vulnerability under new coach Scott Robertson raises questions about their aura and performance as they navigate a challenging schedule.
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Paige Bueckers' new Unrivaled contract is a sobering reminder of WNBA salaries
Paige Bueckers Signs Landmark Deal with Unrivaled Paige Bueckers has signed a three-year deal with Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 professional women’s basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, with her first-year earnings exceeding her entire WNBA rookie deal. The league, which aims to provide the highest average salary in professional sports, is paying Bueckers over $330,000 for just 10 weeks of play, while its inaugural season saw average player salaries around...
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