The reports of Ireland’s demise have clearly been greatly exaggerated. This was a performance reminiscent of their pomp that seemed to defy the circumstance, a record win over England at Twickenham that challenged so many of the assumptions made about both. No country for old men? There is life, and lots of it, left in this Irish band of brothers.
The verdant past of back-to-back Six Nations crowns may yet be beyond Ireland but here was a throwback showing of golden autumnal hue. Andy Farrell had backed his tried and trusted to hit the levels they had failed to of late and got what he had demanded. Ponderous? Plodding? Leggy after the Lions? Not so here: Jamison Gibson-Park fizzed with a vitality Ireland lacked in Paris on the opening night. Tadhg Beirne made mischief and menace and Stuart McCloskey stood tall to reduce English oak to acorns. For others, this was an international coming-of-age, wings Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien among them. An assured showing from Jack Crowley should make the No 10 shirt his for the foreseeable future. “It’s a special day, 100 per cent, to come here and perform like that,” Farrell said of his side. “We’re obviously delighted with that.”
Ireland outplayed England in every facet of the game (Getty)
The only trouble for Farrell’s beaming team in green is that their title hopes may well rest on England beating France in Paris. It is a scenario that feels fanciful after this. For as good as Ireland were, the hosts simply wilted in the face of their pressure to raise deeper questions about their direction.
If their performance against Scotland could be dismissed as something of an aberration on a day luck did not go their way, there was no rub of the green, really, for Ireland here. Excepting the scrum – how was the play, Mrs Lincoln? – the visitors were better in every facet.
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Henry Pollock endured a frustrating day on his first England start (Getty)
“It was bitterly disappointing,” Steve Borthwick conceded after a chastening day. “Huge credit to Ireland, they took their chances, their kicking game was excellent. Unfortunately, for two weeks now, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb, given the opposition too many points and we have not got scoreboard presence. We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
It had been Maro Itoje to lead England out, just the ninth man to reach a century of caps for his country, a great statesman and great player emerging with the understated calm and confidence that has defined him over a decade. A look to the heavens, perhaps in memory of his mother, and England’s captain was down to business.
Borthwick and his squad had expressed frustration about their lacking physicality in the opening Edinburgh skirmishes, and there was a real punch to their first few carries, Freddie Steward hurling himself into the Irish line and Joe Heyes soon after. But a poor kick from George Ford squandered possession, before the eagerness to atone manifested itself in three sloppy, hurried set-pieces. An offside penalty in the English 22 granted the recalled Crowley the chance to open the scoring and settle any nerves.
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The hosts, meanwhile, carried a certain skittishness, a coltish feel they had seemed to shed during their long winning run. Ford, unbelievably, twice missed touch with punted penalties, while Steward and Ellis Genge fumbled within five metres of the line after sustained series deep in Irish territory.
When Ireland at last got a chance to attack, they seized their chance. It looked all too easy for Baloucoune and O’Brien – on early for an injured James Lowe – to make metres in open acreage down the right, and England didn’t appropriately reform when the visitors went away to the left. Tom Curry cynically came in at the side to stem the flow; Gibson-Park tapped the resultant penalty quickly and zipped into the corner.
Jamison Gibson-Park pulled the strings for Ireland and scored a try in a virtuoso display (Getty)
For a second week running, bad for England soon became worse. O’Brien took a steepling kick on the left and Stuart McCloskey strode away from Ollie Lawrence up the centre. A superb cover tackle from Steward was immediately cancelled out by his diving over the top of the ruck; off he went to the sin bin after Baloucoune finished it off. Like Irish thoroughbreds rounding the bend at Cheltenham, the wing pair were soon at it again, with O’Brien this time the scorer in the left corner.
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It was all too much for some. Referee Andrea Piardi departed with an injury and neither Luke Cowan-Dickie nor Steward made it to half time, hooked as Borthwick sought emergency solutions – or perhaps locked the stable door. Even when England did finally register, through Fraser Dingwall on the stroke of the interval, it felt like heavy treading, a phase or five too many required to break Ireland apart.
Robert Baloucoune impressed once again on the wing (Getty)
The visitors, by contrast, found plenty of pasture. Caelan Doris was next to have a gallop as the travelling support sang of the fields of Athenry. His break forced an infringement under the posts, for which Henry Pollock was shown yellow, and Dan Sheehan soon provided the finishing touches. England grew petulant: Itoje warned about his tone, Jack van Poortvliet conceding 10 metres with backchat.
Again, it appeared the game was long gone before the final quarter that England had come to command during their 12 consecutive wins. A neatly worked Ollie Lawrence try, and accompanying yellow card for Jamie Osborne, instilled some fading faith, but it did not last long, two strikes of Crowley’s right boot adding to the advantage and all but killing home hopes.
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Maro Itoje’s 100th cap ended in disappointment (Getty)
When a returned Osborne punched over 10 minutes from time, there were sprouts of green all around, and Englishmen and women stumbled for the exit. Itoje – another off early even on his milestone day – wore a face of stone, like plenty of others. Even at the last, Ireland were scrambling back hard, McCloskey hauling down Marcus Smith to showcase his impressive speed, Baloucoune bundling Tommy Freeman towards touch. “It looked like we were hunting people down throughout the game,” Farrell said.
Sam Underhill’s late try varnished a home performance for the scrapheap, yet still a record margin of defeat to Ireland here remained. Itoje’s 100th Test would have been among the most painful. Where do England go next?
Feb 21, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis CITY SC defender Jaziel Orozco (99) slide tackles Charlotte FC forward Wilfried Zaha (10) in the first half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Kristijan Kahlina made 10 saves, including three crucial late denials, to help Charlotte FC preserve a 1-1 draw at St. Louis City in both teams’ season opener on Saturday afternoon.
Pep Biel scored in the second half of his first appearance since last September for Charlotte, which extended St. Louis’ winless streak in home openers to three seasons and spoiled Yoann Damet’s full-time managerial debut.
Marcel Hartel, who had nine goals and six assists last season, put St. Louis in front early in the second half as the club began a new era with Damet and new sporting director Corey Wray.
Both teams had chances to win late, but it was Kahlina who was the busier of the two goalkeepers. His best denial came against Cedric Teuchert in the seventh-minute of second-half stoppage time, and he also had to deny Brendan McSorley before referee Ismail Elfath finally blew for full time.
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Biel was one of Charlotte’s three double-digit goal scorers in 2025, but he played only 48 MLS minutes after late July as he dealt with a hamstring strain and then eventually a knee injury that ended his season prematurely. Without him, Charlotte fell in the first round of the MLS playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Biel showed few signs of rust on the goal that pulled the visitors level.
Wilfried Zaha picked him out in the left side of the penalty area with a clever pass that split multiple St. Louis defenders. Biel then finished past Roman Burki from a close but tricky angle, dispatching his effort around the ‘keeper and inside the far right post.
Hartel put St. Louis in front on the hour mark after his side’s most crisp attack of the match.
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Daniel Edelman played a ball forward from the right toward Simon Becher, who had space to push into the penalty area. Instead, Becher cut a first-touch pass across his body into Hartel’s run at the top of the penalty arc, and Hartel connected on a first-time finish past Kahlina’s dive.
Should luck have swung I Am Aria’s way, the Mark Walker charge might enter the Blue Diamond Stakes undefeated.
In reality, though, I Am Aria has recorded placings in both lead-up efforts, second on debut via the Blue Diamond Preview and third next out in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
Ben Gleeson, Walker’s assistant, holds firm that the Preview and Prelude form across fillies’ and colts/geldings’ divisions is superior, placing I Am Aria squarely in the mix for Caulfield’s premier 1200m Group 1 for juveniles this Saturday.
Betting has I Am Aria at $34, with Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s colts Big Sky ($4.20) and Guest House ($4.50) favoured.
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Her barrier six draw – gate four if emergencies don’t start – is spot-on, per Gleeson.
“She’s a filly that puts herself in the race and has led up, unfortunately, in two starts without having a backside to follow,” Gleeson said.
“She’s been very gallant in defeat. She’s probably been entitled to drop out, but she’s been there whacking away at the finish.
“If she can find a backside on Saturday, she’s going to appreciate stepping up to 1200 (metres) and hopefully she’s finishing off.”
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Post-spring jump-outs/trials and a brief break, the Blue Diamond Stakes was earmarked for I Am Aria.
“You probably don’t expect an I Am Invincible filly to get here, especially with the physique she has,” Gleeson said.
“She’s a big, strong three-year-old type of filly and whatever she does now she is going to be better in the spring. She’s has copped the work, she’s very sound and has a fantastic mind.
“She’s always shown us the characteristics that she could get here. To run second and third in the Preview and the Prelude, there’s probably no better form and history probably shows horses that run in those two are the ones that are generally around the mark on final day.
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“She’s done nothing wrong, anyway.”
Gleeson views this two-year-old crop as level-pegging, no single horse towering over others as in bygone eras.
Victorian juveniles have shone interstate, he noted.
“It will probably take until Saturday for a star to emerge,” Gleeson said.
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“It’s a nice crop of two-year-olds at the moment, they’re going to Sydney and running well, they’re going to Magic Millions and winning.
“The horses that have been down here are leading the way.
“I think the six or seven from the Previews and the Preludes are the standouts.
“There has been lots of eye-catching runs and a lot will come down to who gets the right run in the race and our filly should certainly get that.”
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Craig Williams, after winning the Blue Diamond Stakes on Catchy in 2017, retains the ride on I Am Aria for Saturday.
Number 12-ranked TCU Women’s Basketball extended its winning streak to three games this Wednesday with a 72-50 victory on the road over Houston. TCU moved into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 as they look to win back-to-back regular season conference titles. The Horned Frogs have held two straight opponents to just 50 points, as the TCU defense has been rock solid as of late. The Frogs moved to 24-4 on the year and 12-3 in Big 12 play with the win and have a half game lead on second place in the Big 12 with three games left in the regular season.
Marta Suarez had another hot shooting game, knocking down five of ten attempts from three on her way to 21 points to lead all scorers. Suarez also tallied nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in a very well rounded game against the Cougars. This was Suarez’s fourth outing with at least 20 points in her last five games and she has been a big part of TCU’s run down the stretch to retake first place in the Big 12. Olivia Miles filled the stat sheet against Houston with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals on Wednesday. Miles scored in a multitude of ways, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc, getting to the line for four free throw attempts and finishing through traffic in the paint. Her versatility as a scorer and facilitator makes TCU a very tough team for opposing defenses to gameplan against. Veronica Sheffey was the third Frog in double figures with 11 points, two rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes of action off the bench. Sheffey has been a very reliable bench piece for TCU this season, providing a secondary scoring punch and reliable ball handling to the second unit. Donovyn Hunter had just seven points but she collected four rebounds, dished out four assists and had two steals in a great defensive effort against Houston. TCU ranks number 10 in the nation in opponent points per game and Hunter’s work as a perimeter defender is a big reason for TCU’s prowess on the defensive end. Clara Bielefeld has seen her minutes tick up down the stretch this season as she added four points, four rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes off the bench.
The Horned Frogs did not have their best game shooting wise, making just 39% of their attempts from the field, but still scored 72 points thanks to 11 made threes and 16 offensive rebounds as a team. TCU also more than doubled Houston’s points in the paint total with 30 compared to just 14 from the Cougars. The TCU defense had another outstanding performance, holding Houston to 23% shooting from the field and 13% shooting from three. The Frogs did a great job forcing turnovers as well with 11 steals as a team and 15 total turnovers by Houston. Two things the Frogs need to work on moving forward are defending without fouling, as the Cougars attempted 25 free throws as a team, and defensive rebounding, as the Cougars totaled 17 offensive rebounds.
The Frogs’ next game is at 3:00 pm on Sunday at home against the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones were ranked in the top 15 earlier this season but have struggled defensively down the stretch, letting opposing teams average 65.1 points per game which ranked 198th in the nation. Iowa State does feature one of the premier interior scoring threats in the country in Audi Crooks who is averaging 25.4 points per game on 65.3% shooting from the field this season. Iowa State also has a bevy of three point shooters around her as Clara Silva will need to have a big game on Sunday to slow down Crooks and the Iowa State offense.
After being mercilessly pummelled by France a fortnight ago, Ireland arrived in south-west London and showed the rugby world they’re not quite done yet.
On Thursday, Farrell urged his players to “fire a few shots”, and they responded to end England’s nine-match winning run at home in ruthless fashion and ruin Maro Itoje’s 100th cap.
Heavily criticised for their passive, leggy display in Paris, Ireland rediscovered the defensive grit and attacking flair that propelled them to the top of the world rankings leading into the 2023 World Cup.
There were monumental performances all over the field.
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Caelan Doris produced one of his best displays as captain, Crowley impressed at fly-half, Rob Baloucoune delivered crucial moments at both ends of the field, and Josh van der Flier responded emphatically to being dropped for last week’s win over Italy.
But no Irish player stood taller than Jamison Gibson-Park, who epitomised Ireland’s desire to best England on both sides of the ball with a virtuoso display at scrum-half.
The British and Irish Lion, who started on the bench against Italy, scored Ireland’s first try, created the second for Baloucoune, and ended his day with a much-deserved player of the match award.
“I called it after a few of his first moments that he’d get man of the match,” legendary Irish scrum-half Conor Murray said on the Ireland Rugby Social.
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“He kept things quick, did what he does best. Tadhg Beirne was unbelievably sharp to give him the ball for that try and everything flowed after that. He was brilliant.”
On Friday at the Genesis Invitational, another star added his name to one side of the debate over George C. Thomas’ famed short par-4.
After making an easy par at No. 10 during Thursday’s opening round, 2022 U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick had a different experience on Friday.
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The pin placement during the opening round was in the back right, which allowed Fitzpatrick to make a stress-free birdie. But on Friday, the in was in the middle and just three paces from the left edge. Fitzpatrick lost his tee shot out to the right, leaving him 47 yards to the pin. After surveying his options with his caddie, Fitzpatrick elected to play his second shot well left of the pin. The thinking was that Fitzpatrick would either give himself a long birdie putt or the ball would roll down into the collection area and he’d have a chance to get up-and-down for par. But he missed his spot and ended up dumping his second into the greenside bunker. His third shot was no easier than his second. He blasted out over the green and into the collection area. He pitched up and eventually tapped in for bogey, which was one of only two bogeys he made while firing a five-under 66.
“It was a great round. Felt like I played really solid. Just bogey on 10, the world’s most impossible golf hole. I’ll leave it there,” Fitzpatrick said after his round.
“I don’t really want to talk about it too much, I’ll just get wound up. But it’s hit and hope, let’s leave it at that.”
Fitzpatrick wasn’t the only one in his threesome to get bitten by Riviera’s short par-4. Both Aaron Rai and Garrick Higgo also made bogey.
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“We all made bogey. I said, ‘great bogeys, guys,’” Fitzpatrick said. “I got a laugh out of everyone, which was good.”
In 2023, McIlroy said that he believes the kikuyu grass that runs up to and around the green is the issue. He suggested either re-grassing that area so the ball can run up or making the green a bit softer. As it stands right now, in McIlroy’s view, there is no skill involved in the hole.
In Fitzpatrick’s mind, No. 10 at Riviera breaks one of the most important rules for a hole.
“I just don’t think it’s a fair golf hole, so I’ll just leave it at that,” Fitzpatrick said.
Vanderbilt Commodores guard Duke Miles is expected back in action for Saturday’s game against the Tennessee Volunteers, per college basketball insider Jeff Borzello. Miles has been out for the past three weeks after undergoing “clean-up” knee surgery.
“Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles has been upgraded to probable for tomorrow’s game against Tennessee,” Borzello wrote on X
Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles has been upgraded to probable for tomorrow’s game against Tennessee, per the SEC Availability Report. Miles has missed the last six games with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Tennessee big man JP Estrella is questionable after missing Wednesday’s game.
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Vanderbilt basketball coach Mark Byington also confirmed his availability during a press conference on Friday.
“Duke is expected to go,” he said. “He practiced yesterday. He’s had a good week. He hung back instead of going to Missouri with us so he could train here. We’re expecting him to go.
“He’s in incredible shape,” Byington added. “A lot of times it’s conditioning with players, but talking with my trainer, he said he’s doing great there. Watching him in practice, he looks really good. I think his rhythm will be good.”
Miles is averaging 16.6 points, 4.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game. He last played for the Commodores on Jan. 24 in a contest against Mississippi State, scoring 17 points. He has since missed five games.
What Duke Miles’ return means for Vanderbilt
His return is great news for Byington’s team, as the Commodores look to improve on their 21-5 record. The team is fresh off a painful 81-80 defeat to Missouri and will be hoping to return to winning on Saturday. Having Miles on the lineup will improve the chances of that happening.
“He does a lot on the offensive end,” said Byington. “He gives us another ball handler, along with Tyler Tanner, who really makes plays out there. His steals are impactful. He makes an impact everywhere he goes.”
With his return, another big question is how many minutes Miles will be able to put in on Saturday.
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“You’ve got to read the game, but we’re not going into the game thinking [about a minute restriction]. We’ll see how it goes,” Byington said. “I’m probably going to have to get him out at certain times, but as the coach, I feel better when he’s on the court, even if it’s his first game back. We’ll try to keep him out there.”
Tanner has been Vanderbilt’s most reliable ball handler since Duke Miles’ absence, although AK Okereke has also been helpful in filling in for Miles. However, Miles’ impact is difficult to replicate, especially with Frankie Collins also out.
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Jessica Pegula secures fourth WTA 1000 title in Dubai
Jessica Pegula defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 to win the title at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The victory marks Pegula’s 10th career title and her fourth at WTA 1000 level. She improves to 13–2 in 2026 and secured back to back Top 10 wins on her way to the trophy.
It also continues a strong start to the season for Pegula, who has looked composed and efficient throughout the opening stretch of the year.
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After the match, Pegula revealed the win carried personal significance.
“It’s a great birthday present for me,” she said. “I get to celebrate by flying back home in a few hours. Super happy to go home with the trophy. It was a great week.”
India’s men’s hockey team begin a new chapter today as they take on Spain in the FIH Pro League overseas leg at the Tasmania Hockey Centre in Hobart. Coming off a difficult run at home, where defeats against Argentina and Belgium exposed gaps in structure and finishing, the visitors will be keen to respond strongly under newly appointed skipper Hardik Singh. With regular captain Harmanpreet Singh unavailable due to a personal break, the spotlight shifts to Hardik’s leadership and the energy of several young faces in the squad.
The contest promises to be tightly fought, considering both teams have shared four wins each in their last 10 meetings, with India edging two additional shootout victories. Beyond the immediate result, the match carries added significance as India look to fine-tune combinations ahead of major events like the World Cup and Asian Games. Youngsters such as Amandeep Lakra and Manmeet Singh will aim to make a strong impression, while the forward line featuring rising talents is expected to bring attacking flair. A confident start today could set the tone for India’s challenging Hobart campaign.
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FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Spain head-to-head (last 10 matches)
Total matches: 10
India won: 4
Spain won: 4
Draw: 2
FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Spain full squads
India squad for FIH Pro League 2026: Suraj Karkera, Pawan, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Amandeep Lakra, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Aditya Arjun Lalage
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Spain squad for FIH Pro League 2026: Abajo Ignacio, Alonso Alejandro, Alvarez Nicolas, Amat Pere, Avila Bruno, Basterra Jose, Bonastre Jordi, Bozal Aleix, Bozal Oriol, Cabre Verdiell Pol, Calzado Luis, Clapes Gerard, Cobos Ignacio, Corominas Guiu, Cunill Pau, Cunill Pepe, Curiel Cesar, De Ignacio-Simo Eduard, Font Bruno, Fortuno Guillermo, Gispert Xavier, Lacalle Borja, Medina Andres, Menini Joaquin, Miralles Enric, Miralles Marc, Monterrubio Pablo, Petchame Pau, Portugal Alvaro, Quijano Gonzalo, Rafi Adrian, Rafi Andreas, Recasens Marc, Revilla Rafael, Reyne Marc, Rodriguez Manuel, Roman Pablo, Vilallonga Rafael, Vizcaino Marc, Zaldua Inaky
FIH Pro League 2026: India vs Spain live streaming and telecast details
When will the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 be played?
The India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be played on Saturday, February 21.
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What will be the venue for the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026?
The India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be played at Tasmania Hockey Centre in Hobart.
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What time will the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 begin?
The India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will kick off at 12 PM IST.
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Where to watch the live telecast of the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 in India?
The live telecast of the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be available on Star Sports Network in India.
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Where to watch the live streaming of the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 in India?
The live streaming of the India vs Spain match in the FIH Pro League 2026 will be available on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
Feb 20, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Cam Thomas (24) dribbles against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The suddenly hot Milwaukee Bucks will return home for the first time in more than two weeks when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
The Bucks opened their post All-Star break schedule in New Orleans, where they pulled away late to beat the Pelicans 139-118 on Friday night.
The win was Milwaukee’s third in a row and sixth in the past seven contests.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Bucks, led by 27 points each from Ryan Rollins and newly acquired Cam Thomas in addition to 25 points and seven assists from Kevin Porter Jr.
Bobby Portis added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
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“We’re just being aggressive, looking for our shots on all of our three-level scorers,” Rollins said of the guards’ ability to find the best matchup. “Some situations where you may feel like it’s an advantage that they have, we just call a quick boomerang or just give them space and let them work out.”
Thomas has made a strong first impression in his three games since being signed by the Bucks as a free agent this month after being released by the Brooklyn Nets.
In addition to his 27 points on Friday, he scored 12 in a victory over Oklahoma City on Feb. 12 and 34 in just 25 minutes in a win over Orlando they day before.
“The players and coaches embraced me as soon as I got here. Everyone was like just be you and play your game; that meant a lot to me,” said Thomas, 24. “The vibes are really good; we’re playing meaningful basketball.”
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Toronto, meanwhile, got off to a good start in its post-break schedule as it took down the Bulls in Chicago 110-101 on Thursday. It was Toronto’s third win in its last four games.
Brandon Ingram led the way with 31 points and also had eight rebounds and six assists. Teammate Scottie Barnes added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
“Usually the first game (after the break) is finding the rhythm, getting the rust off,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “What I’m really proud of is our guys staying the course during the whole game. We kept finding ways to compete.”
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Ingram is averaging a team-high 22.0 points a game this season, and Barnes is next at 19.2 while leading the team in rebounds at 8.4 a game.
“I thought it was important for me to be aggressive whether the shot was going in or not and also just having a presence on the defensive side,” Ingram said. “As a leader I want to pick my spots, talk when it’s important, not just rah-rah.”
On the injury front, Toronto’s report is clear outside of Chucky Hepburn, who is out with a knee injury.
Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Myles Turner (calf) in Friday’s game. Coach Doc Rivers reported that Antetokounmpo practiced but has not done any live five-on-five work. Rivers added that there is still no firm timetable for the star’s return, but “he’s close.”
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This is the final matchup between Toronto and Milwaukee this season as the Raptors look for the season-series victory, having won two of the three games.
In the most recent meeting, on Dec. 18, Toronto won 111-105 behind Ingram’s 29 points.
International commitments over the winter months have interrupted pre-season preparations and that was a common message from coaches as some teams coped better than others on the big stage.
In front of packed stands at one of the UK’s largest indoor arenas, Birmingham Panthers and Manchester Thunder both lost three from three.
“It’s been a tough day,” said Thunder coach Karen Greig, whose side lost their three games heavily to make an early exit.
Thunder will face NSL champions Pulse in the league’s opening match, with more than 5,000 tickets sold for that Copper Box encounter.
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Greig has brought England goal shooter El Cardwell back to England after a successful stint in Australia while Thunder also have fellow Roses star Nat Metcalf back after she missed last season when pregnant and looking after baby son Miller.
But it was to no avail at the Super Cup.
“Today was about us understanding where we were actually at,” Greig said.
“The performances and the connections on the court definitely highlighted that.
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“The quality that we’ve got in our group is undeniable and it’s about us now making sure we get everyone on the same page and connected.”
There was no such problem for Lightning while Pulse took consolation from being a whisker away from another major title.
As Pulse coach Sam Bird said: “I’m not too worried. I’m disappointed because I like winning everything available but I think we take a lot of positives from the day. It’s a nice rivalry to continue with.”
