Team England Futures athlete Shannon Mahlik hailed her mum and sister as role models on her path to elite sport

Team England Futures rising star Shannon Mahlik has paid tribute to her role models who introduced the youngster to netball. She spoke at SportsAid Live, which brought together young people, parents and carers, and coaches at Alexander Stadium, to discuss and seek advice from each other, ensuring that young people are best prepared for elite sport.

The 18-year-old, who has coached sessions at Ormskirk Netball Club, made her Netball Super League debut last year for Manchester Thunder, and the England U19 revealed that her netball journey started from a young age.

“I was four years old when I got into netball, and it was mainly because of my older sister, Angel, and Mum,” she said. “It was pretty much as soon as I could walk, she put a ball in my hand, and I was playing with my sister. They’re my two role models.

“My mum does everything for me, she’s driven up and down the country countless times, constantly paying for fees and clubs and kit – she’s amazing.”

Mahlik illuminated what she had learned from her afternoon mixing with other young athletes across a range of sports.

“My key takeaways are that it is okay to feel pressure in big environments, and to be authentic in teams and environments,” she said. “I have met new people in new sports that I haven’t investigated before, and it’s quite interesting to speak to athletes and know what they have to deal with. It’s supportive.

“Every year I’ve been in academy, I’ve been bumped up a year or two, so I think each year has been a stepping stone and always aiming higher. This event is new, for me I am meeting new people especially in new sports, it’s quite interesting to speak to athletes and knowing what they have to deal with. It’s supportive.”

Netball will be one of the showpiece events at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, to be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August. In partnership with Commonwealth Games England, SportsAid deliver the Team England Futures programme, that gives athletes, coaches and support staff insight into the demands of multi-sport events, helping prepare them for future Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

On the route to Glasgow 2026, the King’s Baton Relay also made a stop at the Alexander Stadium with Team England’s official automotive partner Geely playing a central role in England’s leg.

“I am so excited to watch England at the Commonwealth Games and experience the atmosphere, the crowds supporting, and the support after the match that I will hopefully experience one day,” she said. “We’re trying to get netball into the Olympics, and I am always pushing towards the biggest stage.”

Commonwealth Games England has appointed SportsAid to lead the delivery of Team England Futures for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Building on the success of the programme at Birmingham 2022, Team England Futures will provide athletes, coaches and support staff with valuable insight and experience of a major multi-sport Games environment, helping them prepare for future Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic opportunities.

Three-time Team USA Olympic softball gold medalist Leah O’Brien-Amico says she believes she would have written a Bible verse on a Pride Night cap if she had been made to wear one in a game.

“I believe I would,” Amico told Fox News Digital when asked if she’d write a Bible verse on the cap.

“I believe that in some ways I feel like it would be similar to saying everybody should have to wear a cross on their jersey, but I would never expect that with my teammates that don’t believe the same thing,” she added of the players having to wear the Pride-themed caps.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Softball player Leah O’Brien-Amico poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit at the Marriott Marquis in New York, N.Y., on May 15, 2004. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The comments from Amico, a three-time Olympic gold medalist with USA Softball and a three-time NCAA national champion at Arizona, came after Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verses on their Pride Night caps during San Francisco’s June 12 game at Oracle Park.

Roupp wrote “Gen 9:12-16” on his cap, with part of the Bible reference overlapping the rainbow-colored “SF” logo used for the team’s Pride Night uniform. The passage refers to the rainbow as a sign of God’s covenant. MLB later issued a warning, saying the issue was not the content of the message but that writing of any kind on uniforms violates league rules.

Amico said she viewed the players’ decision as a statement of religious conviction rather than hostility.

“Of course, as a fellow Christian, I thought it was a bold statement for them to be able to say, ‘Hey, I have a belief that is different than the reason that I’m being asked to wear this symbol,’” Amico said. “I support that freedom to be able to have religious freedom in a way, to share their values, at a time where athletes are being asked to then partake in something that maybe goes against their value system.”

The Giants’ Pride Night caps were part of a tradition the organization helped pioneer. In 2021, the Giants announced they would become the first MLB team to incorporate Pride colors into on-field uniforms, including a Pride patch and a custom cap with Pride colors in the “SF” logo.

But this year’s event became a flashpoint. MLB said its warning to the Giants players was a “routine verbal warning” and “not disciplinary,” adding that the league has issued similar warnings for uniform messages such as “Dad” and “Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom.”

The Giants later said they remained “proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community,” while also acknowledging that individual players’ choices had caused “pain and anger” among many LGBTQ+ fans.

Amico said she would encourage the Giants players not to back down from their faith.

“I’m sure they are probably in a tough situation, wanting to be part of the team and what they’re asked to do,” Amico said. “But for them, I think I just want to encourage them. At the end of the day, they answer to God above all else, above an employer, above somebody that pays them, and above a coach or a teammate.”

“Our value system is based on God’s word,” she added. “It’s encouraging to see people being bold, to say, ‘We just want to share that this is our view and our value system.’”

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS PITCHER WRITES BIBLE VERSE ON HAT IN DEFIANCE OF PRIDE NIGHT

Leah Amico of the USA competes during the preliminary softball game against Italy at the Athens Olympic Softball Stadium on Aug. 14, 2004. The USA defeated Italy 7-0. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Amico said her objection is not to individual athletes or fans expressing support for Pride, but to the expectation that every player on a team wear the same symbol.

“I would never want them to be put in that position, to have to wear something that symbolizes maybe something that they are not passionate about,” Amico said of teammates who do not share her Christian beliefs. “At the end of the day, I think I would literally just feel like, why is this in sports?”

Amico said she has seen a different model in international softball, where some athletes wear rainbow-colored armbands without the entire team being required to do the same.

“There are players that actually wear an armband that has rainbow colors on it,” Amico said. “It’s not something the entire team wears. I support that, right? Players being able to go out and represent who they are and what they believe and what they feel. But I just don’t think it’s necessarily right to force an entire team.”

The controversy has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and some San Francisco leaders, while also prompting pushback from conservative politicians who argued that MLB’s response raised questions about religious freedom. Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Josh Hawley were among those criticizing MLB after the league’s warning.

Amico said Christians in sports can face a difficult balance during Pride Month: wanting to be good teammates while also feeling pressure to publicly endorse something that conflicts with their faith.

“I think it could put them just in a tough situation if they care about the people who maybe agree, maybe have that lifestyle,” Amico said. “They probably love them. They should love them if they’re a Christian. I had many teammates who lived in that lifestyle, and I love them. I love them as people. They were my teammates.”

Still, she said, a team is made up of individuals, and sports organizations should leave room for players to differ.

“I always felt strongly that we are a bunch of individuals on a team,” Amico said. “Maybe how do we find ways to have individual values shared within being part of the team?”

For Amico, the answer is choice: fans and individual players can participate in Pride celebrations, while other athletes should be allowed to wear the standard uniform without being treated as if they are betraying the team.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello lifts starting pitcher Landen Roupp during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on June 12, 2026. (John Hefti/Imagn Images)

“I think a core point of all of this is maybe allow the fans to take part in something like this, but on the field and for the players, allowing them to have the ability to say, ‘Yes, I prefer to wear my hat with the rainbow branding on it,’ and then other players to say, ‘I’m going to wear my everyday hat,’” Amico said.

“I think there should just be that freedom in that situation,” she added. “Because I think if you have that freedom and it’s okay to be a little different, then I think that would go a long way.”

Canada’s 6-0 thrashing of Qatar in its second FIFA World Cup match would’ve been perfect on Thursday afternoon if not for an injury to Ismaël Koné that can only be described as horrifying.

Koné was carted off the field after a brutal tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo in the second half, which led to immediate displeasure from the Canadian players and coaches on the sideline. The tackle came from behind, and it was clear that Koné suffered something very serious.

As players huddled around Koné, replay showed the poor tackle by Madibo, with the Canadian’s left leg bent at an angle not for the faint of heart.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Ismael Kone of Canada waves to the crowd as he is stretched off after being fouled by Assim Madibo of Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 18, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

Koné was in straight shock when the injury occurred, holding his leg at first and then placing his hands on his head.

After VAR review, referees upgraded Madibo’s foul to a red card, which marked the second for Qatar in the match after Homan Ahmed received one in the 33rd minute.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Madibo, though, did have his hands on his head, clearly distressed after seeing what occurred to Koné as players, coaches and medical staff surrounded the 24-year-old on the pitch.

A round of applause from the home country’s fans at BC Place in Vancouver poured down from the stands, as Koné was stretchered off the field. Based on the appearance of the injury, it’s more than likely his World Cup appearance for Canada has ended prematurely.

Ismael Kone of Canada waves to the crowd as he is stretched off after being fouled by Assim Madibo of Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 18, 2026. (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Nathan Saliba came in for Koné in the 57th minute, and he scored just seven minutes later. As a celebration, he raised Koné’s jersey to the loud roar of the fans, as the score moved to 4-0. Mohammed Manai knocked an own goal in during the 75th minute to add insult to injury for Qatar, but Canada’s takeover started with the man-advantage in the first half.

Jonathan David had a hat trick in this match, scoring in the 29th minute and stoppage time before the first half closed. Then, he scored in stoppage time again, this time in the 92nd minute to cap a fun afternoon aside from Koné’s injury.

Cyle Larin got the party started for Canada with a goal in the 16th minute as well.

After tying its first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, this 6-0 domination was the country’s first-ever World Cup victory, which also earned them the top slot in Group B.

Ismael Kone of Canada is stretched off after being fouled by Assim Madibo of Qatar during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 18, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday also gave them four points, with both teams determining who will win the group on June 24.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dak Prescott disclosed on Thursday that he delivered a bold promise to Quinnen Williams at the Dallas Cowboys minicamp. The defensive tackle, who was acquired from the New York Jets in the middle of last season, has yet to make the playoffs in his seven-year career in the NFL.

In his media availability, the quarterback noted that he’s promised to end Williams’ lengthy playoff absence while also placing a challenge in front of the veteran tackle. Prescott made the bold promise despite the Cowboys failing to make the playoffs in the last two seasons.

“You miss it for two years,” Prescott said. ‘Yeah, it sucks, definitely. But we’re pushing. That’s our goal. That’s a minimum. When you have a team like this, and they’ve done everything they have in the offseason, we just said, obviously, we’ve got to push and get better on offense.

“But when we know we’re already improving on defense, that’s the minimum. It’s everybody’s goal in here. To hear Q say he’s never been to the playoffs, that’s what you want to do it for. And that’s where I told him, I said, ‘I’ll get you the playoffs, and we need you to go help us win it.’”

Dak Prescott‘s promise to Quinnen Williams has ignited a lot of reactions from NFL fans. While a section of the fans admires the quarterback’s confidence ahead of the 2026 season, others believe he needs to lower the bar of his lofty expectations for the team.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions online:

Dak Prescott evaluates the Cowboys’ defense

Without a doubt, the defense was one of the biggest downsides of the Cowboys team last season. They ranked among the worst in most defensive metrics, leading to the firing of DC Matt Eberflus. With Christian Parker coming in, Dak Prescott offers his evaluation on Thursday.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Prescott said. “You can just tell by the way they’re communicating, whether it’s walkthroughs, whether it’s out there at practice, seven on seven. Guys are taking ownership in what they’re being asked. We’ve got great energy from not only CP, but the rest of the coaches.

“So it’ll be a battle. They’ve already gotten us in some of these days, and OTAs, and the rushes, and even there. So once you let Quinnen, Gary, Kenny and all those guys take off and put pressure on me, I’m sure it’s gonna be tougher. But it’s iron sharpens iron. Super, super excited about it.”

The Cowboys had it pretty good on offense last season, with Dak Prescott going wild in a host of games. Nothing less than a noteworthy improvement on that is expected from the unit ahead of next season. However, for the team to achieve is playoff aims, the defense has to rise up to the occasion.