Newcastle Jets have been crowned A-League Premiers for the first time in the club’s history.
Mark Milligan’s side sealed top spot in the A-League regular season after a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Victory, combined with Auckland FC’s 1-0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners, giving them an unassailable four-point lead with one match remaining.
The achievement also guaranteed the Jets a direct semi-final berth in the Finals series, along with qualification for the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite.
It marked a landmark campaign for the club, having already lifted the 2025 Australia Cup earlier in the season, keeping alive their pursuit of a domestic treble.
The Premiers Plate will be officially presented to the Jets following their F3 Derby clash against Central Coast Mariners at McDonald Jones Stadium on April 25.
Kyle Kuzma has joined Sierra Racing Club as co-owner and global brand ambassador in the E1 Series, linking up with Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at the team.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, with the Milwaukee Bucks forward becoming the latest high-profile athlete to invest in the all-electric powerboat racing championship.
“I’m a competitor [and] this is what I do every night in the NBA. When I saw what Sierra Racing Club was building along with E1, it was really a no-brainer,” said the 30-year-old.
Kuzma, who won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, joined a growing list of global sports icons and celebrities involved in the series, including Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Didier Drogba and Virat Kohli.
The 2026 E1 Series season began in Jeddah in January, with Aoki Racing Team taking victory in the opening round.
The championship continues at Lake Como in Italy from April 24-25, with the race available live on SPOTV NOW.
Canelo Alvarez made a surprise Pro-Am appearance at LIV Golf Mexico City on Wednesday, adding star power to the build-up ahead of this week’s tournament.
The boxing superstar showcased his golfing skills at Playa del Carmen, joining a star-studded field that included Mexican football legend Jorge Campos, ESPN journalist John Sutcliffe and content creators Karol Priscilla and Hoyzie.
Alvarez, known for his passion for golf outside the ring, drew strong support from local fans, with his appearance adding to the festival atmosphere surrounding LIV Golf’s return to Mexico.
The Pro-Am session served as a curtain-raiser for the main tournament, as LIV Golf resumes action following the conclusion of the 2026 Masters Tournament.
After five rounds in the 2026 LIV Golf season, Ripper GC currently lead the team standings ahead of 4Aces GC and Crushers GC, while Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm sits atop the individual leaderboard.
Aprilia have emerged as the early benchmark of the 2026 MotoGP season, with Marco Bezzecchi sweeping all three opening rounds in Thailand, Brazil and the United States.
The 27-year-old Italian’s consistency, combined with a revitalised factory effort and strong support from Jorge Martín, has propelled Aprilia to the top of the riders’, teams' and constructors’ standings.
In contrast, reigning Triple Crown champions Ducati have endured a difficult start, with Marc Márquez and the rest of its factory and satellite riders struggling to match Aprilia’s front-running pace.
The shift is even more striking when compared to the same stage last season. Bezzecchi has gained 57 points relative to his 2025 tally after three rounds, the second-biggest improvement on the grid behind Martín (+77), who had scored no points at this stage last year due to injury.
Meanwhile, Marc has dropped 41 points compared to 2025, with only Álex Márquez (-59) and Francesco Bagnaia (-50) experiencing steeper declines.
With the European leg set to begin in Spain at the end of April, the question now is whether Ducati can respond or Aprilia’s early dominance will set the tone for the rest of the season.
Below are how things have changed after the first three rounds compared to the 2025 season.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion Viktor Axelsen called time on his badminton career on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old made the announcement on his official social media platforms, citing his recurrent back issues as the main reason.
“After undergoing endoscopic surgery, multiple injections, new training methods, treatments, and basically trying everything to become pain-free for a long time now, I have been advised to focus on my long-term health,” he wrote.
“Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult. But I have now reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue.”
Axelsen expressed pride in his achievements and reassured everyone that he will remain involved in the sport moving forward.
“Looking back, I feel a deep sense of pride, but even more than that, gratitude,” he added.
“I have accomplished everything I once dreamed of, and more. I’ve had the privilege of standing on the biggest stages, playing and winning the matches every player dreams of.
“And through it all, badminton has taught me lessons that go far beyond sport, lessons about discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and who I am as a person.
“While this is a goodbye to Viktor Axelsen the badminton player, I am not saying goodbye to the sport infinitely. I will always be around one way or the other.
“I gave everything to badminton and badminton gave me everything back.”
He also thanked everyone who was part of his journey including badminton fans.
The Dane’s final BWF World Tour appearance came at the 2025 French Open, where he lost to Shi Yu Qi in the semi-finals.
He also featured at the BXL Jakarta 2025, marking his last competitive outing before announcing his retirement.
He became the latest high-profile player to step away from the badminton court this year after Carolina Marin.
