WNBA star Angel Reese closed out 2024 by breaking the internet with an incredibly stunning selfie.
Reese, the No. 7 pick from the 2024 WNBA Draft, had an excellent rookie season with the Chicago Sky. The national champion from LSU averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, earning All-Star honors in the process. If she wasn’t in the same draft class as Caitlin Clark, she most likely would’ve been named Rookie of the Year. Nonetheless, she still has an awful lot to be proud of.
Angel Reese certainly knows how to make a fit statement as she saved her best look of 2024 for last.
The Chicago Sky All-Star and double-double queen had quite the year with her different looks from her Wild ‘n Out bootylicious slay, to her jaw-dropping Poison Ivy Halloween costume where she was painted fully green, to riding a camel in Dubai while hilariously wearing a luxury fit.
The 22-year-old Reese hit Miami where she will participate in the new 3×3 Unrivaled league in January for the Rose Basketball Club. From there, she dropped her boldest and best fit of the year with a skimpy stunner selfie on New Year’s Eve.
That’s Bad Barbie right there. There’s a reason Rihanna wanted to pose for a picture with Reese in 2024. That’s a South Beach-worthy look if there ever was one — that fit may carry over and win 2025 as well.
Reese certainly knows how to enjoy herself in December. On Christmas, she went “Big Mama” with her tiny shorts and danced around.
It’s been an amazing year of fashion for Angel Reese, but she came through before the buzzer in 2024 with the year winner.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week’s WTA event in Auckland because of a back problem.
The 22-year-old was due to play Robin Montgomery of the United States in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday.
Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to continue her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.
“Tried my best to be ready,” she said. “I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately I picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
The 2021 US Open champion sprained ligaments in her foot in Seoul in September and could only play three further matches last season.
She won them all, on national duty for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but will now head into the first Grand Slam of the season with no match practice.
Raducanu suffered fewer injury problems last season but only played 10 matches after Wimbledon, and she also missed March’s Miami Open with a back issue.
She has hired the renowned fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who has been in Auckland with her.
“I just needed a more tailored approach and I needed someone more dedicated to me alone as an individual and I’m looking forward to what comes with this,” Raducanu told reporters earlier this month.
“It definitely adds another dimension to the way me and [coach] Nick [Cavaday] work,” she added.
“It’s all become, in a very positive way, integrated and together and connected, and we can see already things transfer on to the tennis court that we do in the gym.”
Raducanu is currently ranked 56th in the world and so will not be seeded for the Australian Open.
Despite Raducanu’s absence, there was a British presence in the Auckland singles when Jodie Burrage was given a spot in the draw as a late lucky loser.
The world number 179, who missed large chunks of last season with wrist and ankle injuries, made the most of her opportunity with a 6-3 6-3 win over New Zealand wildcard Vivian Yang.
Burrage lost in qualifying but moved into the main draw after Belgium’s Elise Mertens withdrew on Monday through injury.
“It was a crazy day, I stuck around and didn’t think I’d be getting in. It was very last minute and I’m very happy to make the most of the match,” said Burrage, who plays American Hailey Baptiste next.
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu pulled out of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday with a “back niggle” in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.
Britain’s Raducanu will now fly to Melbourne to begin rehabilitation ahead of the year’s first major starting on January 12.
The 22-year-old has suffered a series of injuries since bursting onto the scene with her New York triumph in 2021.
“I’ve tried my best to be ready. I love Auckland and the fans here,” the 56th -ranked Raducanu said. “But unfortunately I’ve picked up a back niggle and I won’t be ready in time.”
Raducanu is travelling with renowned fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in an attempt to better withstand the rigours of professional tennis.
Raducanu missed a chunk of 2023 following wrist and ankle surgery, and was recently side-lined for two months by a foot injury.
Former Australian Open semi-finalist Elise Mertens also withdrew hours before the second seed’s first-round match in Auckland.
The tournament has been shorn of four of its eight seeds in the first round.
Third-seeded American Amanda Anisimova was upset in three sets by compatriot Alycia Parks to join Raducanu, Mertens and fourth-seeded New Zealander Lulu Sun in an early exit.
Errors crept into Anisimova’s game after winning the first set, going down 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Top seed Madison Keys defied blustery conditions to win her first-round match in straight sets over Lucia Bronzetti.
American world number 21 Keys was relieved to start her season with a solid 6-4, 6-4 outing against the Italian.
“I feel like we all come out, we’re a little bit nervous, but it’s obviously so much fun to be back out here,” she said. “Lucia is one of those players who’s just going to make you keep on having to play shots. So it’s great for the confidence this early in the season.”
The 29-year-old will next play unseeded Romanian Jaqueline Cristian after her Ukrainian opponent Yuliia Starodubtseva retired during their second set.
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat China’s Wang Xiyu 7-6 (7⁄5), 6-1, the American setting up a second-round match against fifth-seeded Dane Clara Tauson.
Rafael Nadal is spending his first Christmas as a retired man with the people that matter most to him. In new photos shared on Instagram, Nadal shared a look at his holiday season, one he has spent with his wife and child and also his cousins, aunts, and uncles.
The photos were shared earlier this week, and show Nadal participating in some of his favorite activities. It kicks off with a photo of his entire family, with all of them smiling brightly for the camera as they completed a hike.
Nadal wears a white cap and a matching shirt from his sports brand, known for its logo of a black bull. He’s accompanied by his father, Sebastian Nadal, his mother, Ana Maria Perera, and his sister, Maribel. Some of his aunts, uncles, and cousins are also in the picture, including Marta Nadal.
Rounding out the group are Nadal’s wife, Mery Perello, and their son, Rafa, who’s two years old. His face is covered by a heart emoji, with Nadal guarding his privacy.
Nadal shared photos with his different family members, including one of himself and two younger men on the beach. The three are hugging, with their feet dipped in the water, enjoying the stunning views that Mallorca has to offer.
“Time to be with family,” Nadal captioned the post, adding a heart emoji.
Coco Gauff looks to secure the United States their second United Cup title in three years.
There are few players in tennis with bigger star power than Gauff, who continues to impress with every year that goes by.
The American had another strong year on the WTA Tour in 2024, finishing the year as world number three.
At just 20 years of age, Gauff won her second WTA 1000 title, as she beat Karolina Muchova in China, to kick off a strong end to the year.
Gauff then won the WTA Finals to cap off a brilliant season, taking home the second-biggest title of her young career.
A great performance, and one that Gauff is looking to take inspiration from as she competes in the United Cup for the first time, although she has now admitted how she felt before making her tournament debut.
Speaking following Team USA’s 3-0 victory over Croatia at the United Cup, Gauff explained why she was worried before playing her first tournament of the year.
“Yeah, I was a little bit worried, like, having to start the season off against, like, tough opponents, but obviously I think I managed pretty well,” she said.
“Yeah, I can’t ask for anything else, definitely a productive start against two really great players.”
The world number three beat Leylah Fernandez in her opening match at this year’s United Cup before Gauff and Taylor Fritz beat Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the mixed doubles to seal the tie for Team USA.
The American then beat Donna Vekic in the opening match against Croatia, before she successfully teamed up with Fritz once more to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
“I thought we both played solid singles, and then the mixed was a great match,” said Gauff.
“I think overall we played well, and hopefully we can keep this momentum throughout the rest of the tournament, especially tomorrow.”
Having won Group A, Team USA are set to take on the best-ranked second-placed team from ‘Perth’, China.
Gauff would have played Qinwen Zheng in a WTA Finals rematch, but will instead face off against Gao Xinyu, thanks to Zheng’s late withdrawal.
She may have been a last minute replacement, but Xinyu has so far proved to be a great addition to China’s ranks, winning both of her singles matches at the tournament.
Xinyu beat top 15 star Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund in the United Cup group stages, something that Gauff is more than aware of.
“Yeah, I watched a couple of her matches, and she’s having an incredible week,” said Gauff.
“I expect her to play loose, she has nothing to lose.
“Yeah, I feel I’m playing in good form too, so it’s going to be a fun one.”
Xinyu will look to record the biggest win of her career against Gauff on Wednesday, entering as a massive underdog against the world number three.
It’s safe to say that Xinyu will be up against it when she plays Gauff on New Year’s Day, but if she can carry her form through into the quarter-finals, she could well have a chance to pull off perhaps the greatest upset in United Cup history.
Gauff and Team USA will take on China in the last eight of the United Cup on January 1.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have had one of the most exciting rivalries in the WNBA over the past year. However, both players have shown mutual respect for each other on several occasions. Recently, the Chicago Sky star praised Clark as one of the best shooters in the league.
On a recent episode of her podcast ‘Unapologetically Angel,’ comedian Funny Marco, who is a big WNBA fan, asked her to name the best shooters in the league. “Between Caitlin, Diana Taurasi…,” she responded, before consulting Marco, who also suggested Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
In terms of three-point shooting last season, Clark excelled with a 34.4% accuracy, closely followed by Taurasi at 33.3% and Ionescu at 33.2%. Stewart, despite her championship pedigree, experienced her lowest three-point shooting percentage, connecting on just 29.5% of her attempts.
Once again, Reese proves that between her and Clark there’s nothing but respect. Recently, the Chicago Sky forward and the Indiana Fever guard opened up about their rivalry, and what they think of the narratives from the media.
Clark said that she didn’t “get” the obsession with their relationship. “We’re not best friends by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?,” she told Time. While Reese said that they don’t have “hard feelings” for each other.
Clark has previously expressed admiration for Reese, specifically highlighting her offensive rebounding prowess. Earlier this year, Clark stated (via The Mirror): “The thing that really stands out is the offensive rebounding. She did the exact same thing to us when we were in college too.
“She’s just such a great offensive rebounder. She’s always just had a knack for that. It’s not always something you can teach. I think she just has a really good eye for the ball off the rim and can go get it.”
While Clark successfully guided the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016, Reese’s team, the Sky, faced a challenging season, finishing with a disappointing 13-27 record.
“That moment – us checking in together – is something I’ll never forget, no matter how old I get, how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever. I will never forget that moment.”
– LeBron James on the moment he and his son Bronny became the first father-son combination to feature in the same team in an NBA match
“No knock-out, no problem. I don’t think about it because we had a win.”
– Oleksandr Usyk after a split decision victory over Tyson Fury in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999
“Playing for England is the best job in the world and I’ve been privileged to do it for a long time.”
– England bowler James Anderson who ended a 20-year international career when he retired in July at the age of 41 with 704 wickets to his name
“We all know she is a once-in-a-generation player. What she was able to do tonight was incredible. The world is her oyster.”
– New Zealand captain Sophie Devine on all-rounder Amelia Kerr who steered the White Ferns to victory in the women’s T20 World Cup final
“He is the kind of player who has come on Earth to play cricket, he settles for nothing else.”
– Cricket coach Pramod Kumar on 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi becoming the youngest player to be signed by an IPL franchise.
“Cycling has given me so much and I love the sport. I can now say that I have achieved everything that I can on the bike.”
– Record-breaking sprinter Mark Cavendish announcing his retirement
“There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
– Max Verstappen’s father Jos Verstappen speaks out against Red Bull team boss Christian Horner after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female employee. Horner was later cleared of any wrongdoing
“To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought was possible. It was a very challenging season.”
– Max Verstappen after winning his fourth world championship title
“We had to suffer. We had to suffer like animals.”
– Spain winger Nico Williams after his side scored late in Berlin to beat England 2-1 to win Euro 2024
“As people, as athletes, as men they have shown what they are worth. I cried with the boys.”
– Marco Tura, president of San Marino’s Football Federation, after his side secured promotion in the Nations League with their first-ever away win, 3-1 in Liechtenstein
“After all these years putting the mental work in, it’s paid off.”
– American gymnast Simone Biles bounces back from the mental torture of the ‘twisties’ to collect three golds and a silver in Paris
“Everyone competing in the women’s category… is complying with competition eligibility rules. They are women in their passports and it’s stated in there that they are female.”
– IOC spokesman Mark Adams on the gender row that blew up over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese Lin Yu-ting
“I wanted to show the strength of performance and the presence of women in general, and Algerian women in particular.”
– Gold medal-winning Algerian boxer Imane Khelif
“I can’t go out to restaurants like I used to anymore. I can’t do my shopping alone. I wear a cap and glasses. I try to hide a little. It’s a fairly radical change in status.”
– French Olympic swimming hero Leon Marchand in the weeks after winning four individual gold medals in Paris
“This may well be the greatest sports photo of all time.”
– Australian media conglomerate News.com.au rating AFP photographer Jerome Brouillet’s Olympics-defining snap of the Brazilian Gabriel Medina
“All athletes and coaches who trained on the territory of Ukraine were always at risk of serious injuries and wounds, or death from Russian missiles and bomb drones. It was incredibly difficult.”
– Valeriy Sushkevych, president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee
“I try to think of it as making beauty out of ashes, you know, rising as a phoenix would, showing the world that regardless of your circumstances, you really can do anything that you put your heart and mind to.”
– US Paralympic archer Tracy Otto to AFP about her journey after a former boyfriend shot and stabbed her leaving her paralysed and severing her spinal cord
“I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one.”
– Rafael Nadal on his retirement at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga
“You beat me – a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could.”
– Roger Federer on the retiring Rafael Nadal
“After I lost my father, it has always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis. I’m proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going.”
– Aryna Sabalenka after winning the US Open
Let us go back to 2012 when the police in the city of Mildura, Victoria (Australia) had to issue a warning. Apple’s iOS 6 service had incorrectly listed Mildura as being in the middle of Murray Sunset National Park. This left several motorists stranded in the Australian Outback. They were left in the middle of nowhere—3,000 square miles of Australian bush that had poisonous snakes and insects. They had very little water or mobile reception and some of them were helpless for 24 hours.
Well, the company has surely worked on its maps over the years, which has been much better. However, Angel Reese knows it can be much better. Hear it from her!
“Apple maps please get it together. I’m driving and the navigation is jumping all over the place 😭🤣🥲” she posted on X. When Steve Jobs resigned his post as the CEO of Apple and Tim Cook took over in August 2011, there were some obvious reservations about the new leadership.
In 2024, perhaps most can say that Cook has done his job well, but for Angel Reese, the Apple maps still aren’t the best. Although Cook’s first order of business as the new boss was to release the iPhone 4s, on Sept. 19, 2012, Apple also launched its navigation app for the iOS 6 update. And it was a disaster.
In 2012, the gap in technology was addressed by Cook and his team. A statement was issued: “With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.”
“While we’re improving Maps, you can try alternatives by downloading map apps from the App Store like Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app,” he had added.
Some even criticized the CEO for hurriedly releasing the Apple Maps feature when it wasn’t ready, citing how Steve Jobs would have focused on the user experience more than anything. Although there have been solutions to the navigation issue, the problem never seems to have been 100% fixed. It’s not as if Google Maps, their direct competitor, is completely problem-free.
But while there was a time when Google ruled, Apple has now allowed non-users to access a beta version of Apple Maps in the Chrome and Edge browsers on Windows. While Google Maps first hit one billion users back in June 2012, just before their competitor’s version launched, Apple has grown in that time as well through the sheer amount of updates.
Clearly, Reese has so far preferred Apple Maps, but she might just move on to Google if this continues! While Jobs’ brainchild provides quality products, the maps still have some problems in 2024.
The company’s maps have encountered problems such as freezing and lagging, which left many users frustrated. Think about crashes, glitches, errors, and unresponsive maps. It seems Angel Reese experienced a similar problem. Is there any solution available for this?
Well, as per ‘My GPS Tools’, users may have to check the internet speed for such problems. Apple Maps uses on stable and fast internet connection to show the maps and help users navigate efficiently. If the connection isn’t working properly, the app will start lagging or freezing and the performance won’t be great.
And if the app keeps crashing, users can identify and address errors using diagnostic apps. While issues persist, Apple Maps has made some great changes as well. For instance, they have tried to make the guidance feel more natural by using human-sounding phrases. Think: “Go past the light and make a left,” instead of “In 300 yards, turn left.”
Additionally, Apple also handles route instructions differently for urban and rural roads as well as for highways and local streets.
Do you have any issues with Apple Maps? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Emma Raducanu has been forced to withdraw from the Auckland Open after suffering a back injury.
The 22-year-old, who was seeded sixth in New Zealand, has begun her season in a frustratingly familiar manner after spending much of the past few years with various injuries, including her wrists, ankles and back.
The Briton was set to face American Robin Montgomery in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday but was forced to withdraw due to back pain that has hindered her off-season preparations.
“Tried my best to be ready,” Raducanu said. “I love Auckland and the fans here, but unfortunately I picked up a back niggle and won’t be ready in time.”
Raducanu is still set to travel to Melbourne to continue her preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on Jan. 12. She will not be seeded for the tournament.
The former U.S. Open winner has hired fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura in hopes to regain full fitness in the 2025 season.
“I just needed a more tailored approach and I needed someone more dedicated to me alone as an individual and I’m looking forward to what comes with this,” Raducanu said earlier this month.
“It definitely adds another dimension to the way me and [coach] Nick [Cavaday] work.”