Tag Archives: season-ending

“Iga Swiatek is already a legend” – Coach Wim Fissette explains exactly why World No. 2’s 2025 season should not be considered a disappointment

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Iga Swiatek witnessed a disappointing end to her 2025 season as she failed to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals. However, Swiatek’s coach, Wim Fissette, described the season as ‘special,’ highlighting her remarkable performance at Wimbledon and calling her a ‘legend’.

Despite winning her maiden Wimbledon title and achieving the Year-End No. 2 ranking, fans were left somewhat disappointed with the Pole’s overall 2025 campaign — a reflection of the high standards Swiatek has set for herself in recent years. After a challenging first half of the season, where she slipped to No. 5 in the rankings, Swiatek mounted a strong comeback by capturing titles at Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and Seoul.

The 24-year-old entered the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh as the No. 2 seed and kicked off her campaign with a dominant win over Madison Keys. However, she subsequently lost her next two round-robin matches against Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova, which meant she missed out on advancing to the semifinals.

Swiatek ended the season having lost 17 singles matches — eight more than her total losses in 2024. Despite this, in a recent interview with Sport.pl, coach Wim Fissette emphasized the special nature of the 2025 season.

“Whatever happens, Iga is already a legend,” Fissette said. “The 2025 season will always be special. You can win ten titles in a year, but the Wimbledon victory and the way it was achieved will be remembered for years. No one can ever take that away from her; it was Iga’s most spectacular performance.”

Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Wim Fissette revealed that the six-time Grand Slam winner aims to win multiple Majors and reclaim the No. 1 ranking.

“The priorities haven’t changed. Iga wants to be the best in the world, so that’s the goal of the whole team. We want to win a Grand Slam tournament, hopefully more than one. We also aspire for more victories in WTA 1000 tournaments. Our intention is to get as close as possible to No. 1, and we know exactly what we have to do,” he explained.

“Iga is still very young; she needs to improve gradually and incorporate new elements into her game. We’ll achieve this by balancing her schedule a bit more, giving her a few extra weeks of training,” Fissette added.

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**Iga Swiatek Wraps Up 2025 Season with Billie Jean King Cup Playoffs**

After finishing outside the top four at the WTA Finals, Iga Swiatek returned home to represent Poland at the Billie Jean King Cup. She made headlines by defeating Elyse Tse of New Zealand in the playoff round in just 43 minutes.

The World No. 2 registered a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over the World No. 909, wrapping up her 2025 campaign while helping Poland secure a 3-0 win over New Zealand. Poland had already taken a 2-0 lead following wins by Katarzyna Kawa and Linda Klimovicova-Martyna Kubka.

Poland will next face Romania in their second and final playoff tie scheduled for Sunday.

Meanwhile, this was Swiatek’s first appearance at the Billie Jean King Cup this year. She currently holds an impressive 11-match winning streak at the premier international team competition in women’s tennis, last having lost a match back in 2019.

Looking ahead, Swiatek will next compete at the United Cup 2026 — a mixed team WTA 500 event in Australia slated to begin on January 2.

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Despite some setbacks in 2025, Iga Swiatek’s journey remains one of the most exciting to follow on the WTA Tour, with plenty of ambitions and potential for the upcoming season. Fans will be eager to see how she builds on her successes and aims to return to the very top of women’s tennis.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-iga-swiatek-already-legend-coach-wim-fissette-explains-exactly-world-no-2-s-2025-season-considered-disappointment

NFL Announces Punishment for Vikings Players Before Detroit Lions Game

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The Detroit Lions are back after their bye week and gearing up to take on the Minnesota Vikings in a high-profile NFC North rivalry on Sunday, November 2, at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Lions come into this matchup riding the momentum of a 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, October 20, in primetime at home. On the other side, the Vikings are looking to bounce back after a lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, October 23, on the road.

Both teams have plenty at stake going into this game. For the Vikings, this is a must-win if they want to turn around their 3-4 season and keep pace with the Lions and Packers, who currently sit atop the NFC North, according to NFL research. For the Lions, a victory is crucial to maintain their lead over Green Bay in the division standings.

### NFL Punishes Two Minnesota Vikings Players Following Week 8

Heading into the game, the NFL has announced disciplinary actions against two Minnesota Vikings players. The news broke on Saturday, November 1, as the league regularly penalizes players weekly for conduct during games.

On its official website, the NFL explains that these penalties are issued “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” The Week 8 report includes fines for:

– **Linebacker Blake Cashman**, who received a $23,186 fine for “unnecessary roughness” and “use of the helmet.”
– **Linebacker Dallas Turner**, fined $19,907 for “unnecessary roughness” and “launch.”

The NFL’s league staff review flagged plays to determine if further disciplinary action is warranted, ensuring fair judgment on infractions.

### Vikings’ Quarterback Situation and Game Outlook

The Vikings have faced some quarterback challenges this season but will return to their so-called franchise quarterback for Sunday’s game. Carson Wentz is out for the rest of the season after suffering a season-ending injury during the game against the Chargers.

Stepping in will be J.J. McCarthy, making his return after a five-game absence. McCarthy was injured in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons and missed the entirety of his rookie season in 2024 due to injury. Facing the gritty Lions in just his third NFL start will be a tough test for the young signal-caller.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell also has undrafted rookie free agent Max Brosmer on the quarterback roster, along with recently signed practice squad quarterback John Wolford. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Wolford and O’Connell share a history from their time together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and 2021. Seifert noted on X that there have been previous, unsuccessful attempts to bring Wolford to Minnesota. The two won a Super Bowl together in Los Angeles in 2021.

### Looking Ahead

Sunday’s showdown between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings promises to be a hard-fought battle with significant implications for the NFC North division race. With key player returns, fines issued, and playoff positioning on the line, fans can expect an intense and competitive game at Ford Field.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/detroit-lions/nfl-announces-punishment-vikings-before-game/

New York Giants Star Cam Skattebo Suffers Horrific Ankle Injury, on Video

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Cam Skattebo, the New York Giants’ breakout rookie running back who has electrified their offense, was carted off the field after a big hit that seemingly left his ankle twisted the wrong way.

The 23-year-old fourth-round pick out of Arizona State University took the field against the Philadelphia Eagles. While running over the middle on a passing route, a ball came his way — but an Eagles defender dragged him down from behind.

In the clip, the Philadelphia player puts all his weight down on Skattebo, causing his legs to get caught underneath him as he hit the turf awkwardly. Almost immediately, Skattebo’s teammates waved over the medical staff, and it’s easy to see why. At the end of the video, Skattebo’s ankle appears to be severely twisted.

Players from both the Giants and Eagles came together at midfield to show support for the injured rookie. While there is no official word yet on the extent of the injury, it looks to be season-ending.

Skattebo and fellow Giants rookie Jaxson Dart have injected new life into the New York Giants this season, turning them into the talk of the NFL. However, with Skattebo’s injury, it seems Dart may be on his own for the foreseeable future.
https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/26/new-york-giants-cam-skattebo-suffers-dislocated-ankle-injury/

Alyssa Thomas vs A’ja Wilson: Closer look at battles between MVP rivals ahead of 2025 WNBA Finals duel

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The 2025 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces showcases a thrilling duel between two of the league’s best players — Alyssa Thomas and MVP A’ja Wilson.

Thomas, who placed third in MVP voting, delivered arguably the finest season of her career, averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. She guided Phoenix to a 27-17 record and the No. 4 seed, then led them past the defending champion New York Liberty and top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the postseason.

Wilson, meanwhile, closed the season on a tear, powering the Aces to a 16-game win streak that pushed them into second place. She put up 23.4 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, along with 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest. Las Vegas finished 30-14 and defeated the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to book their ticket to the Finals.

Here’s a breakdown of how the two stars have fared against each other.

### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Head-to-Head

In regular-season matchups, Wilson holds an 11-6 career edge over Thomas. This season, the Mercury won their first meeting 76-70, with Thomas tallying 14 points and 13 assists, while Wilson sat out.

In the second clash, Wilson erupted for 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists to lift the Aces to an 84-81 win. Thomas posted 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in that game.

The next two contests went to Las Vegas as part of their season-ending streak. In an 86-83 victory on August 15, Wilson dropped 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Thomas logged 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.

Their final regular-season matchup ended in an 83-61 blowout for the Aces, with Wilson contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Thomas countered with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

For the season, Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in three games against Wilson, while Wilson put up 25.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.

### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Playoff History

Their rivalry stretches back to Thomas’s Connecticut Sun days. In the 2020 playoffs, Wilson’s Aces edged Thomas’s Sun 3-2 before falling to the Seattle Storm in the Finals.

In 2022, the two met again on the Finals stage, with Las Vegas winning the championship in four games.

Across nine playoff games head-to-head, Wilson has averaged 21.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, while Thomas has posted 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.

As the 2025 WNBA Finals tip off, the battle between these two stars will be a key storyline to watch.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/alyssa-thomas-vs-a-ja-wilson-closer-look-battles-mvp-rivals-ahead-2025-wnba-finals-duel

Alyssa Thomas vs A’ja Wilson: Closer look at battles between MVP rivals ahead of 2025 WNBA Finals duel

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The 2025 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces showcases a thrilling duel between two of the league’s best players — Alyssa Thomas and MVP A’ja Wilson.

Thomas, who placed third in MVP voting, delivered arguably the finest season of her career, averaging 15.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. She guided Phoenix to a 27-17 record and the No. 4 seed, then led the Mercury past the defending champion New York Liberty and top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the postseason.

Wilson, meanwhile, closed the season on a tear, powering the Aces to a 16-game win streak that pushed them into second place. She put up 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, along with 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest. Las Vegas finished with a 30-14 record and defeated the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to book their ticket to the Finals.

Here’s a breakdown of how the two stars have fared against each other.

### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Head-to-Head

In regular-season matchups, Wilson holds an 11-6 career edge over Thomas. This season, the Mercury won their first meeting 76-70, with Thomas tallying 14 points and 13 assists, while Wilson sat out.

In the second clash, Wilson erupted for 26 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists to lift the Aces to an 84-81 win. Thomas posted 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in that game.

The next two contests went to Las Vegas as part of their season-ending streak. In an 86-83 victory on August 15, Wilson dropped 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Thomas logged 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.

Their final regular-season matchup ended in an 83-61 blowout for the Aces, with Wilson contributing 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Thomas countered with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

For the season, Thomas averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in three games against Wilson. Wilson, on the other hand, put up 25.0 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in those matchups.

### Alyssa Thomas vs. A’ja Wilson: Playoff History

Their rivalry stretches back to Thomas’ Connecticut Sun days. In the 2020 playoffs, Wilson’s Aces edged Thomas’ Sun 3-2 before falling to the Seattle Storm in the Finals.

In 2022, the two met again on the Finals stage, with Las Vegas winning the championship in four games.

Across nine playoff games head-to-head, Wilson has averaged 21.0 points per game, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, while Thomas has posted 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.

As these two stars face off once more in the 2025 WNBA Finals, fans can expect an intense and memorable showdown between Alyssa Thomas and A’ja Wilson.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/alyssa-thomas-vs-a-ja-wilson-closer-look-battles-mvp-rivals-ahead-2025-wnba-finals-duel