HER WAY’s guide to the second half of the year in sport.The second half of the year means that while it’s winter time in Australia, the northern hemisphere summer will see a lot of the sporting action.In golf, the emergence of Gabi Ruffels last year on the LPGA tour, plus Steph Kyriacou’s first ever LPGA 2nd place finish behind superstar Nelly Korda, has seen the Aussie contingent grow even more. With Cassie Porter booking her place on the tour for the first time in 2025, plus Hannah Green and Minjee Lee continuing to excel, could we see more Australian major winners in the year ahead?The second half of the year will also see the World Surf League championship tour head back to the northern hemisphere after the Australian leg. After making the WSL finals once again in 2024, this year could finally be the one where young Aussie Molly Picklum lifts the title trophy. Her battle with teen reigning champion Caity Simmers will be one to watch, as will the return of Aussie legend Steph Gilmore who is back after taking last year off.Some of Australia’s Paris Olympic and Paralympic heroes will be looking to either add to their medal collections or seek redemption with Athletics, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Gymnastics, Cycling and Rowing just some of the sports with World Championships taking place overseas. BMX racing Paris champion Saya Sakakibara missed out on the podium at last year’s Worlds, and will be hoping to add a World champion to her Olympic and World Cup titles.Australia will also play host to a couple of major World Championships in the second half of 2025, with Jess and Noemie Fox having the opportunity to compete against the world’s best on the course they train on every day, when the Canoe Slalom World Championships come to Penrith in October (pictured below). Speaking to HER WAY at the end of 2024, Jess indicated the home World titles were her big focus for this year, and is hoping the enormous support the Fox sisters received during Paris will translate to home crowds:“That’ll be awesome to welcome to world to Penrith and celebrate 25 years since the Sydney Olympics. I think a lot of people became fans of our sport (during Paris), so I’m hoping they all turn up, and they encourage us, and now that they know who all the rules and they’re experts, I think It will be awesome to fill that stadium.”Penrith Whitewater Stadium will host the Canoe Slalom World Champs in October. Credit: HER WAY The following month, it’s Adelaide’s turn when the South Australian capital hosts the Beach Volleyball World Champs, with Aussie Tokyo Olympic silver medallists Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy among the local hopes.After winning their first piece of silverware late in 2024, rugby’s Wallaroos will head to the World Cup in the UK full of confidence, but aware they have a lot of ground to make up against the likes of hosts England and defending champs New Zealand. With the tournament already boasting record ticket sales nearly a year out, it promises to be an amazing spectacle, with several Aussie Sevens stars looking to make themselves available to be part of it.Also in Europe, the English Lionesses defend their Euros title in the round ball game in July, with World Cup champions Spain, 3rd placed Sweden and the powerful German side also excellent chances.It will be a fascinating year for two of the major football codes, with the NRLW adding two more teams in the Bulldogs and Warriors (who were an original team in the competition), while the AFLW will be hoping the league’s first truly national draft will provide opportunities for some other teams to go to another level in 2025.In basketball, several more Aussies seem destined to get a shot with WNBA teams, including 2023 draftee Shaneice Swain at LA Sparks, while both Izzy Borlase and Nyadiew Puoch were drafted by Atlanta in 2024. After her incredible rookie season, Caitlin Clark will be looking to take Indiana Fever deep into the playoffs. In terms of the Aussie national team, the Opals will be hoping to continue their podium run when the Asian Cup takes place in China. Australia won bronze two years ago in Sydney, and will be striving to go one game better in 2025.Back home, the WNBL will have new ownership and leadership for the 2025-26 season, so it will be fascinating to see how that impacts the league.The World Games are back in 2025 with a host of diverse sports involved, and with their inclusion at the 2028 Olympics confirmed, Australia’s performance in both Lacrosse and Flag Football will be of particular interest. The X Games will hit Sacramento, California in August, and 14yr old Arisa Trew will have the opportunity to make history. Already the owner of five X Games gold medals from the past two years, if the Paris Olympic champion is able to win double gold in 2025 for Park and Vert (as she did in both 2023 and 2024), her tally of seven would be the most by any female skater in X Games history.And finally, the One Day cricket World Cup takes place in India. Australia are the current holders of the title, and Alyssa Healy’s team will again be favourites in 2025. With ODI World Cups held every four years, it may be the last time we see the likes of Healy (34yrs old) and Ellyse Perry (34) in the tournament, while Beth Mooney and Megan Schutt are also over 30 years of age, making this World Cup one of extra significance for a core group which has changed the game for women and girls in recent years both in Australia and around the world.

HER WAY’s guide to the second half of the year in sport. “That’ll be awesome to welcome to world to Penrith and celebrate 25 years since the Sydney Olympics. I think a lot of people became fans of our sport (during Paris), so I’m hoping they all turn up, and they encourage us, and now […]

HER WAY’s guide to the second half of the year in sport.

“That’ll be awesome to welcome to world to Penrith and celebrate 25 years since the Sydney Olympics. I think a lot of people became fans of our sport (during Paris), so I’m hoping they all turn up, and they encourage us, and now that they know who all the rules and they’re experts, I think It will be awesome to fill that stadium.”The X Games will hit Sacramento, California in August, and 14yr old Arisa Trew will have the opportunity to make history. Already the owner of five X Games gold medals from the past two years, if the Paris Olympic champion is able to win double gold in 2025 for Park and Vert (as she did in both 2023 and 2024), her tally of seven would be the most by any female skater in X Games history.The second half of the year will also see the World Surf League championship tour head back to the northern hemisphere after the Australian leg. After making the WSL finals once again in 2024, this year could finally be the one where young Aussie Molly Picklum lifts the title trophy. Her battle with teen reigning champion Caity Simmers will be one to watch, as will the return of Aussie legend Steph Gilmore who is back after taking last year off.And finally, the One Day cricket World Cup takes place in India. Australia are the current holders of the title, and Alyssa Healy’s team will again be favourites in 2025. With ODI World Cups held every four years, it may be the last time we see the likes of Healy (34yrs old) and Ellyse Perry (34) in the tournament, while Beth Mooney and Megan Schutt are also over 30 years of age, making this World Cup one of extra significance for a core group which has changed the game for women and girls in recent years both in Australia and around the world.Also in Europe, the English Lionesses defend their Euros title in the round ball game in July, with World Cup champions Spain, 3rd placed Sweden and the powerful German side also excellent chances.The second half of the year means that while it’s winter time in Australia, the northern hemisphere summer will see a lot of the sporting action.

Penrith Whitewater Stadium will host the Canoe Slalom World Champs in October. Credit: HER WAY

Australia will also play host to a couple of major World Championships in the second half of 2025, with Jess and Noemie Fox having the opportunity to compete against the world’s best on the course they train on every day, when the Canoe Slalom World Championships come to Penrith in October (pictured below). Speaking to HER WAY at the end of 2024, Jess indicated the home World titles were her big focus for this year, and is hoping the enormous support the Fox sisters received during Paris will translate to home crowds:The World Games are back in 2025 with a host of diverse sports involved, and with their inclusion at the 2028 Olympics confirmed, Australia’s performance in both Lacrosse and Flag Football will be of particular interest. In basketball, several more Aussies seem destined to get a shot with WNBA teams, including 2023 draftee Shaneice Swain at LA Sparks, while both Izzy Borlase and Nyadiew Puoch were drafted by Atlanta in 2024. After her incredible rookie season, Caitlin Clark will be looking to take Indiana Fever deep into the playoffs. In terms of the Aussie national team, the Opals will be hoping to continue their podium run when the Asian Cup takes place in China. Australia won bronze two years ago in Sydney, and will be striving to go one game better in 2025.Some of Australia’s Paris Olympic and Paralympic heroes will be looking to either add to their medal collections or seek redemption with Athletics, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Gymnastics, Cycling and Rowing just some of the sports with World Championships taking place overseas. BMX racing Paris champion Saya Sakakibara missed out on the podium at last year’s Worlds, and will be hoping to add a World champion to her Olympic and World Cup titles.Back home, the WNBL will have new ownership and leadership for the 2025-26 season, so it will be fascinating to see how that impacts the league.After winning their first piece of silverware late in 2024, rugby’s Wallaroos will head to the World Cup in the UK full of confidence, but aware they have a lot of ground to make up against the likes of hosts England and defending champs New Zealand. With the tournament already boasting record ticket sales nearly a year out, it promises to be an amazing spectacle, with several Aussie Sevens stars looking to make themselves available to be part of it.The following month, it’s Adelaide’s turn when the South Australian capital hosts the Beach Volleyball World Champs, with Aussie Tokyo Olympic silver medallists Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy among the local hopes.It will be a fascinating year for two of the major football codes, with the NRLW adding two more teams in the Bulldogs and Warriors (who were an original team in the competition), while the AFLW will be hoping the league’s first truly national draft will provide opportunities for some other teams to go to another level in 2025.In golf, the emergence of Gabi Ruffels last year on the LPGA tour, plus Steph Kyriacou’s first ever LPGA 2nd place finish behind superstar Nelly Korda, has seen the Aussie contingent grow even more. With Cassie Porter booking her place on the tour for the first time in 2025, plus Hannah Green and Minjee Lee continuing to excel, could we see more Australian major winners in the year ahead?