The Australian women’s water polo team have inflicted more pain on the USA with another penalty shootout win over their Olympic rivals in Perth.

With former skipper and three-time Olympian Zoe Arancini announcing her retirement, the Stingers opened the Tri Nations series in style.

Playing their first match at home since winning silver at the Paris Olympics, the Australians posted a thrilling win after the scores were locked at 8-8 at the end of regulation time.

In Paris the Stingers downed the three-time Olympic champions in the semi-finals in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after the scores were also 8-8 at fulltime.

After some huge saves in their latest shoot-out by goalkeepers Gabi Palm and Gen Longman, fellow Olympian Alice Williams slotted the winning goal.

Williams was everywhere, opening the scoring for Australia after converting a penalty, while she also found the back of the cage in the dying seconds of the first quarter to level the scores 2-2.

The Aussies added another two goals to their haul in the second quarter, courtesy of Abby Andrews and Olivia Mitchell.

In the third, a buzzer-beater goal from Dani Jackovich put the hosts back in it, trailing by one at the three-quarter time break.

Williams scored another in the fourth quarter, with Jakovich again nailing her shot in the final minutes to draw level at 8-8.

For proud veteran Bronte Halligan, it was a case of deja vu.

“An 8-8 score and then to go into penalties…the irony wasn’t lost on me. Almost 12 months ago we had the exact same score in the semi-final against them at the Olympics,” Halligan said.

“It was just a true dedication to the hard work the girls have put in all year and it was really exciting for our first official home game (this cycle) on home soil to come up with a big win in penalties.”

Meanwhile, Arancini, who isn’t playing in the series, confirmed her retirement from the international stage after a 16-year career.

Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps and played in the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Games.

Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away.

“I’ve done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special,” Arancini said.

“I’m ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it’s the right decision because I’m happy, I’m content, and it’s my choice.

“I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m so excited for the next generation to step in.”

The Australians next face Italy on Sunday in Perth as the teams gear up for the world aquatic championships in Singapore next month.

A NASA astronaut is in awe of what she witnessed above the clouds.

Nichole Ayers, who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as pilot of SpaceX Dragon’s Crew-10, captured the moment when a rare electrical phenomenon occurred above thunderstorm clouds on Thursday, July 3. 

“Just. Wow,” the 36-year-old astronaut wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the red jellyfish-like electrical occurrence. “As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite.”

A sprite is “an atmospheric phenomenon associated with lightning,” according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

Providing more context, Ayers wrote, “Sprites are TLEs or transient luminous events that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below.”

“We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms,” she concluded.

This red sprite, like a previous one NASA captured in June 2024, has red tendrils associated with jellyfish sprites due to “the positively charged lightning [interacting] with atmospheric nitrogen, creating an electrical breakdown that produces flashes of red light.”

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In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in May, Ayers talked about the beauty of being in space, where she gets to fly around the world every 90 minutes, with the chance to watch a sunset or a sunrise every 45 minutes.

“I think that ‘excited’ is an understatement,” Ayers, a former collegiate volleyball player, said at the time. “I like to say the English language doesn’t have the right words to describe how amazing the experience is. The launch was amazing. And then getting to come through the hatch of the International Space Station, just awesome, amazing, ecstatic.”

”It’s been an amazing experience so far,” Ayers added.

The NASA astronaut arrived at the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule and the Falcon 9 rocket on March 14 as part of Crew-10.

While in space, Ayers and other astronauts on the mission are conducting science experiments, participating in spacewalks and working out.

They will return to Earth in the fall after their six-month mission.

University of California, Berkeley benefactors Ned and Carol Spieker have gifted $26 million to endow the university’s men’s aquatic programs, the largest gift in Cal Athletics history. 

Ned Spieker, UC Berkeley class of ‘66, played water polo at Cal, so it’s personal.

The coach positions will be named the Ned Spieker Men’s Swim Head Coach in perpetuity, and the Ned Spieker Men’s Water Polo Head Coach for 20 years. 

“As an alum and coach, it’s hard to put into words what it means to see this kind of commitment,” said men’s water polo head coach Kirk Everist. “It honors our past, supports our present, and guarantees a strong future for the program we all love.”

In 2022, Ned Spieker and his wife Carol made the largest gift in Haas School of Business history with a $30 million commitment that transformed the undergraduate business program from a two-year to a four-year experience, now known as the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program. 

Ned Spieker founded Spieker Properties, one of the largest commercial property companies in the United States, and has also been involved in Haas campus planning, serving as a catalyst for the construction of Chou Hall. Carol Spieker is a trustee emeritus of the UC Berkeley Foundation.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons spoke about student athletes in a statement Wednesday.

“From early morning practices to late-night study sessions, they push boundaries daily, driven by passion and commitment that requires steadfast support,” said Rich. 

Cal Athletics now has five endowed sports — men’s golf, women’s golf, rugby, men’s water polo and men’s swimming and diving.

After eight intense weeks of non-stop volleyball action, the 2025 Indoor Volleyball Tournament wrapped up Wednesday night at the National Sports Arena with two electrifying finals that showcased resilience, teamwork and pure athletic excellence.

The tournament, which drew widespread community interest and strong fan support, concluded with a surprise win in the women’s division and a much-celebrated triumph for the men’s Bounty Spikers team.

The headline of the night — and of the entire tournament — was the improbable and inspiring victory by the Mana Spikers in the women’s division.
Playing both the semifinals and finals with just five players, the Mana Spikers demonstrated unmatched determination, stamina and cohesion.

“No competition is an easy competition, especially when it comes down to the finals. Although we were short of players at this crucial moment, our team showed up for each other and played our hearts out to the fullest,” said Mana Spikers’ Nicolea Mateariki.

“I first began my volleyball journey with Aunty Jackie Rongo and the AKTT Volleyball Team, where I gained confidence, knowledge, and skill. Each week, we make use of the Nikao Hall and TSA Sports Arena to upskill ourselves and take our development to a better level.

“For this eight-week tournament, I’m happy and humbled to take the dub with my Mana Spikers sisters and hope to continue playing this amazing sport in the future.”

Their semifinal match saw them take on the reigning champions, Bounty Spikers, in what was expected to be a one-sided affair. But the Mana squad flipped the script, pulling off a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the competition.

With one player down due to injury and no substitutes available, the Mana Spikers relied heavily on sharp communication, strategic court coverage and sheer willpower to carry them through the final stages.

The final was no less dramatic, as the short-handed squad delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression and smart play, sealing their championship win and leaving fans in awe.

Mana Spikers setter Eclipse Tutere said: “The excuse of being at a disadvantage is what losers say. Champions focus on winning no matter the odds.”

In the men’s competition, the Bounty Spikers capitalised on their momentum throughout the tournament to secure a well-deserved championship title.

The team, made up primarily of Cook Islands athletes with a strong complement of talented Fijian players, blended physical power with precision and excellent court dynamics.

Their path to the title was marked by consistently dominant performances, with standout plays at the net and excellent service games.