Tonga consists of more than 170 islands and is located in the South Pacific.

It is about 2,600 miles from Melbourne, Australia, and its population of 105,000 could almost squeeze into the stands of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The islands are home to a national netball team who have nailed down a top 10 world ranking for the past four years, but it took a meteoric rise to reach this position.

Sisifa and head coach Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson have travelled thousands of miles to recruit players, securing their star shooter thanks to a persuasive grandma.

They still face challenges, with their pathway side – below the senior national squad – having to train in a bank’s car park.

When Sisifa signed up, she found netball in Tonga was little more than a social game.

She swiftly committed Tonga to entering a team for the 2015 Pacific Games.

“The scores… we were being beaten like it was a cricket match,” she recalls.

More like rugby scorelines perhaps – Tonga lost 88-21 to Samoa, and 81-27 to Papua New Guinea.

Sisifa went to the national governing body for netball in Tonga and said: “Please give me five years. We’re going to make some dramatic changes. If it doesn’t work within the five years, I would happily resign.”

The national body backed Sisifa, so she got to work.

She needed a coach with international pedigree and so wrote to eight candidates. Only one replied.

New Zealand-born Pori-Makea-Simpson joined in 2019.

Sisifa remembers their frank first conversation: “We had no dollar sign to our name. I said if that’s what you’re looking for, Team Tonga is not the place.”

Then came mention of Tonga’s vision.

“I said, by 2025, I want Tonga to make top 10 in the world,” Sisifa told BBC World Service.

Pori-Makea-Simpson recalls: “I went… you’re mad. That is obscene, and I’m not sure you understand what the netball world looks like.”

Players with Tongan backgrounds were sought, even if they had never visited the country. This led to some backlash, but Pori-Makea-Simpson felt the players she found shared a culture with islanders.

“Taking them back to Tonga and watching them thrive and grow with their people, it’s been beautiful,” she said.

Seven years after she left the National Women’s Soccer League as its most prolific scorer, Sam Kerr marked her return to the league with her first goal since rejoining Gotham FC, an equalizer against Portland Thorns.

The Australia striker was her own toughest critic, admitting she did not think much of her overall performance at Providence Park. But her goal in the 62nd minute saw Gotham tie 2-2, adding to goals from Midge Purce, Renee Lyles and Jessie Fleming. Jayden Perry was later sent off for the Thorns.

“I’m obviously happy to score, help the team, but I expect more from myself,” Kerr said post-match. “So I wasn’t too happy with how I played. Quite disappointing, to be honest.

“I thought we were quite poor today. But we’re probably lucky to get away with the tie in the end. I guess I am happy… that we didn’t lose.”

Kerr’s return has been one of the most significant acquisitions in Gotham’s history. The 32-year-old signed with the reigning NWSL champions through the 2030 season after leaving Chelsea this summer, returning to the club where she starred when it was still known as Sky Blue FC.

Emily Sonnett’s return to Providence Park, meanwhile, lasted just 11 minutes as the Gotham defender was taken off on a stretcher after appearing to suffer a left knee injury.

In the seventh minute, Sonnett sprinted to challenge Thorns forward Pietra Tordin for the ball and seemed to make little contact before collapsing to the turf. She immediately grabbed her left knee and signaled toward the Gotham bench for medical assistance.

After several minutes of treatment on the field, Sonnett was placed on a stretcher and carried off to a standing ovation from the Portland crowd, which remembered the former Thorns defender fondly. Mandy Freeman entered the match in her place.

Players appeared concerned as Emily Sonnett is placed on a stretcher on the field (Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images via Reuters)

Gotham said Sonnett will undergo further evaluation after the team returns to New Jersey and she won’t play Gotham’s next match against Bay FC in San Jose. The club expects to share more information on the player’s injury early next week.

The 32- year-old has rarely missed time through injury during her professional career but the implications of any absence would be significant for Gotham and the U.S. women’s national team, with the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil less than a year away. Emma Hayes has consistently relied on Sonnett’s versatility, deploying her wherever the squad’s greatest need arose, whether at center back, fullback or defensive midfield.

Noah Lyles ran a world-leading 9.79 seconds as he claimed an impressive victory in the 100m at the US athletics championships.

He also equalled his personal best, which he set in winning gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with the run at the Icahn Stadium in New York City.

The previous best 100m in 2026 was the 9.82 set by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in June.

“I think I made that ‘I’m still the world’s fastest man’ statement,” said Lyles.

The 29-year-old American finished ahead of Ronnie Baker in second and third-placed Kenny Bednarek, who were both given a time of 9.88s, while former world champion Christian Coleman was fourth in 9.93.

“Just because it is an off year doesn’t mean that I plan to run slow,” added Lyles, referring to there being no Olympics or World Championships this year.

“This is me being me and being me is dominant, being consistent.”

Sha’Carri Richardson, the 2023 world champion, won the women’s 100m as she clocked 10.77.

“It just feels phenomenal to be back in a better place, just healthy mentally, physically and emotionally,” said Richardson, who has had troubles off the track.

“Everything me and coach have been working on, it’s starting to show consistently.”