Gerwyn Price is relishing the ‘underdog’ tag in Sunday’s Betfred World Matchplay final and insists he can get the better of defending champion Luke Littler in Blackpool.

Littler charged into the final with a 17-5 demolition of Dirk van Duijvenbode at the Winter Gardens, firing a 110.88 average and 16 maximums during another blistering display of scoring.

The world No 1 has averaged over 109 in all four matches during his run to the final and is firm favourite to become the first back-to-back winner since Michael van Gerwen, with Littler also on course to deliver the highest tournament average in history.

Price is through to his first major TV final since 2023 and first at the World Matchplay since 2022, with the Welshman confident of derailing Littler’s title challenge.

“When I go into any game I’m the favourite, that’s the way I believe and that’s the way I prepare,” Price insisted after his victory. “I really believe that if I hit my A-game, it doesn’t matter who I play, I’m winning, simple as that.

“They know if I play my A-game, I will win. Obviously Luke, if he’s under par he knows he can lose. If my A-game’s there, I’m OK, I’ll win.”

Price added: “I’m in this tournament to win. I’m not here to just make finals and jump up the rankings and get to Wales’ number one – I’m here to win.

“Luke’s going to be a massive favourite in the final, but definitely don’t underestimate me!”

Price has lost his last nine matches against Littler, a run stretching back to the Bahrain Darts Masters in January, although the former world No 1 believes he can improve on Saturday’s 17-10 win over Gian van Veen.

“I’m in a major final and I haven’t played anywhere near my best in any of these games,” Price insisted. I know I’ve got a lot more in the tank.

“If that comes out, then I’ll lift the trophy. If not, I’ll battle right through.”

‘Something really special to beat me’ – Littler eyes more history

Littler closed out the contest with a 13-darter and becomes the first player in PDC history to reach £3m in prize money, with the teenager now looking to extend his record of winning every TV major title in 2026.

“I’m obviously capable of doing many great things in the sport and obviously for myself,” Littler said in his press conference. “As long as I play like this, then hopefully I can pick up the trophy again.

“You can’t underestimate anyone, never mind a final. As long as me and Gezzy [Price] have a really good game tomorrow, hopefully I can get the win over him.

Price said after his quarter-final win over Ross Smith that he felt ‘some players make it too easy’ for Littler, but the 19-year-old believes it’s down to his opponents to up their game to beat him.

“I wouldn’t feel that way,” Littler added. “I know that every player is going to play at least 10 times better against me than the previous round, because they have to.

“They’ve been putting in these numbers consistently, game after game, then someone’s got to do something really special to beat me. I’ve just got to keep going and going.”

What’s next?

Sunday afternoon sees the fifth edition of the Women’s World Matchplay, live from 1pm on Sky Sports Action, with Lisa Ashton returning as defending champion and Beau Greaves looking to win the event for a third time in four years.

The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay final takes place later that evening, with Littler taking on Price in a best-of-35-leg contest.

Who will win this year’s World Matchplay Darts? Live coverage begins on Sunday from 7.30pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, with the final getting under way around 8.15pm. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.

An emotional Anthony Joshua remembered his late friends as he staved off a seismic shock against Kristian Prenga to rubberstamp a fight with Tyson Fury that he says will be a “lovely treat” for fans.

Joshua knocked out Albanian heavyweight Prenga in the second round in Jeddah on Saturday night, after twice being floored himself in the first, including just 20 seconds into the contest.

The British star displayed tremendous character to battle back from the brink of defeat, a trait he has had to show in abundance since the deaths of team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele in a car crash in December in which he was a passenger.

Speaking after overcoming Prenga, Joshua told DAZN: “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it.

“It has been tough. It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Joshua: I respect everything Fury has done

Joshua was able to discuss Fury, with the British boxers now set to end over a decade of circling each other by locking horns in November, with America seemingly the most likely destination.

Fury beat Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in his own tune-up fight in Thailand on Friday.

AJ added of his countryman, who did hot head to Saudi Arabia for a face-off with his rival: “I am going to rip his heart out. I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!

“All jokes aside, I respect everything he has done and achieved but we are here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.

“I’ve learnt I can’t be stopped. I won’t be stopped and I won’t be denied. We’re here and we’re coming. Trust me.”

‘No one can imagine what Joshua has been through’

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that contracts have been signed for the blockbuster showdown before going on to praise his fighter’s “astonishing” return to the ring after the “grief and pain” he had to deal with following the car crash shortly before Christmas.

Hearn said of Joshua on DAZN: “To be honest with you, tonight is all about the strength AJ has showed to even be here tonight – and the strength in that fight.

“No one can imagine what he has been through in the last seven months. During the first round, I was thinking, ‘we came back too soon’.

“I feel boxing once saved him and I feel like he needed boxing to help him get through this. That camp allowed him to focus while he was facing so much grief and pain.

“He is a strong man and he likes to deal with his problems on his own – I’m not saying that is the right way but that is his way to do it. To even be in the ring tonight was astonishing.

“When you go down a couple ​of times in the first round and you’re looking like ​your career might be over, he had to go to the depths one more time to get ‌up and fight on.”

Watch Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins vs Ricardo Salas, in New York, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 10pm Sunday. Stream boxing with NOW.

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.

The WNBA All-Star Game is a testament to player talents and fan cultures. It’s also a good measure of this league’s ongoing evolution.

In its first season, the brand-new WNBA didn’t even have an All-Star celebration. A decade after that, both All-Star coaches hailed from franchises soon to be relocated or disbanded. Two decades after inauguration, Maya Moore led the field with around 33,000 fan votes. Now cut to 2026, when both Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark exceeded the 1 million mark.

This year’s All-Star Game shows how much the W has going for it right now. Bueckers, Clark, Olivia Miles, Dominique Malonga and Angel Reese lead the next generation into the spotlight. They’re joined by enduring superstars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Gabby Williams highlights the instant success of the Golden State Valkyries, and Marina Mabrey gets love on behalf of one of this year’s expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo. There are twerking mascots and blue-haired goofballs for those with eyes to see them.

Here’s what to know ahead of the main event. All times listed are ET.

How to watch the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game

• Venue: United Center — Chicago
• Date: Saturday, July 25
• Time: 8:30 p.m.
• TV: ABC
• Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)

ABC is free over the air. It’s also available with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited subscriptions.

WNBA All-Star Game broadcast and halftime show

As the league celebrates its 30th season, the All-Star festivities take on special flourishes.

ABC is airing an episode of “WNBA Countdown” at 8 p.m., 30 minutes before the game starts. The show is hosted by Malika Andrews, alongside Andraya Carter, Monica McNutt and Chiney Ogwumike on the desk. “WNBA Postgame” is set to begin at 10:30 p.m. The game itself has Ryan Ruocco (“you bet!“) on the call, with analyst Rebecca Lobo and reporter Holly Rowe in tow.

The halftime show is headlined by Tyla. The South African singer performs one day after the release of her new album, “A*POP.”

Sister network ESPN2 commemorates All-Star Weekend with its release of “Life in the W,” a six-episode documentary series that follows Wilson, Napheesa Collier and DeWanna Bonner. Episodes 1-4 are airing on Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. All six are already available for those with an ESPN Select or Unlimited subscription.

Beyond the broadcast itself, “StudBudz” Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman are reprising last year’s All-Star live stream. Charismatic chaos abounds on their Instagram and Twitch pages.

The 2026 All-Star lineups

Starters were determined by a mix of fan, media and player votes. Reserves were chosen by the league’s head coaches. An All-Star draft was held on July 15 with honorary general managers Teresa Weatherspoon and Cynthia Cooper.

Cooper won a coin toss and received Bueckers, the leader in fan votes. Weatherspoon got Clark, who earned the second-most votes. Those two Hall of Famers then alternated picks — Weatherspoon took the reigning MVP Wilson to start the process, while Cooper chose two-time MVP Breanna Stewart to match up down low.

Becky Hammon and Cheryl Reeve roam the All-Star sidelines. Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces and Reeve’s Minnesota Lynx were tied for the WNBA’s best record through the July 10 cutoff date.

Team Coop (red uniforms)

Starters:

• Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
• Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
• Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
• Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx
• Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries

Reserves:

• Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream
• Marina Mabrey, Toronto Tempo
• Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
• Kahleah Copper*, Phoenix Mercury
• Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
• Sonia Citron, Washington Mystics

* injury replacement for Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks

Coach:

• Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces

Team Spoon (blue uniforms)

Starters:

• Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
• A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
• Olivia Miles, Minnesota Lynx
• Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
• Jessica Shepard, Dallas Wings

Reserves:

• Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
• Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
• Courtney Williams, Minnesota Lynx
• Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics
• Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Coach:

• Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx

This year’s showcase adds a new fundraising initiative to benefit two local organizations. Team Coop is playing for Angels Athletics and Team Spoon reps Girls in the Game. Both Chicago-area nonprofits support health and development through girls’ sports. The winning team’s designated organization gets a $70,000 donation, while the losing side receives $30,000.

The odds

Courtesy of The Athletic‘s Katie Richcreek, deputing managing editor of sports betting:

Weatherspoon called her roster “competitive” when the All-Star draft concluded — and the betting odds like her chances of edging out Cooper. Team Spoon is slightly favored to beat Team Coop, with four-time MVP Wilson headlining a starting lineup that also features breakout rookie Miles and superstar Clark.

Team Coop does have shooters up and down its roster, led by another former league MVP in Stewart, so oddsmakers are expecting a higher-scoring game than in 2025. The over/under of 279.5 is more than 20 points higher than the last midsummer classic, though it’s worth noting this total has only been cleared once in the game’s history — last season.

Recent WNBA All-Star Game MVPs

• 2025 — Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
• 2024 — Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
• 2023 — Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
• 2022 — Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
• 2021 — Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings

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