Women sport news

ROSEMONT - With the regular season opener just a couple of nights away, the Bandits concluded its preseason exhibition schedulewith a 17-4 win over the Collinsville Extreme. photo Dina Kwit

As if the pressure of being two matches away from becoming the sixth player of the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam weren't enough, a defeat of Petra Kvitova would ensure Sharapova's return to No.1 in the world for the first time since June 2008.

Following the Official Draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012, the 16 nations now know the route they must negotiate to reach the knockout stage. FIFA.com was there to record the reactions of the coaches and officials involved. report and photo fifa.com

LONDON (Olympics) - The aim of every national team in the build-up to the London Games is to peak at the right time. photo FIBA

TORONTO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament For Women) – Head coach Allison McNeill may have found it tough swinging the axe for the final time ahead of Ankara but excitement rather than regret remains the overriding emotion. photo FIBA

Argentina booked a ticket to the women’s beach volleyball competition at the Olympics Games for the first time ever following a 3:1 victory over Uruguay in the CSV Continental Cup final in Santa Fe, Argentina on Sunday. photo FIVB

Great Britain's sailors have made it two World Championship titles in two days with Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark crowned the first ever British World Champions in the 470 women's class today in Barcelona (Saturday 19 May).

Monte-Carlo - Poland's Irena Szewinska, the multiple Olympic champion and World record breaker is the latest athletics legend to be named as one of the 24 inaugural Members of the IAAF Hall of Fame.

The England Women’s team to play France in the winner takes all FIRA-AER European Cup clash this Saturday in Rovereto, Italy, kick off 630pm BST, has been announced.

On the day the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced the selection of the 100th athlete to Team GB, with the announcement of the 16 athletes who will represent Team GB in women’s hockey at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Reigning champion *Rachael Grinham* crashed out the *Allam British Open Squash Championships *yesterday after a thrilling five-game spectacle against seed* Joelle King*.

Points started to stack up amongst the 470 Women teams in the challenge for Olympic qualification. photo © Thom Touw

Eight teams are set to begin the contention for the last four remaining spots in the women’s volleyball competition of the 2012 London Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Japanese city that hosted the first ever volleyball Olympic tournament 48 years ago. photo FIVB

France’s dreams of qualifying to London 2012 were shattered on Thursday in Sèvres as the home heroines were downed in the semifinals by their guests from Spain that will play Great Britain to advance to the final stage of the Continental Cup scheduled for mid June in Moscow, Russia.

The game on June 9 against the USSSA Pride was already going to be a special one, but it just got more exciting as the Bandits have announced that former Bandit and Team USA star Jennie Finch will make her inaugural appearance at The Ballpark at Rosemont.

Canoe Sprint paddlers are headed to Poznan, Poland this week to launch their World Cup campaign and what could be their final attempt to be selected for a place on their respective national Olympic teams.

Wisniewska, of Calgary, Alta., who sat out this past season due to an injury suffered during a downhill race in February 2011, was first named to the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team in 1995 – it was renamed the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team in 2006.

Good luck to all the gymnastic competiting at the Acrobatic Gymnastics National Finals this weekend in at Fenton manor in Stoke on Trent

AUS - Opals get down to business at AIS CANBERRA (Olympics) - Australia have put their Penny Taylor injury nightmare behind them and launched their preparations for the London Games.

Same three women's teams at the top of the leaderboard, just a shuffle round in positions. Despite posting their worse results so far - a 12, 6- up into first overall go Ingrid Petitjean/Nadedge Douroux (FRA).© Thom Touw

Top seed Victoria Azarenka is the latest seed to sercum to injury in Rome. Caroline Wozniacki retired due to upper respiratory problems earlier on in the day. Ivanovic and both Williams sister continue their Italy campaign

Carmelita Jeter continues to shine in Daegu. LaShauntea Moore, Anastasia Savchenko and Betty Heidler come out on top

Caroline Wozniacki was forced to pull out of her second round match against Medina Garrigues in the second set having lost the first due to an upper respiratory illness. Marion Bartoli is also out defeated by Julia Goerges of Germany in straight sets

Fresh from three consecutive WSA title wins, local wild card Alison Waters maintained her winning ways in the first round of the WSA Allam British Open Squash Championships, as she took out 13th seed Low Wee Wern in a scrappy 70-minute five-setter.

"The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars is an open age squad that comprises players who have shown good performances in state cricket or during the recent Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars tour to New Zealand.

England Women are on course to defend their European Cup crown after a second successive victory, this time against Italy, which saw Graham Smith’s side run in six tries against a determined Italian outfit in Rovereto, Italy.