Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match between South Africa and West Indies at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 October 2024. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia / Gallo Images)
Proteas women
The Proteas women were on the precipice of history for the second time in consecutive years in 2024. They reached the final of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, having also reached the final of the same tournament at home in South Africa in 2023.
With their 2023 achievement – although losing to the mighty Australia by 19 runs in the final – they became the first-ever senior South African cricket team to reach the final of any World Cup tournament. The senior men’s team followed suit in June this year, also falling at the last hurdle.
In the 2024 edition, the Proteas women overcame their toughest challenge — beating Australia in a knockout match, after trouncing the formidable foes by eight wickets in the semifinal. They failed to repeat their knockout performance in the final, however, ultimately falling to New Zealand’s White Ferns by 32 runs in the final.
Mamelodi Sundowns
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TL_2290866.jpg "Iqraam Rayners of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with teammate Lucas Rebeiro Costa during their Carling Knockout quarterfinal against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 2 November 2024. (Photo: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images)")
Every South African Premiership season seems like a battle for second place with the champions almost certainly guaranteed to be Mamelodi Sundowns. In fact, the last time a team not named Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the title was all the way back in the 2016/17 season when Gavin Hunt’s Bidvest Wits edged them to glory.
Last season was no different, with the Brazilians walking to the title with six games to spare. No soccer club in South Africa has as many Premierships as Sundowns, which clinched an unprecedented seventh title in a row and also extended their South African record number of domestic championships to 17 in 2024.
They also recorded the highest points tally by any team in the South African Premiership in a 30-game season (74), losing only one match, and that came after they already had an unassailable lead at the top of the table. DM
