The Legends Football League, formerly known as the Lingerie Football League, has been a big success since it was inaugurated in 2009. Matches are broadcast in numerous countries around the world, video games inspired by the league have been released and there are also now fantasy football leagues based on the action.
Women’s American Football continues to grow through the Legends Football League. It is also a great platform form for female rugby players to test their skills. The best example of that is Stevi Schnoor. She represented Canada at the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup. In 2019, Schnoor was named the MVP in the Legends Football League after a fantastic year for the Seattle Mist.
Those participating in the Legends Football League in 2024 will be hoping they can replicate what Schnoor achieved. Some of the other great female stars who are having success in their respective sport and outdoor activity will also inspire them. If you’re interested in learning more about the Legends Football League, visit our website, lflus.org. Now, let’s take a look at two women who have made significant contributions to sport in the last 12 months.
Rachael Blackmore
Jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore has proved she not only deserves to compete against the leading male riders in horse racing, but she is also of the highest level in the sport. Blackmore has won some of the biggest races in jumps racing over the last few years.
The Irish jockey added her name to the history books in 2024 when she won the Grand National at Aintree which you can learn more about on bbc.com. No female jockey had prevailed in the world’s most famous steeplechase before her win on board Minella Times.
Blackmore’s skills were once again showcased on the biggest stage when she scored in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2024. The feature race of the Cheltenham Festival is the most prestigious jumps race in the sport. Blackmore gave her horse, A Plus Tard, an excellent ride in front of over 70,000 spectators at the racecourse.
A Plus Tard and Blackmore are set to return to Cheltenham next March. They are currently priced at odds of +400 for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Sport Nation, which is considered one of the best new horse racing betting sites by sbo.net. They are regarded as one of the leading horse racing bookmakers as they have a strong array of ante-post markets, including all four Championship races at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.
With many of the leading favorites in the betting for next year’s highlight on the National Hunt calendar, Blackmore should continue to have a lot of success at the highest level in her sport. If you want to bet on the Grand National, the platform will provide you with the top horse racing sites and comprehensive tutorials that will educate you on everything you need to know about horse racing betting.
Katie Taylor
Irish boxer Katie Taylor is unbeaten as a professional as she has won all 20 of her fights in the ring. Over the last 12 months, she has defended her four lightweight titles against Natasha Jonas, Jennifer Han, and Firuza Sharipova.
Taylor is now headlining huge areas around the world, something which would have seemed unlikely just a decade ago. In her next fight with Amanda Serrano, she will headline the Madison Square Garden in New York. It will be the first time that a women’s bout has been the feature event at the iconic arena.
The 36-year-old has an enormous fan base, not just in her native Ireland, but with boxing fans across the globe. Her aggressive style makes her such a popular fighter to watch. She gives everything in the ring from the opening bell.
The two-weight world champion became the undisputed lightweight champion when she defeated Delfine Persoon in 2019. Only eight boxers in history have managed that feat in men’s and women’s boxing. Taylor is now looking to cement her position as the best female boxer of all time. If she can maintain her unbeaten tag and defend her titles against some of the other leading boxers in the pound-for-pound list, she could do that.
Valentina Shevchenko
UFC women’s pound-for-pound number one Valentina Shevchenko has dominated the flyweight division in her sport ever since she beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk to become a champion again in 2018.
The 34-year-old has defended her belt six times, with her latest success coming against Lauren Murphy at UFC 266. She needed just four rounds of that fight, stopping her opponent by TKO.
Shevchenko has already broken many records in the UFC. She has won the most consecutive title defenses at flyweight, and the most consecutive victories at her weight, while she has more knockout wins than any other fighter in the history of her division. The UFC champion is clearly multi-talented, as she has had success in different sports. In the early stages of her career, she appeared in a boxing ring. Her professional record stands at 2-0.
In Muay Thai, the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian won eight world titles between 2003 and 2014. She also landed gold at the World Combat Games in 2010 and 2013. Her triumphs in the sport came at 57kg, 60kg, and 63.5kg. Shevchenko’s next challenge in UFC is set to be Taila Santos at UFC 275. It will be her chance to enhance her reputation further as the most dominant figure in the women’s or men’s sport.
The flyweight champion has hinted she may move to bantamweight later in 2024 to search for tougher opponents. She has not fought at the weight since losing to Amanda Nunes in September 2017.
Bullet will be keeping a close eye on the rematch between Nunes and Julianna Pena in July. She could take on the winner of that fight. If it is Nunes, it will give her the chance to avenge her defeat to the Brazilian fighter. Many pundits felt she was unfortunate to lose that fight on the judges’ scorecards.
Hopefully, the Legends Football League this season should see somebody shine in the same manner that Blackmore, Taylor, and Shevchenko have in the world of sport. If players display the same commitment and dedication that the two champions have shown, efforts will go a long way toward bountiful careers.
