Sport

Three Manchester Giants stars make 2024 British Basketball League All-Star Game roster

It's back, set to be bigger than ever, and with multiple names flying the flag for Greater Manchester.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 5th March 2024

The return of the British Basketball League’s legendary and much-loved All-Star Game is fast approaching, and three Manchester Giants players across the men’s and women’s teams have been selected for the roster.

Arriving at the CopperBox Arena in London on Sunday, 17 March, the BBL All-Star fixture is back to mirror the annual game of the same name made popular by the NBA, with the month-long fan vote for this year’s lineup opening back in January and ending on Valentine’s Day.

Fittingly, we’re absolutely in love with the 2024 roster as it features not one, not two but three players from the Manchester Giants, including husband and wife pro duo Jamell and Georgia Anderson, as well as rising US and women’s team star Myah Pace.

Massive by name, massive by nature.

As well as these three Manchester Giants, local player LaQuincy Rideau of Cheshire Phoenix has also made the cut. Up the North West!

The trio of Giants will compete in the men’s North team as well as the women’s squad for the inaugural year of the female All-Star event.

ADVERTISEMENT

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anderson is one of the most exciting forwards in the league with the second-highest average steals and some really good free-throw stats to boot.

As well as returning to the British sporting calendar after a decade-long absence, this year also sees the first-ever Women’s All-Star Game, with both Georgia and Myah making the landmark roster.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Anderson is set to captain her side while Pace and her husband opposite are set to make appearances off the bench for their teams, all three making their way onto their respective rosters in the first year of the event’s return and amidst challenging season is not to be overlooked.

You can see both lists in full here:

British Basketball League All-Star Women's Game 2024
all-star men's team north vs south 2024
Three Manchester Giants players across a total of 22 top talents is not bad at all. (Credit: Supplied)

Read more:

With the starters on each team being decided by the fan vote itself, it’s great to see the Andersons, Pace and plenty of other Northern talent on show as the British Basketball League continues to gain more eyes year after year.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Women’s game is set to tip off at 12:30pm ahead of the Men’s fixture at 15:30, with the iconic slam-dunk competition and three-point contest scheduled to feature between the two games, as well as the presentation to the inaugural entrants to the League’s new Hall of Fame.

Promising plenty of entertainment on and off the court, including a live performance from R&B/dancehall singer-songwriter, Amaria BB — who will take to the court for the Men’s halftime show — there’ll be plenty of fanfare and, hopefully, plenty buckets to go with it.

We wish all the best to our Manchester Giants and the All-Star North teams this year and if you’re interested in heading down south to see the excitement, you can still grab a ticket HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Supplied/Manchester Giants (via Instagram)

Sport

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce earns new contract after impressive season

Danny Jones Danny Jones Phallon Tullis-Joyce new three-year contract Man United

Manchester United Women’s goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce has signed a brand-new contract with the club following an impressive campaign in the Women’s Super League.

The American international, who earned her international debut for the USWNT earlier this month and has kept 13 clean sheets in 19 WSL games so far this season, hasn’t just been one of the most impressive Man United players this year but one of the best in female football full stop.

Faced with the not-so-insignificant challenge of having to replace former club icon and Lionesses number one, Mary Earps, who left the club last summer, Tullis-Joyce has more than risen to the occasion and quickly become a fan favourite.

Having played an integral role in another impressive domestic display from the Reds, including a third consecutive FA Cup final for Marc Skinner’s side, securing her signature for a few more years was pretty much a no-brainer.

Penning a new three-year contract with United Women, this new deal sees the number 91 extend her stay at Leigh Sports Village until 2028.

With just nine goals conceded all season, fans will be hoping that’s until 2028 at the very least.

Speaking via the official club announcement, Phallon said: “I am really grateful to have this opportunity to continue the exciting journey we are on. All of us in the team have ever-growing dreams of what we can achieve together.

“We want to keep making history and I am so proud to keep wearing the Manchester United badge.”

The 28-year-old stats speak for themselves.

It was only back in February that manager Skinner, who also recently extended his stay at the club, proclaimed her as “one of the world’s best”; meanwhile, the club’s interim head of women’s football, Matt Johnson, described her a “exceptional” both on and off the pitch.

He went on to add that “This [new deal] shows the ambition of the club that we can retain one of the best goalkeepers in the world here at Manchester United.”

She also managed to pick up ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ at the first-ever Festival of Women’s Football Awards this week.

With a healthy catalogue of highly athletic shot-stopping like this to her name and making a half century of saves in goal for MUWFC, it’s no surprise, really:

With other important players such as Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner and Jayde Riviere having also signed new deals until 2028, Man United Women are looking to rebuild a strong core following some big departures in the last couple of years.

The men’s team, on the other hand, looks to be facing numerous obstacles.

As mentioned, the Women’s FA Cup final against an ever-dominant Chelsea side is taking place next month (18 May, 1:30pm), and a fantastic performance from Phallon Tullis-Joyce will no doubt be key in deciding who goes home with the trophy.

Do you fancy their chances of retaining it?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Taylor Vincent (via Wikimedia Commons)/Manchester United (via X)

Sport

Travel warning issued as Manchester braces for busiest day of the year so far

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Travel warning issued ahead of busiest weekend of the year for Manchester Marathon

A ‘plan ahead’ travel warning has been issued for this weekend as the Manchester Marathon brings the busiest day of the year so far on the tram network.

Tens of thousands of people will hit the streets to take part in the race itself, with thousands more cheering them on from the sidelines.

This year’s Manchester Marathon route takes 36,000 runners through Sale, Stretford and Timperley before finishing up at a new finish line on Oxford Road – and there’ll be some big changes to your usual travel routes to accommodate this.

TfGM has said that Bee Network trams will be very busy before, during and after the 26.2 mile race, especially in Manchester and Trafford, with a number of road closures in place too.

Taking place on Sunday 27 April, the Manchester Marathon will coincide with Manchester’s popular St George’s Day parade which starts and ends across town around Oldham Road and Great Ancoats Street.

People are being encouraged to plan their journeys carefully this weekend, as it’s expected to be the busiest day of the year on the Bee Network trams.

The Manchester Marathon last year set a new personal best for the tram network, with 175,000 tram journeys racked up – the highest ever recorded on a single Sunday.

Trams will be the best choice to get around the Manchester Marathon course with key stops along the route including Sale, Timperley and Chorlton.

Many road closures will also be in place but at different times of day, so make sure you check HERE for the latest.

This will impact bus services, which will be on diversion from 8am until the end of service on Sunday, with traffic and congestion expected on surrounding roads.

Runners heading to the start line will only be able to access the athletes’ village from Old Trafford and Trafford Bar tram stops up until 9am. Participants arriving after 9am should get off at Wharfside or Exchange Quay instead.

Metrolink is promising to deploy as many double trams as possible across the network, with additional services between Piccadilly and Timperley.

Manchester Marathon guide 2025 important info

As for other modes of transport, those who wish to drive should make us of Park and Ride facilities where possible; and those on the train should note that Salford Central remains closed with bus replacements in place.

Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Director at TfGM said: “The Manchester Marathon is a highlight of the Manchester city centre calendar and our job is to make sure everyone can get to and from the event as smoothly as possible.

“We want everyone to have a great day – whether they are taking on the run themselves or cheering on a friend or loved one – and would urge people to plan their journey in advance, leave plenty of time and check the Bee Network app or website for the most up-to-date information.

“The start and finish lines will be especially busy so if you are coming to watch you may be better off catching the tram to Sale, Timperley or Chorlton, grabbing a coffee and claiming afront row seat to cheer runners on.

“Using public transport is the best way to avoid congestion and delays – and with Tap and Go contactless payments it’s never been easier or more seamless to get around Greater Manchester by bus and tram.”

Passengers can now travel seamlessly between bus and tram and pay for their journey by tapping on when boarding a bus without the need for a ticket, making it the quickest and easiest way to pay for travel.

People travelling on Bee Network buses on Marathon Day can simply tap in and pay £5 for the day on as many buses as they need and just £4.90 on the tram. You can use all Bee Network buses as much as you want all day from just £5.40*.

Kirsty Wilde, Operations Director, from Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said: “The TfGM tram service is an invaluable part of our event, which allows thousands of participants and supporters to navigate around the city. With a record-breaking 36,000 participants set to take part on Sunday 27th April – and more exciting activities taking place over the weekend as a whole – we’re anticipating a rise in tram journeys, which will subsequently bring economic benefits to local vendors, the hospitality sector, and retail businesses.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’d like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for its continued hard work helping to facilitate what will be the largest event yet, and would also like to say a big thank you to the residents and businesses across Greater Manchester for their understanding and support.”

For further information and travel advice visit the dedicated Manchester Marathon page on the Bee Network website.

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

More Sport

Eats

Kobbie Mainoo shouts out more of his favourite food spots in Manchester

First ever Festival of Women's Football Awards 2025 winners

Manchester

Greater Manchester cleans up at first-ever Festival of Women’s Football Awards

Bury FC sponsorship deal with JD

Bury

Bury FC announce partnership with big-name local brand after ‘milestone’ season

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches