And then a hero comes along

The GIST: Unrivaled is rocking straight into today’s regular-season finale with four games hitting the hardwood starting at 1 p.m. ET. And that’s only the beginning of the high-stakes hoopla because the first round of the single-elimination playoffs tips off tomorrow.

• Before it starts raining threes, let’s set the stage as the innovative 3v3 league inches closer to crowning its second-ever champion.

📌 Playoff seeding on the line today: All six postseason berths have already been claimed, but today’s games will decide who earns first-round byes to the semifinals and which teams must battle it out in tomorrow’s first round. There’s plenty to play for… unless you’re the already-eliminated Hive and Lunar Owls, who match up in today’s first game. That one’s for pride.

👻 Phantom control their own destiny: Led by the dynamic one-two punch of Kelsey Plum and Aliyah Boston, the Ghost Gang has been on an absolute tear, winning their last six games. If they can make it seven straight tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET against Rose, they’ll lock up the No. 1 seed and punch their ticket to the Big Apple. It’s been waiting for them.

• 🌧️ From there, our money’s on second-place Mist to snag that other bye. They’re sporting a three-game win streak ahead of their 2:15 p.m. ET tilt vs. Vinyl and boast two of basketball’s best two-way players in Allisha Gray and Breanna Stewart. A terrific tandem, indeed.

🏅 The Olympics may be winding down, but Paralympic athletes are just preparing for takeoff with Air Canada, which has proudly served as the Official Airline for the Canadian Paralympic Team since 2007.

• Thousands of Air Canada employees will power the journey to Milano Cortina for Team Canada’s Paralympic team, ensuring they arrive well-rested and ready to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

✈️ Air Canada (literally) knows what it means to #FlytheFlag. Next time you travel, trust the award-winning airline that connects Canada to the world. Already making our plane playlist.

The GIST: The 11th annual SheBelieves Cup — an international four-team friendly tournament hosted by the USWNT — begins in Nashville, TN, on Sunday, featuring the world No. 2 Americans, No. 10 CanWNT, No. 20 Colombia, and No. 30 Argentina. 2025 was a year of experimentation for both the USWNT and CanWNT, but now it’s go time.

👀 SheBelieves is just the beginning: The USWNT and CanWNT head coaches (HCs) were in reset mode last year, adding numerous new players to their talent pools without the pressure of a major international tourney on the calendar. While SheBelieves is a friendly competition, it features four fierce squads who’ll likely feature in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup — if they qualify, of course.

• For the USWNT and CanWNT, those high-stakes qualifiers will come this November at the Concacaf W Championship, making SheBelieves the perfect place to start determining which players are roster-worthy.

🇨🇦 HC Casey Stoney turns to NSL talent to spark offense: Stoney raised eyebrows by leaving veteran attacker Adriana Leon off the SheBelieves roster. That decision left the squad reliant on forward Olivia Smith for goals, but a concussion sadly officially sidelined Smith yesterday.

• Now the red and white will send out a roster that’s a bit untested, but features two up-and-comers from the Northern Super League (NSL): forwards DB Pridham and Kaylee Hunter. No time like the present — kickoff is Sunday at 2 p.m. ET vs. Colombia.

RBC Training Ground’s Milano Cortina Olympic Report Card

🇨🇦 11 RBC Training Ground alum representing Team Canada across four disciplines

✌️ The first dual-season Olympian in RBC Training Ground history

• Bobsleigh athlete (and 2020 Olympic gold medallist) Kelsey Mitchell joined the exclusive club of Canadians who competed at the Summer and Winter Games. What, like it’s hard?

✅ Final grade: A+ for Canadian pride and Olympic ambition

Want to make the next honor roll? Register for a free RBC Training Ground event today.

⛳ LPGA: HSBC Women’s World Championship — Today through Saturday — Golf Channel

• World No. 39 Auston Kim leads the pack after the opening round in Singapore, holding a narrow one-stroke lead over No. 88 Yan Liu. Can Kim hold on for her first career LPGA Tour victory? Will bogey-free rookie Mimi Rhodes continue to stun the field in her debut? Only one way to find out.

🥌 Curling: The Brier — Today through March 8th — TSN

• The men’s version of the Scotties will showcase Canada’s best, ahem, in-house talent, including curling legend Brad Gushue, who’s preparing for his swan song, and Brad Jacobs and his rink, fresh off winning Olympic gold.

🏒 PWHL: Toronto Sceptres vs. Seattle Torrent — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — TSN

• The GIST’s favorite Knight returns to the ice tonight, hoping to spark that same Milan fire with her expansion Seattle squad, who currently reside in the PWHL basement. And it won’t be easy — Sceptre forward Daryl Watts has been on an offensive tear.

🎓🏀 NCAA men’s basketball: No. 11 Virginia vs. No. 1 Duke — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET — TSN

• Led by freshman Cam Boozer, Duke’s a juggernaut on offense and defense, but Virginia’s deep bench could cause enough of a raucous to pull off the upset. March is almost here, after all.