M’VP

The GIST: Two perennial powerhouses are on the brink of elimination as the best-of-five WNBA semifinals continue tonight. Before we discuss how the NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces can salvage their seasons, a moment for the unprecedented five-time MVP.

🐐 A’ja Wilson wins third straight MVP: No one has dominated women’s hoops like Wilson. Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson all won three MVPs: Wilson now has five, and that fifth was a foregone conclusion by the All-Star break. Not only did she lead the league in points (26.2) and blocks (1.9), Wilson was the W’s best statistical player overall — and it wasn’t that close.

• Only eight athletes in the history of major league sports have won five or more MVPs, and Wilson’s the only woman. On another planet.

💭🗽 Atlanta Dream (up 2-0) vs. Liberty — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET: NY’s bungled timeout in Game 2 dominated headlines, but that shouldn’t overshadow the real issue: The Liberty turned the ball over 16 times (for 28 points), including a misfired pass with six seconds left in overtime. Withstanding Atlanta’s pressure is a must if NY wants to extend the series at home.

💜🃏 Golden State Valkyries (up 2-0) vs. Aces — Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET: A battle of two brilliant coaching minds, the Becky Hammon–led Aces believe they can author a historic comeback. The player to watch with elimination on the line? Wilson, of course. Just like her trophy case, expect the GOAT to be a handful.

🏀 With women’s basketball playoffs in full swish, there’s no better time to rep pride, community, and love for the game. Designed by queer creative Fio Bazo, our limited-edition Love is a Team Sport shirt is a wearable celebration of belonging.

• 🌈 10% of all proceeds from the shirt are donated to The Trevor Project, supporting critical crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth.

So while you watch the postseason looking good in your new tee, you can feel good knowing you’re giving back.

The GIST: And just like that, both Championship Series are nearly set. The two-time defending champion LA Dodgers face the Milwaukee Brewers beginning on Sunday, while either the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians will take on the Tampa Bay Rays starting on Monday.

• Before those seven-game sets get underway, let’s preview tomorrow’s winner-take-all Game 5 and breakdown the latest on the league’s looming lockout. Dun, dun, dun…

🛡️🧦 Cleveland storm back to win Game 4 9–5: Much to the dismay of the Southside faithful, the Guards put up 18 runs across their last two elimination games to send this thing back to their home ballpark for a decisive Game 5 tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET. These American League Central foes have been evenly matched all season long — expect a true battle with their seasons on the line.

🔒 MLB proposes major changes as CBA negotiations continue: Amid the playoff push on the field, MLB and the MLBPA continue to work toward an agreement before the current deal expires on December 1st. The league’s latest proposal features a return to a 154-game season (last used in 1960), along with postseason changes that include allowing higher-seeded teams to pick their opponents.

• The MLBPA responded by saying they’ll review the proposal but that the league made it clear any changes are contingent on players agreeing to a salary cap — the main issue at hand — and other “anti-player proposals.” This fight is just beginning.

🇨🇦 History is about to be made — Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team will face their 2025 World Cup opponent, England, in two must-watch showdowns on Canadian soil this fall. High stakes, huge crowd energy, and two world-class sporting events.

The Rugby Rematch Tour, presented by Canadian Tire, brings these two powerhouses to face off on Canada’s home turf. Grab your tickets and let’s show ’em how it’s done in the Great White North.

• 🦝 Toronto: October 16th — their BMO Field debut

• 🍁 Ottawa: October 23rd at TD Place

🇨🇦⚽️ CanWNT: International friendly vs. Denmark — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — TSN5

• Playing on home soil for the first time in over a year, CanWNT features a record six NSL players as they prepare for two friendlies against Denmark.

• And these aren’t just any friendlies — it’s the final tune-up before next month’s Concacaf W Championship, which doubles as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics.

🏒 NHL: Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — SNE

• This Original Six matchup is bringing the drama, all centered around one man: Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. As a refresher, Larkin’s very public and specific trade request resulted in him being stripped of the captaincy and booed by hometown fans.

• Larkin could have landed with the surging Habs, if only he hadn’t refused to play for a Canadian franchise. This should be fun.

🏎️ Formula 1: Singapore Grand Prix — Sunday at 8 a.m. ET — TSN

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has a lot of trophies, but he’s never won under the Marina Bay lights. The street circuit is famously tricky, but the added chaos of Singapore’s first-ever sprint weekend could pave the way for the four-time World Champ to claim that elusive win.

🏈 NFL: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks — Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET — DAZN

• Pumpkin pie pairs perfectly with this high-stakes divisional tilt. And while SF quarterback Brock Purdy’s been literally untouchable this season, this Seattle defense is embracing its franchise legacy, giving shades of the legendary Legion of Boom.