Soaking up spooky season
Leveling The Playing Field
Happy National Chocolate Day!
As if we needed a reason to enjoy a little hump day treat. A quick heads up: There’ll be no newsletter on Friday as our team gathers IRL to cook up some new content. Have no fear, though — look out for the Weekly Blitz tomorrow before we’re back to regularly scheduled programming on Monday.
World Series
The GIST: Not done yet. The Tampa Bay Rays (down 3-1) staved off elimination at home last night, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4–3 in 12 innings to force Game 5 tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Let’s go around the horn as both team’s quests for a first-ever World Series title roll on.
😱 Second baseman Ben Williamson walks it off for Tampa Bay: The Brewers were three outs away from a sweep, but the Rays said not so fast, plating two runs in the bottom of the 12th to keep their season alive. Right fielder Jonny DeLuca provided the game-tying hit before Williamson recorded the game-winner with the bases loaded. October baseball isn’t for the faint of heart…or the uncaffeinated.
👀 Brewers ace Jacob Misorowski to start Game 5: Milwaukee will have another chance to clinch with their Cy Young frontrunner on the mound tonight. “The Miz” had a strong five-inning outing against the Rays in Game 1, but it was the Brewers bullpen that really came in clutch in that dub.
- And while that staff will be taxed after last night’s marathon, the Brew Crew still boast the best ERA in the postseason. If they get the job done, it’ll be because of their arms.
- As for Tampa Bay, they’ll need more from their big hitters to keep their hopes alive — especially with their pitching situation still TBD. Never back down, never what?
💪 Want help finding the sports career of your dreams?
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🤝 We’re helping you find your next play, so you can build the career of your dreams.
WNBA Finals
🏀 Brunch and basketball
The GIST: Call in sick, take an extra long lunch, or stream under your desk because Game 6 of the WNBA Finals is tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET — and the Golden State Valkyries (up 3-2) could be crowned champs. Here are the storylines lighting up the group chat ahead of tipoff in Atlanta.
🔄 Turnovers could decide the series: The team that’s taken care of the ball has won every game this series, including Monday’s Game 5: The Valkyries forced the Atlanta Dream into 17 turnovers, flipping those giveaways into 21 points. This is the lowest-scoring Finals in league history (more on that below), so every possession is paramount.
🗑️ Shooting has been historically awful: Prior to this series, only two WNBA teams had ever won a Finals game shooting worse than 34% from the field. That brings us to 2026, where two of the five games have been won with those field-goal metrics.
- What’s more, both teams shot at or below that threshold twice this series, with Atlanta shooting 29.2% in Game 5, the fourth-worst mark in Finals history. No one can buy a bucket.
👀 Players who could move the needle in tomorrow’s Game 6: Kiah Stokes was that girl for the Valkyries on Monday, tying her season-high of 13 points and hitting some momentum-changing threes. Not known for her offensive prowess, the warden of Valkatraz proved to be the difference maker on offense as GSV star Gabby Williams’ shooting slump continued.
- As for Atlanta, Angel Reese must channel her Game 5 frustration into a productive Game 6. Reese averaged 25.5 points in the Dream’s two Finals wins, but managed just 9.7 points on average in their losses. As Barbie goes, so go the Dream.
Together With Canadian Women & Sport
📈 Fans have been seeing the value in women’s sports, but the sports industry hasn’t always met the moment. Now Canadian Women & Sport are bringing the receipts to help the industry catch up.
- The It’s Time research report breaks down the numbers to show the major growth possible when changemakers invest in women and girls in sport.
- While visibility isn’t the end goal, it is a catalyst for turning growing interest into a greater system where women can thrive at every level of the game.
Passionate about gender equity and inclusion in sport? Obviously. Download the report and see how you can help change the game.
⚽ NWSL Decision Day features every team in action simultaneously, big playoff implications
It’s never too early to start mentally preparing for Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, when all 16 teams — including the seven playoff-bound squads and three hopefuls — take the pitch. Even the eliminated teams will go all out in hopes of playing spoiler with no seeds officially locked in, the NWSL Shield still up for grabs, and home-field advantage on the line.
- The biggest battle is for the eighth and final seed. The Seattle Reign can clinch with a win against the Orlando Pride, but any other result opens the door for the North Carolina Courage or Denver Summit to swoop in — all while they play each other. Truly down to the wire.
⚽🏈 Playoff push looming in the NSL and CFL
The first leg of the NSL postseason kicks off this weekend, where No. 3 seed AFC Toronto will try to make it three consecutive wins against No. 2 Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Then, No. 4 Vancouver Rise FC take on No. 1 Montreal Roses FC Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. Montreal holds the regular-season series edge, but the reigning champs have that playoff prowess.
- And that’s not the only high-stakes action kicking off: Buckle up for the CFL’s conference semifinals, featuring a spooky doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday. Will it be trick or touchdown for the defending champ Saskatchewan Roughriders? Tune in to find out.
🏀 NY Knicks earn first W, Miami Heat still winless as NBA wraps up opening week
The defending champ Knicks’ first victory came three games later than expected, but boy, was it a statement after the ’Bockers crushed the previously-undefeated Detroit Pistons 111–97 last night. Just as unexpected? The lowly Milwaukee Bucks snagging a win before their ex Giannis Antetokounmpo and his new flame. Perhaps the Heat can find some reprieve tonight against the Chicago Bulls.
- Meanwhile, the injury bug is already biting: Toronto Raptor Kawhi Leonard will miss several weeks, Minnesota Timberwolf Anthony Edwards is out two months, and Oklahom
🏆 Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony crowns top individual soccer players in the world
Midfielder Alexia Putellas won her third career honor after leading Barcelona to a historic quadruple and capturing another title with the Spanish women’s national team. As for the men, forward Harry Kane became the first English man to win in 25 years thanks to his 73-goal year and three trophies with Bayern Munich. Time to expand those trophy cases.
🏒 West Coast road game…on a school night?
Our buds at PROLINE are giving you something to stay up for. Simply download the PROLINE app, lock in your picks before face-off, and see if your calls earn you a celly-worthy payout.
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Rachel Fuenzalida, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Monica Schrock. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Lisa Minutillo. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.