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The GIST: March Madness, meet April anxiety. It’s the final weekend of the NBA regular season, and nearly half of the 20 available postseason spots are still TBD ahead of next week’s play-in tourney tip-off. Talk about down to the wire.

The set-up: The league’s recently introduced play-in tournament is, as hoped, adding an extra layer of drama. How does it work? The top six teams in each conference are guaranteed a playoff spot, but the seventh through 10th place teams will have to battle it out next week to secure the final two playoff berths.

• As a play-in tournament team, your season could come down to one game, as opposed to a best-of-seven playoff series, making it all the more important for contending hopefuls to make the leap in this final week. No pressure.

Eastern Conference: The field is mostly set, with the top-five squads locked in, highlighted by the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks clinching the league’s best regular-season record on Wednesday. The battle for that final No. 6 spot could be the most contentious, as the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat are both still looking to avoid the play-in.

• As for the other three Eastern Conference play-in teams, the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are all guaranteed at least one more game, although there’s some potential for seeding changes over these final 72 hours.

Western Conference: The West is where things get truly wild. The top-four squads have punched their playoff tickets, with the Denver Nuggets at the top after nabbing the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history. But it’s pure chaos from there, as seven teams could potentially fall into the stressful play-in round.

• One squad surprisingly on the bubble? The Steph Curry–led defending champ Golden State Warriors. Currently in the No. 6 spot, they’ll need two weekend wins to avoid the play-in chaos.

• The other team biting their nails is the currently No. 11 Dallas Mavericks. After making a major midseason splash and trading for Kyrie Irving, the Mavs will still need to sweep their final two games and receive a bunch of other help just to crack the play-in. Giddy up.

The GIST: The USWNT’s last two friendlies before the Women’s World Cup (WWC) kick off tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET against No. 22 Ireland. This gives 26 American players one final opportunity to impress head coach Vlatko Andonovski before he trims the roster to just 23 players ahead of the WWC in July.

• Needless to say, expect everyone to bring their A-game as they fight for a place on the No. 1 team in the world. Lassies, you’ve been warned.

Who’s returning: Veteran defensive midfielder Julie Ertz took one look at the red, white and blue’s struggling midfield and said “this looks like a job for me.” Watch for Ertz to see some crucial minutes this weekend as she aims to prove she’s ready to return to the highest caliber of women’s fútbol after nearly two years away from the pitch.

• Among the others returning to the roster are defender Tierna Davidson, who’s back in form after recovering from an ACL tear, and NWSL MVP forward Sophia Smith, who’s been out with a foot injury.

Other players to watch: With so few spots available on that final roster, plenty of players are on the bubble, including the aforementioned Ertz and Davidson. Defender Alana Cook will notably be competing to make her first WWC team in a suddenly crowded defensive pool.

• Also on the cusp is forward Ashley Hatch, who must impress if she’s to hold off the lurking shadow that is upstart Catarina Macario, who won’t be in action this weekend while she continues to recover from an ACL injury. With this much talent, we certainly don’t envy Vlatko’s job.

⛳ PGA: The Masters — Today through Sunday — CBS

• With a trio of contenders, including PGA loyalist Spain’s Jon Rahm and LIV Golf defector Brooks Koepka, leading after yesterday’s first round, the Tamponathon first men’s golf major of the year continues.

• Don some green, forward their food prices to your local sports stadium and enjoy the drama.

🎾 WTA: Charleston Open — Today through Sunday — Tennis Channel

• No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 9 seed Madison Keys are holding it down for the Americans in the quarter-finals while Tunisia’s No. 2 seed Ons Jabeur also continues to shine. So much starpower.

🏒 IIHF Women’s Worlds: Switzerland vs. USA — Today at 11 a.m. ET — NHL Network

• While you patiently wait for Monday’s highly anticipated 7 p.m. ET showdown with ultimate American rival, Team Canada, get your hockey fix with any of these stellar games.

🎓🏒 NCAA men’s hockey: Championship game — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2

• It all comes down to this. After yesterday’s semis wins, No. 1 Minnesota and No. 2 Quinnipiac will battle it out for the frosty crown.

Head into the weekend feeling good with these picks from GIST HQ.