Sports News

Morning!

Share

The GIST: The Solheim Cup — one of golf’s most anticipated tourneys — is officially underway in Spain, with Team USA and Team Europe swinging for glory in this unique team competition. Let’s tee up all the deets.

The details: The Solheim features 12 of the best players from the Ladies European Tour contending with the 12 top U.S. golfers from the Ladies Professional Golf Association across a three-day match-play competition. The first two days (the first of which is currently underway) consist of foursome and four-ball matches, while the final day is entirely singles matches with players from each team competing one-on-one.

• Adding to the hype, the Solheim only happens once every two years. Team USA holds a narrow all-time 10-7 edge in wins, but Europe has dominated recently and will be going for a three-peat this year. Spicy.

Names to know: For starters, the three newest friends of The GIST: Team USA captain Stacy Lewis, world No. 2 Lilia Vu, and No. 3 Nelly Korda, who joined The GIST of It podcast ahead of the tourney start. Vu’s one of five Solheim rookies on the squad, while Korda will be making her third appearance.

• Another U.S. rookie to know? No. 32 Rose Zhang, the 20-year-old breakout star who’ll be looking to add Solheim Cup champion to her already impressive resume.

• As for Team Europe, keep an eye on France’s No. 5 Céline Boutier, who notched her first major win this year, and vice captain Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, who’ll be playing in her field-leading eighth Solheim. This is far from her first rodeo.

The GIST: The WNBA semifinals are officially locked in, with the top four seeds advancing to the best-of-five series, which tip off on Sunday. The more hoops, the better.

No. 3 Connecticut Sun vs. No. 2 NY Liberty — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET: It took all three first-round games, but the Sun are through to their fifth consecutive semis after beating the No. 6 Minnesota Lynx 90–75 on Wednesday.

• Led by MVP contender Alyssa Thomas and her partner in playoff points, DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut has defeated every single team in the WNBA this regular season…except the Liberty.

• Meanwhile, NY has balled out in true superteam fashion this postseason, with high-profile players, including former Sun star Jonquel Jones, surging at the perfect time. The commuter rivalry is just heating up.

No. 4 Dallas Wings vs. No. 1 Las Vegas Aces — Sunday at 5 p.m. ET: Don’t sleep on the Wings, the only team to beat the Sun, Libs, and Aces this year on the back of newly named Most Improved Player, Satou Sabally.

• That said, Vegas went 3-1 against Dallas this regular season, with reigning Defensive Player of the Year (not to mention MVP) A’ja Wilson shutting down the Wings’ absurdly tall and talented offense.

• What’s more, the title-defending Aces have experience and a full week of rest on their side, a big advantage over the Wings, who are making their first semis appearance since 2009.

Your fave MLB team has just a week and a half to extend their summer fun into October…and they should take notes from Corona Premier — the Official Light Beer of MLB keeps those summertime vibes going 24/7/365.

• Enjoy Corona Premier and you'll be taken back to beach days, baseball games, and summer sunshine, no matter what's in the forecast.

Even if your squad’s playoff hopes are dashed, you can hold onto summer baseball vibes long after they hang up their cleats. Just close your eyes, crack open a Corona Premier, and bam — you're right back in the bleachers.

⚾ MLB: Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers — Tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET — MLB TV

• The wild wild American League West is living up to its name. With just half a game separating three teams in the division standings, this weekend’s three-game series between the current second- and third-place squads is must-see TV.

🎓🏈 NCAA football: No. 19 Colorado vs. No. 10 Oregon — Tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET — ABC

• Head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs will face their first true test of the season when they visit the rowdy Autzen Stadium in Eugene for a Top-25 Pac-12 showdown. Buckle up.

🏎️ F1: Japanese Grand Prix — Sunday at 1 a.m. ET — ESPN

• All eyes will be on the Suzuka Circuit this weekend to see if the always shining Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton can reach the podium for the second straight race and spoil Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship party.

🏈 NFL: Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — CBS

• Fight off the Sunday scaries with some football. Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills will be looking to break down the Commanders’ strong defense as they hope to hand Washington their first loss of the season.

Fall is right around the corner and, just like Lorelai Gilmore, we cannot contain our excitement for the season. On that note, what’s your fave way to get into the autumn spirit? Vote from the options below or reply to this email with your go-to traditions.

On Wednesday, we asked you who you think would win the winner-take-all game between the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx. 53% voted the Sun and 47% voted the Lynx. What a series.