The GIST: The most highly anticipated WNBA season ever doesn’t begin for another six days, but the league’s already making headlines as they look ahead to next week’s regular-season tip-off. Prepare for takeoff.

✈️ Charter flights, inbound: WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced yesterday that the W intends to fund a full-time charter flight program as early as this season…once the league locks in the planes.

• The $25M, two-season investment is a long time coming and will allow all 12 teams to fly privately to every game, increasing player safety (and comfort) as the W’s popularity skyrockets. They’re soaring, flying.

📺 Opening day to air on Disney+: Amid news of the massive viewership from last weekend’s preseason WNBA Canada Game, next Tuesday’s doubleheader season tip-off will air on Disney+, the first W games to air on the platform. The opening slate notably includes Caitlin Clark’s regular-season pro debut with the Indiana Fever. Teach ’em young.

👀 Updates from training camp: NCAA tournament Final Four MVP Kamilla Cardoso is out for four to six weeks with a shoulder injury, a significant blow to the Chicago Sky’s rebuild, as the rookie could miss up to 13 of their 40 games.

• Elsewhere, surprise draft pick and former Iowa standout Kate “Money” Martin is inching closer to an official roster spot with the Las Vegas Aces as the May 13th finalization deadline approaches.

⬆️ LA Sparks upgrading venues, seating capacity: The purple and gold shifted three of their regular-season home games to Crypto.com Arena, home of the LA Lakers and Clippers. The move increases potential capacity to 19K fans from 4K at the team’s usual home court. The PWHL’s impact.

The GIST: It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, with both the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs in full conference semis mode. Feeling fatigued? Leave the heat packs where they are and let us catch you up on the latest from the hardwood and the ice.

🏀 NBA: The Boston Celtics (Eastern Conference) and Oklahoma City Thunder (Western Conference) are the No. 1 seeds for a reason. Each squad took care of business with last night’s respective Game 1 wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks.

• Boston and OKC now have a chance to follow in the pawprints footsteps of the Minnesota Timberwolves (who are up 2-0 on the defending champ Denver Nuggets) in tomorrow’s Game 2s.
• Back in the Big Apple, the NY Knicks outlasted the pesky Indiana Pacers in an electric Game 1 win on Monday. Will the orange and blue bing bong their way to a 2-0 lead in Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m. ET? Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has other plans.

🏒 NHL: The NY Rangers (up 2-0) are still undefeated through six playoff games after last night’s 2–0 double overtime Game 2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Meanwhile, in the Lone Star State, the Colorado Avalanche struck first with a 4–3 Game 1 overtime victory over their Central Division foes, the Dallas Stars.

• Elsewhere, dad energy lifted the Boston Bruins to a lopsided Monday Game 1 win over the Florida Panthers, with Game 2 slated for tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. And last but not least, the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers begin their Great White North showdown tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Booked and busy.

Whenever new women’s pro hooper Cameron Brink enters the game, she steals the spotlight with showstopping plays on both ends of the court. That’s why she partnered with New Balance: Their gear stands out from the crowd with its statement-making style, and you can rely on it with the season on the line.

• Exhibit A? New Balance’s TWO WXY v4 sneakers, which are built for positionless players who dominate from endline to endline. They support quick lateral movement, and they’ll be the highlight of your pregame GRWM vid.

As Cam said on our podcast, The GIST of It, she relies on her TWO WXYs to help her hustle on offense and defense. New Balance’s gear will support that grind without compromise — she’s on the road to greatness, and greatness wears New Balance.

🏆 UEFA Champions League semifinal: Real Madrid vs. Bayern — Today at 3 p.m. ET — TUDN

• After last week’s Leg 1 draw, it’s anyone’s ballgame, with both squads looking to clinch a finals appearance against Dortmund, who advanced yesterday.

⚽ US Open Cup: Round of 32 — Various times tonight — mlssoccer.com

• The nation’s oldest ongoing national soccer competition kicked off the Round of 32 last night and features teams ranging from MLS squads to amateur clubs. So fun.

⛳ LPGA: Cognizant Founders Cup — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel

• Fresh off her Met Gala appearance, world No. 1 Nelly Korda will need to bring that heat to the links as she seeks her sixth straight victory.
• Standing in the way? World No. 5 Korean and defending champion Jin Young Ko, who has her sights set on a fourth Cognizant Founders Cup trophy.

🎓🥎 NCAA softball: Conference tournaments — Tomorrow through Sunday — ESPN Networks

• The road to June’s Women’s College World Series begins as teams look to win their conference title and clinch one of 32 automatic bids to the national tournament. Play — and we cannot stress this enough — ball.

One week into May means the WNBA season is right around the corner. Before the hoopers take the court, shoot your shot by entering to win the trip of a lifetime to beautiful San Luis Obispo, California.

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City Girls Golf, the Black-woman-owned golf academy that's empowering women of color on the golf course.

The trailblazers featured in Rare Gems, a deep dive into four generations of women that shaped the WNBA. The book highlights Elvera “Peps” Neuman, Cheryl Reeve, Maya Moore, and the four-time champion Minnesota Lynx. Swish swish.

*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Quack quack.