The GIST: Between heart-pumping WNBA action, the NWSL’s thrilling post-Olympics return, and emotional celebrations for a couple of legends, it was a weekend full of wonderful women’s sports moments. Here are just a few faves:

🚨 Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson nailed this buzzer beater yesterday to secure a 77–75 win over the Chicago Sky, mere seconds after ChiTown’s Chennedy Carter had tied it up.

• Meanwhile, Chicago’s Angel Reese notched her 22nd double-double in that same game, tying the rookie record. Queen sh!t.

▶️ And in more WNBA news, the Connecticut Sun and Minnesota Lynx locked in playoff spots on Saturday, with both teams going 2-0 in their respective weekend slates. The Sun notably clinched their berth by beating the fired up NY Liberty 72–64, ending the league-leading squad’s eight-game win streak.

🥹 But that’s not all: the Lynx retired the legendary Maya Moore’s jersey after their Saturday win over the Indiana Fever, sending the four-time league champion’s No. 23 into the rafters with a whole lot of love and happy tears.

• Moore famously stepped away from the W at the peak of her career, choosing to dedicate her life to criminal justice reform and freeing a wrongly incarcerated man named Jonathan Irons, who she later married after his 2020 release.

🥲 Hold on to those tissues — the Seattle Reign retired the one and only Megan Rapinoe’s jersey at Lumen Field last night, a well-deserved end to a club career that included 115 goals, 11 playoff campaigns, and a relentless commitment to advocacy, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community. There’ll never be another No. 15.

⚽ Elsewhere on the pitch, Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune tied Tobin Heath’s single-season assists record yesterday, notching her 10th in the Spirit’s 4–1 win over the KC Current. Sharing is caring.

🪽 Meanwhile, Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson spoiled Landon Donovan’s NWSL interim head coaching debut, scoring her first career brace (two goals in one game) in ACFC’s 2–1 Saturday win over Donovan’s San Diego Wave.

🎾 Finally, to the delight of the US Open Fan Week crowd, Billie Jean King and Coco Gauff rallied just prior to unveiling Gauff’s Wheaties box. The final Grand Slam of the year begins today — aces all around.

The GIST: More women’s sports, coming right up. After a down-to-the-wire, highlight reel–worthy championship weekend, Amanda Lorenz is your 2024 Athletes Unlimited (AU) softball winner, accumulating 1800 points to claim the fifth annual crown. Diamond’s gotta shine.

How it happened: Lorenz beat out a field of 60 of the best players in the world to win her first-ever AU title, making history as the first outfielder to be named as champion. The former Florida standout jumped to the top of the leaderboard in Week 2 and never relinquished the No. 1 spot, finishing tied for the lead league in batting average and home runs.

• Friend of The GIST and Rookie of the Year Lexi Kilfoyl finished in second, turning in a stellar complete game outing on the final day of the season to move up into that No. 2 spot. Every moment really does count.

Zooming out: With five successful AU championship seasons and two shorter AUX campaigns in the books, AU’s gearing up to launch the brand new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) in 2025, giving players a more traditional city-based league that will exist alongside the innovative AU format.

• Plus, the launch of AUSL will coincide with the continued growth of softball, highlighted by still-soaring Women’s College World Series viewership numbers and the game’s upcoming return to the Olympics in 2028. Nothing soft about it.

From the streets of NY to NBA courts, NY Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu is an inspiration to hoopers everywhere. Rep after rep, her grit is unmatched — and now, that grind is reflected in Nike’s Mirrored Sabrina 2s.

• The black and silver colorway is sleek and shiny, flecked with gold to reflect Ionescu’s winning mentality.
• Plus, thanks to Nike’s Air Zoom CushIon foam, these kicks are comfy, keeping feet fresh through the fourth quarter or whatever life throws your way. Swoosh, there she is.

There’s something powerful about tossing on a fresh pair of black sneaks and knowing you crushed your look — it brings out your most confident self, whether you’re strutting down the street or hitting the hardwood.

• That’s why Nike’s Mirrored Sabrina 2s are the ultimate closet addition. They’re comfy and provide all-day support, help you channel the NY Liberty star’s winning mindset, and come in the classiest, cleanest colorway there is. Bad case of the Mondays, be gone.

Backyard Sports. That’s right, the iconic franchise is back, relaunching with new games, merchandise, and even TV shows. Channel your inner ’90s kid and play ball.

A fresh pair of Nike's Mirrored Sabrina 2s, perfect to rock from the catwalk sidewalk to the courts. Look good, play good, feel good.*

@_sportsball for a daily dose of data-based sports storytelling. Check out their easy-to-follow info, like this deep dive on the Paralympics.

*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Nothing but net.