The GIST: It all comes down to this: the No. 1 seed Orlando Pride face the No. 2 Washington Spirit for the NWSL Championship tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, just one year after both squads missed out on the postseason entirely.

• Before the opening whistle blows at CPKC Stadium, here’s how these teams stack up in the quest for the Tiffany trophy.

The Pride boast international firepower: Led by NWSL Coach of the Year Seb Hines, Orlando tapped overseas talent in the offseason, bringing in Zambian star forward Barbra Banda with the second-highest transfer fee in the women’s game — and that investment has certainly paid off.

• As the other half of a dynamic partnership with the legendary Marta, Banda (one of five MVP finalists) finished the regular season as the second-leading scorer in the league and has already notched three postseason golazos.
• An added plus for the first-time NWSL ’ship competitors? The Pride know how to beat this Spirit squad — they’re the only team to top Washington twice during the regular season, winning 3–2 in April and 2–0 in October. Can they do it thrice?

The Spirit will rely on their youth and grit: Few (including us) saw Washington coming this year, but the Spirit have played with confidence from the jump — even through a planned mid-season coaching change — thanks in large part to shining stars like MVP finalist Trinity Rodman.

• That said, Rodman briefly found herself on the Spirit’s lengthy injury list after the squad had already lost Midfielder and Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune and veteran defensive midfielder Andi Sullivan to season-ending injuries.
• In their place, NWSL newbies, like midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who scored the equalizer in the Spirit’s semis win, stepped up in a big way, showcasing the depth of this young but determined team. We’re in for a real treat tomorrow.

The GIST: The world’s fastest drivers are hitting the streets of Sin City this weekend, with only three races left on the calendar. From the championship battle to the ins and outs of the circuit itself, it’s time to go all in on Sunday’s 1 a.m. ET Grand Prix.

The setting: Yes, last year’s event was a logistical nightmare, but that hasn’t tempered expectations this time around. Between Vegas’ sights and sounds and the A-list celebs, the second edition of F1’s newest race should be truly spectacular with famed landmarks serving as the backdrop.

• The Sphere and The Strip are iconic in their own right and offer riveting racing: The long straight of The Strip and the location of The Sphere are the perfect spots to overtake, aka pass, other cars. Drama, loading.
• And because Vegas is a street circuit (meaning the race is on city streets instead of an actual race track), the barriers make the road extra narrow, leaving virtually no room for error.

What’s on the line: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s fourth straight World Drivers’ Championship is his to lose after his stunning victory in Brazil three weeks ago. Now all the Dutchman has to do to clinch the individual title is finish ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris or ensure Norris doesn’t beat him by more than three points.

• And while the individual glory is nearly secured, the World Constructors’ Championship (aka team title) is far from done and dusted. Only 49 points separate the top three teams, and with an influx of cash for 2025 on the line, there’s millions to race for… literally.

🎓🏑 NCAA field hockey: National Tournament — Today through Sunday — ESPN+

• Fockey’s national title will be handed out on Sunday following today’s epic semis. Will the winner be undefeated, two-time reigning champs No. 1 UNC, who take on No. 4 St. Joseph’s at 12 p.m. ET, or the victor of today’s 3 p.m. ET battle between No. 2 Northwestern and unranked UMass? Time to fock around and find out.

🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 3 USC vs. No. 6 Notre Dame — Tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET — NBC

• This top-ten matchup is chock-full of starpower in Trojan sophomore phenom JuJu Watkins, and the Fighting Irish’s dynamic duo of junior Olivia Miles and sophomore (and friend of The GIST) Hannah Hidalgo. Calendar-clearing, indeed.

⚽ MLS Cup Playoffs: Conference semifinals — Tomorrow through Sunday — MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

• It’s been 84 years since the last MLS playoff action, but it’s finally time for the Lionel Messi–less MLS Cup semis. The Eastern Conference kicks things off, with the No. 7 seed NY Red Bulls taking on No. 6 seed NYCFC in a must-see 5:30 p.m. ET Big Apple showdown.

🏈 NFL: Philadelphia Eagles vs. LA Rams — Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET — NBC

• The Birds boast a six-game win streak and one of the best run games in the biz, not to mention they’ve never lost to the Rams in LA. Is a seventh straight victory in the cards? Or will the LA offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, rain on Philly’s parade?

Aflac, who powered yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It. We couldn’t continue being the free, go-to source for women’s sports news without Aflac’s support.*

The latest episode of The RE—CAP Show, where co-hosts and soccer legends Tobin Heath and Christen Press share their spiciest takes ahead of tomorrow’s NWSL Championship. Feeling hot, hot, hot.

Blind tennis star Tess Whelan, who’s breaking barriers by competing on the world stage with no usable vision. Incredible.

*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Ducks fly together.