I work so f**cking hard, I’ve worked so hard. My teammates and my coaches believed in me, and I just stayed down until it was my turn.

The GIST: Candace Parker returned home with a goal of winning Chicago’s first-ever WNBA title, and she did just that yesterday. We’re not crying, you’re crying.

Game 4 recap: After Friday’s massive Game 3 win at home, the Chicago Sky entered yesterday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead and a chance to clinch the title. The Phoenix Mercury jumped out to an early lead, but the Sky stormed back to win 80–74 in front of a(nother) soldout hometown crowd.

• Parker and Courtney Vandersloot both posted double-doubles while Allie Quigley (Vandersloot’s wife, okay power couple) netted 26 points, helping to make Chicago just the third city to win NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS and WNBA titles. Damn, Chi-Town.

• And, as we mentioned, Kahleah Copper was named finals MVP after averaging over 17 points per game in the postseason. Well deserved.

Of note: In an unprecedented move, the Mercury declined to attend the post-game press conference following yesterday’s loss. It’s an evolving situation with many journalists sharing complicated feelings about it. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s episode of The GIST of It for more.

What’s next: The WNBA’s 25th anniversary season did not disappoint. The Mercury’s Diana Taurasi was named the GOAT, the league saw surging viewership, and with the first final since 2016 not featuring a No. 1 seed in the books, the competition has never been more balanced.

• So what comes next? Sky’s the limit.

The GIST: Walk-off wins, grand slams and one pair of fur-ociously cute cleats — the seven-game Championship Series (CS) have it all. What will each league’s Game 3 bring?

American League (AL): After the Houston Astros came back to win Friday’s Game 1, the Boston Red Sox made postseason history in Saturday’s Game 2, becoming the first team to hit two grand slams in the same playoff game and helping to solidify their 9–5 win.

• The 1-1 series now heads to Boston, with Game 3’s first pitch tonight at 8:08 p.m. ET.

National League (NL): In a rematch of last year’s NLCS, the Atlanta Braves walked off to win Saturday’s Game 1, partially thanks to third baseman Austin Riley’s clutch single and LA Dodger Chris Taylor’s baserunning mistake. Yikes.

• And the Braves kept the party going yesterday, winning 5–4 to take a 2-0 series lead, thanks to yet another walk-off. Lucky for the Dodgers, the series now shifts to LA for tomorrow’s crucial Game 3 at 5:08 p.m. ET. Maybe the third time will be the charm?

The GIST: You know how “one size fits all” doesn’t work for clothing? It’s the same with health. Everyone has their own individual health needs and The Vitamin Shoppe® understands that.

The who: The Vitamin Shoppe® carries thousands of different products and brands, from supplements to protein powder to superfoods. And we love that they emphasize the importance of women’s wellness with products specifically formulated for women.

The what: With products for women at any age, like Natural Factors MenoSense, The Vitamin Shoppe® has your back throughout your life.

• At long last, the Jacksonville Jaguars — led by rookie quarterback (QB) Trevor Lawrence — finally snapped their 20-game losing streak yesterday, defeating the Miami Dolphins 23–20 behind kicker Matthew Wright’s game-winning field goal.

• How about another last-minute win? Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins connected with wide receiver (WR) K.J. Osborn for the game-winning touchdown (TD) in their 34–28 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. Doing Lizzo proud.

• Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins used some fancy footwork to score one of his two TDs in the Cardinals 37–14 win over the Cleveland Browns. The unbeaten streak continues.

• If you’re not ready for Week 6 to end quite yet, you’re in luck. QB Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills face running back Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET. We’ll be waiting all day for Monday night.

⚽️NWSL: With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the six-team NWSL playoff picture is coming into focus. The Washington Spirit clinched a postseason berth over the weekend, joining the Portland Thorns (who secured the 2021 NWSL Shield yesterday) and OL Reign. Coming for you, November.

🎓🏈College football: Week 7 saw last week’s chaos and said hold my beer, bringing upsets aplenty and big changes to the AP Top 25 poll. Notable surprises include previously unranked Purdue topping previously ranked No. 2 Iowa, and previously unranked Auburn downing previously ranked No. 17 Arkansas.

• Speaking of shockers, two years removed from winning a national title and one day removed from an upset win over Florida, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron will be out of a job at the end of the season. You can geaux your own way...

ICYMI, yesterday’s Sunday Scroll was all about the history and importance of HBCUs and how athletics are part of their story. If you didn’t yesterday, read it today.

TBH, we think most commercials are pretty blegh. But this one featuring Gisele Bünchden and Tom Brady? Anything but.