You can see a whole generation of young players who are playing the game the way Steph does, with shooting range and handle, all kinds of skill and joy. It's amazing how much he's impacted the game both strategically and artistically.

The GIST: No, you're not experiencing TikTok coffee–fueled flashbacks — COVID-19 is once again wreaking havoc on the (sports) world.

The latest: After Monday saw the NBA’s first COVID-19 postponements of the season and a single-day record 36 players testing positive in the NFL, even more news broke yesterday.

• After their Monday Night Football win over the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL’s LA Rams closed their training facility amid a 13-player outbreak.

• In the NHL, yesterday’s scheduled contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild was postponed after four Carolina players tested positive.

• And in the NBA, six additional Brooklyn Nets players (including superstar James Harden) were placed in COVID-19 protocols ahead of yesterday’s overtime win over the Toronto Raptors. Sheesh.

The response: With a potential fifth wave of the pandemic looming thanks to the Omicron variant, leagues are tightening their COVID-19 protocols.

• The NBA will increase testing for players who have not received a booster shot, while the NFL is mandating certain employees (including coaches, trainers and general managers) take the booster by December 27th.

• Transitioning to the impact on fans, a top infectious disease expert predicts Ontario will soon close NHL and NBA games to the public amid the expected Omicron surge. Onterrible, indeed.

The bigger picture: It’s been over two years since the first case of COVID-19 was detected, and its impact is still being felt by everyone. For the love of yourself, your community and for sports, if you haven’t already, it’s time to roll up your sleeve.

The GIST: After a trading frenzy earlier this month, the NWSL Expansion Draft is tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, and some more big names could be on the move.

How it works: With two teams (Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC) joining the league in 2022, the expansion draft is an opportunity for these new squads to fill up their rosters with current NWSL talent.

• In regular circumstances, both clubs would choose one player from every NWSL team — excluding the Kansas City Current, who joined the league last season — who isn’t on the teams’ nine-player “protected” list.

• But thanks to the aforementioned flurry of deals, four teams have full roster immunity for tomorrow’s draft and others have partial protection. Paging Jeff Probst.

Expected moves: Of note: While USWNT stars including OL Reign’s Megan Rapinoe and Portland Thorn Becky Sauerbrunn were left “unprotected,” it’s unlikely either southern California expansion team will choose these veterans, as Angel City — who technically can’t select Rapinoe — and San Diego will probably build their teams around young core players.

• But fellow USWNT member Kristie Mewis of the Houston Dash is one of the handful of other stars who might hear their name called tomorrow night. Stay tuned.

Elsewhere: In other women’s soccer news, on Monday the USWNT and U.S. Soccer agreed to extend their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to March 31st, allowing for negotiations to continue and preventing the players from going on strike. Say it with us now: Pay. The. Women.

The GIST: We have an extra pep in our step, and it’s not just because we’re halfway through the week. Matchday 6 — the last games of the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage — kicks off today and DAZN is streaming it all live on their YouTube for free. Golazo.

Easy peasy: We’ve all been there. Trying to find live women’s sports with approximately 267 tabs open on our laptops and an extra 56 on our phones. But thanks to their groundbreaking deal with the UEFA Women’s Champions League and YouTube, DAZN makes watching the world’s best soccer players the easiest it's ever been.

• Matchday 6 is practically a footy buffet, serving up Bayern Münich, Barcelona, Arsenal and much more. So help yourself to a hat-trick heaping, starting with French giant Lyon’s game against Häcken today at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Just for you(Tube): Whether you’re in your jammies or in your jersey, watch the very best bend it like Beth Mead on DAZN’s channel.

🏐Volleyball: Final Four action begins tomorrow, with two teams set to make their semifinal debuts. Undefeated No. 1 Louisville faces No. 4 Wisconsin at 7 p.m. ET, then No. 3 Pittsburgh takes on party crashers No. 10 Nebraska at 9:30 p.m. ET. Time to rally.

🏀Basketball: On Monday, UConn women’s basketball star Paige Bueckers (pronounced BECK-ers) underwent surgery to repair a tibial plateau fracture in her knee, meaning the No. 7 Huskies (their lowest ranking since 2007) will be without the reigning Player of the Year until at least mid-February. *gulp*

⚽️Soccer: We’ve been waiting for this one. UCLA women’s soccer player Reilyn Turner landed Nike’s first Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal yesterday. The specifics weren’t disclosed, but Nike and Turner are expected to partner with LA-based non-profits to encourage young girls to participate in sports. Turn it up!