Mid-week pick-me-up inside

The GIST: A tunnel ’fit that speaks for itself, eyebrow-raising rumors ahead of Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, one of the best rivalries in basketball on deck — no one does it quite like the WNBA.

🔄 Trade deadline looms: Before we discuss the rumors, it’s worth noting that the WNBA trade deadline is typically quiet. Unlike the NBA’s soft salary cap, the W has a hard cap, meaning there’s no wiggle room…not even a penny’s worth. That makes deals difficult to maneuver. All that said, here’s one superstar who could be on the trading block:

• ✨ Kelsey Plum. Yes, way. The LA Sparks guard reportedly won’t re-sign in LA after her contract expires at season’s end. With the 10-16 Sparks outside the playoff picture, they could deal the five-time All-Star to ensure they don’t end up empty-handed if she leaves.

🍿 Las Vegas Aces and NY Liberty rematch tomorrow at 10 p.m. ET: Multi-time MVPs A’ja Wilson of the Aces and Breanna Stewart of the Liberty battling is must-watch TV…even if it’s past your bedtime. This is a rematch of June’s Commissioner’s Cup championship, a game NY won by eight. Inconsistency’s plagued both teams this season, but beating a rival is always good for morale.

• Wilson and Stewart have defined this era of women’s hoops, taking their teams (and the sport) to new heights, be it three championships in four years or ending a decades-long title drought. How lucky are we to witness it in real time?

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The GIST: Still missing the FIFA men’s World Cup? We have the perfect mid-week pick-me-up: The second half of the NWSL season is almost here and while teams like the Washington Spirit and Utah Royals are rising to the top, there’s still plenty of footy to play before the eight-team playoff field is finalized this fall. Here’s the latest moves and matches from the pitch.

😞 High-scoring forward Esther González leaves Gotham FC: The Batties’ all-time top scorer abruptly left the team under mutual contract termination earlier this week to attend to personal matters back home in Spain. González already registered six goals this season and was integral to Gotham’s 2023 and 2025 championships. Wishing her well.

📺 Looking ahead, ailing Gotham is one of six teams in action tonight:

• 🏇 Racing Louisville vs. 💧 Kansas City Current — 8 p.m. ET: Louisville just earned their first win in six games. Will they find another W against the Temwa Chawinga–less Current as she makes history for Malawi at the Women’s AFCON tournament?

• 🎆 Washington Spirit vs. 👑 Utah Royals — 9 p.m. ET: Forward Trinity Rodman’s NWSL–leading Spirit have five wins in their last six games, but revamped Utah is on the rise. This is going to be good.

• 🗽 Gotham FC vs. ☔ Bay FC — 10 p.m. ET: Time will tell how impressive Gotham can continue to be without González and veteran Emily Sonnett, who suffered a serious knee injury in their last game. Lucky for them, newest Battie Sam Kerr is already back to her NWSL scoring ways — and Bay FC’s shaky defense shouldn’t pose a problem.

⚽ Canada’s historic Summer of Soccer run has kids dreaming even bigger, and BMO is helping make those dreams more accessible. With over $25 million invested in Canadian youth soccer since 2005, BMO is the MVP of growing the game.