Say my name and everything just stop

The GIST: One WNBA playoffs semifinal is locked in, the other depends on tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3, and just when you thought things couldn’t get spicier, the league MVP will be crowned on Sunday. The hoops drama is about to hit a crescendo — turn it up.

🃏 No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and 🥵 No. 6 Indiana Fever to clash in semifinal: Indy stunned the No. 3 Atlanta Dream 87–85 last night, while it was business as usual for the Aces, who outmuscled the No. 7 Seattle Storm 74–73. There’s no rest for the winners though: Game 1 of the best-of-five set tips off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, featuring two squads with vastly different playoff experience.

• The semis are unfamiliar territory for the resilient Fever, who are in the second round for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, the perennial powerhouse Aces booked their seventh straight semis ticket with yesterday’s win. And that’s on consistency.

💪 Phoenix Mercury vs. NY Liberty Game 3 could come down to defense: The No. 4 Mercury stifled the No. 5 Liberty in Wednesday’s 86–60 Game 2 win, forcing 15 turnovers and holding the sharpshooting Libs to their lowest shooting percentage of the season…in their own gym. Phoenix’s game plan for tonight’s 9 p.m. ET tilt is simple: rinse and repeat.

• As for the reigning champs, their success isn’t so straightforward, largely due to Breanna Stewart’s knee injury. The hobbled superstar didn’t look like herself in Game 2, managing just six points, a far cry from her 18 points-per-game average.

• Waiting on the other side of this decisive Game 3? The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, who became just the second team in W playoff history to overcome a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in Wednesday’s 75–74 Game 2 win over Golden State Valkyries. Consider the court swept.

The GIST: After nearly a month full of tackles and dazzling offloads, the Women’s Rugby World Cup has reached the semifinals. Four unbeaten powerhouses, two epic clashes, and tickets to a history-making championship are on the line? Ruck yeah.

🇨🇦 No. 2 Canada vs. 🇳🇿 No. 3 New Zealand — Today at 2 p.m. ET: The self-sufficient Canucks are hoping to return to the World Cup final for the first time since 2014, when they ultimately lost to England. A second-ever championship appearance just might be in the cards considering this is the best team Canada has ever assembled, led by Jill-of-all-trades lock Sophie de Goede.

• Standing in their way are the six-time champion Black Ferns. Known for peaking at the perfect time, New Zealand haven’t lost a World Cup game since 2014, and legendary left wing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will do her darndest to keep it that way.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 No. 1 England vs. 🇫🇷 No. 4 France — Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. ET: Forget the Hundred Years’ War, this is about to be the ultimate battle between the nations. England’s on a mind-boggling 31-match win streak, an unprecedented feat in both women’s and men’s rugby, and will be boosted by the return of World Player of the Year and full back Ellie Kildunne.

• That said, one team has come exceptionally close to snapping the Red Roses’ run: France, who lost to England by one point in April. Led by scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Les Bleues showcased their grit in a comeback quarter-final win. Now, they’re dressing for revenge.

⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals — Tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• After suffering two straight losses to the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto’s postseason magic number is stuck at three heading into this three-game road series with the struggling Royals. Some local barbecue sure would be the perfect way to celebrate clinching a playoff spot.

🏃 World Athletics Championship: Men’s 800m final — Tomorrow at 9:22 a.m. ET — CBC

• Reigning world champion, Olympic silver medalist, and soon-to-be birthday boy Marco Arop is in great shape to defend his title after winning his semi with a 1:45.09-second finish in wet conditions yesterday. Cake at the ready.

🏎️ F1: Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sunday at 7 a.m. ET — TSN

• Twelve race wins, seven 1-2 finishes, and a 337-point lead mean McLaren can tie a bow on the World Constructors’ Championship this weekend. The recipe for success? Outscoring second-place Ferrari by nine.

🏈 NFL: Denver Broncos vs. LA Chargers — Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET — TSN

• Early signs point to a changing of the guard in the AFC West. Quarterback Justin Herbert and the undefeated Chargers look like the cream of the crop, but the Broncos’ fierce defense is a force to be reckoned with — and they’re hungry for redemption.