Ending unplanned

The GIST: Team Canada was eliminated from the Little League World Series (LLWS) after a valiant Wednesday effort against Japan, but there’s still plenty to celebrate before the tourney comes to a close with Sunday’s championship game.

• Today, we’re looking back at Southeast star Kinley Rasmus’ incredible run and what lies ahead for the history-making 12 year old. Nothing better than throwing like a girl.

👑 Rasmus ties LLWS strikeout record, breaks hits mark by a girl: Move over, Shohei Ohtani. Before Rasmus’ Alabama squad was eliminated on Wednesday, the two-way star notched five hits and 14 strikeouts, giving her the most hits by a girl in a single tourney and matching none other than WPBL star Mo’ne Davis for most Ks by a girl.

• Just the 25th girl to play in the LLWS, Rasmus has quite the sports pedigree: Her uncle is former Toronto Blue Jay Colby Rasmus, her dad and assistant coach, Cory, also played in the majors, and her mom, Jill, played college softball at Southern Miss. All in the family.

👀 What’s next: Rasmus’ LLWS journey might be done, but her sports career is just getting started. She’s expected to be a top NCAA softball prospect in the class of 2032 and she’ll be a starter for her top-ranked high school flag football team this season as a seventh grader. As her head coach for both sports said, “...there’s nothing she can’t do.”

• That’s part of the beauty of Rasmus’ LLWS legacy: She left an indelible mark on the tourney and now, thanks to the growth of girls’ and women’s sports, she has a plethora of opportunities ahead. What a gift, bow included.

The GIST: If there’s one thing everyone’s watching right now, it’s the WNBA. The proof is in the pudding. And with so much on the line in the final weekend of action before the FIBA World Cup break, it’s the perfect time to catch up on the latest happenings from the hardwood.

💭 DeWanna Bonner signs with Atlanta Dream: The six-time All-Star is taking her talents to Atlanta, officially inking a prorated $116K contract yesterday. The deal’s a true win-win: Atlanta’s in dire need of depth as they seek their first-ever franchise title, while 39-year-old Bonner made it clear she wanted to hoop for a contender.

• A defensive juggernaut, two-time champ Bonner will be an immediate asset off the bench, a place she’s incredibly effective (just ask her three career Sixth Woman of the Year awards). Catch her potential Dream debut tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET vs. the Portland Fire.

🏆 Playoff positioning remains too close to call: You already know the eight-team field is set, but the chaos continues when it comes to seeding. It looked like the Lynx had a stranglehold on the No. 1 seed, but the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries are surging, now just three games back of the top spot after last night’s convincing 79–60 win over the NY Liberty. These margins? Razor thin.

🌊 World Surf League: Fiji Pro — Ongoing — worldsurfleague.com

• Teen surfing phenom Erin Brooks is that girl. Fresh off becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Tahiti Pro earlier this month, the 19-year-old Canadian already logged a gnarly 10-point ride in Fiji and booked a spot in the stacked quarter-final field.

⚾ MLB: Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays — Tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET — Apple TV

• After last night’s tough series loss to the Kansas City Royals, Toronto welcomes their 2025 American League Championship Series foe to town. And this rivalry showdown is extra crucial with both squads clinging to Wild Card hopes.

⚽ NSL: Calgary Wild vs. Vancouver Rise — Tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET — TSN

• Fourth-place Vancouver topped league-leading Ottawa 5–1 (!!!) last week, with four different players finding the back of the net. Calgary, meanwhile, has just two wins on the season. Another Rise shellacking may be in store.