Dancing through life

The GIST: The NWSL Championship pitting the Washington Spirit against Gotham FC is set for tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, but the party’s already begun in San Jose. The league honored its best and brightest during Wednesday’s NWSL Awards, and a little history was made along the way. So gilded.

🏆 Temwa Chawinga wins second consecutive MVP award: The Kansas City Current star and friend of The GIST is the NWSL’s first-ever back-to-back MVP, a fitting end to a campaign which also saw her win her second straight Golden Boot award. Scoring 15 goals? All in a season’s work.

⏱️ Bev Yanez named Coach of the Year: Racing Louisville made the playoffs for the first time in club history this year, a feat that wouldn’t have been possible without Yanez’s leadership. Not to mention, she’s the first former NWSL player to secure a postseason berth as a head coach.

👀 Plus, two award winners will take the pitch in tomorrow’s title game: Defender of the Year Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) and Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale (Gotham FC) won big on Wednesday, but only one will add a shiny Tiffany NWSL Championship trophy alongside their individual hardware. Can’t wait.

The GIST: The spectacle of Formula 1 meets Las Vegas, a city synonymous with high-stakes thrills, this weekend. It’s the first stop on the season-ending tripleheader — and drivers need to go all in because what happens in Vegas could decide the World Drivers’ Championship (WDC).

💸 F1’s bet on Vegas pays out: In 2023, the sport returned to Sin City for the first time in four decades — and it was a logistical nightmare. Now in its third iteration, the largest (and most lucrative) event in Vegas has made some fan-approved tweaks: The cost to attend is down 66% from 2023, and Saturday’s main event will now start at 11 p.m. ET instead of 1 a.m. ET.

• But not everything can be planned for: It’s been cold and rainy in Vegas this week, making the already-tricky street circuit even more challenging for drivers to navigate at speeds of up to 215 mph (346 km/h).

🌶️ McLaren’s Lando Norris boasts 24-point lead in WDC fight: Mathematically, it’s a three-car WDC race between Norris, his teammate Oscar Piastri, and four-time defending champ, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — but Verstappen’s nearly two race wins (aka 50 points) behind. That means the individual title is almost certainly turning papaya orange …barring an incredible plot twist.

• Enter: The Vegas track, where McLaren has infamously struggled the last two years. Norris and Piastri finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in 2024, more than 40 seconds off the pace. All to say, it’s not over ’til the checkered flag waves.

• And that’s not the only hotly-contested championship battle hitting the Vegas street circuit. F1 Academy returns for its final weekend with Mercedes’ Doriane Pin and Ferrari’s Maya Weug separated by a mere nine points. Spicy.

⚽ The NWSL Championship is tomorrow, pitting Trinity Rodman's Washington Spirit against Jaedyn Shaw's Gotham FC. This is going to be the must-watch match of the season, whether you’re a longtime NWSL devotee or a new supporter.

• And if you’re the latter, we have great news: With the support of BMO, we created the Soccer Help Desk, the easiest place to find answers to all your burning footy questions.

• Confused by offsides? Relatable. Don’t understand the difference between the NWSL and the Champions League? Fair. What the heck is a bicycle kick? Thanks to BMO, we have answers.

🏀 NBA: Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• The vibes surrounding the Dinos haven’t been this good since 2019: The Raptors are second in the Eastern Conference, on a five-game win streak, and can clinch their NBA Cup group with a victory against the one-win Wizards. Yep, this their sh!t.

🎓🏈 Vanier Cup: Saskatchewan Huskies vs. Université de Montréal Carabins — Tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET — CBC

• The milestone 60th Vanier Cup pits the Huskies, one of the country’s most dominant defenses, against the high-powered Carabins, who are hoping to raise their second championship banner in three seasons. Unstoppable force, meet immovable object.

🏒 NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• Buds goalie Anthony Stolarz’s injury is worse than originally thought, an unfortunate turn of events for a team that’s allowing the second-most goals per game in the league. That said, the Habs’ goaltending hasn’t been much better, so prepare for plenty of lamp lights.

⚽ MLS: LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps — Tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET — MLS Season Pass

• The single-elimination conference semis are finally here, and this match is loaded with starpower. LAFC’s dynamic duo of Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga is downright unstoppable, but Vancouver boasts elite forward Thomas Müller, who’s already scored his first MLS postseason goal. Seconds, anyone?