You’d make the perfect traitor

The GIST: If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that Florida (!!!) is one hell of a drug, and last night’s Game 4 in the Sunshine State was no exception. With a final this spicy, the only place to beat the heat is on the ice.

🔥 Edmonton Oilers stage historic comeback to level series at two apiece: They had us in the first half, but the Oil are resilient, rallying from both a three-goal deficit and a third-period game-tying goal to secure a dramatic 5–4 overtime (OT) win over the Florida Panthers. Nine different Oilers hit the scoresheet, but no point was bigger than forward Leon Draisaitl’s game-winner.

• It’s no secret that Draisaitl has a knack for finding the back of the net in the biggest moments: He’s just the third player in NHL history to tally two OT goals in a Stanley Cup Final.

❓ But there’s one lingering question ahead of tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5: Who will the Oilers start in net? Goaltender Stuart Skinner was pulled after letting in those three first-period goals, giving backup Calvin Pickard an opportunity to show his stuff — and Pickard made a case for himself, stopping 22 shots in the win.

• Skinner’s notoriously better at home in the postseason, letting in just 2.07 goals on average compared to 3.88 on the road. But after two tough games in Florida, is his confidence shaken? Truth and time tell all.

The GIST: No, it’s not A Cinderella Story; it’s the Indiana Pacers — complete with their fairy godmother good luck charm, Caitlin Clark. Not only is Indy undefeated in the playoffs when the WNBA star’s in attendance, but they’re also only two wins away from their first-ever NBA title.

👟 Pacers flip the script on Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3: The championship series has been a fast-paced affair, so it came as no surprise that both teams leaned on their benches on Monday: 21 total players hit the hardwood in the first half alone. Unexpectedly, this benefitted the Pacers (up 2-1), whose bench dominated OKC’s 49–18 in the 116–107 win.

• OKC’s depth and ball control have been their calling card all season, but Indy forced the Thunder into an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, erasing a nine-point second-half deficit behind a career-high 27 points from Canadian Bennedict Mathurin.

✨ Why you need to tune in for tonight’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 4: This has been one of the most entertaining Finals in recent memory, despite the championship series featuring two “small market” teams. And no one thought the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed would be up 2-1 after a miraculous Game 1 comeback and thorough shellacking in Game 2.

• But the viewership numbers don’t reflect the thrilling on-court action. In fact, the average viewership in the first three games is down 23% compared to last year. That’s a lot of FOMO if the series’ current trajectory continues.

⚽ There’s nothing like a summertime soccer tourney — and a big one is kicking off in North America this weekend. The Concacaf Gold Cup, featuring both the USMNT and CanMNT, begins tomorrow, with the top teams from the confederation duking it out in stadiums across the U.S. and Canada.

• With 16 national teams in contention, keeping up with all the footy isn’t easy…but that’s why we’re here. Thanks to support from our pals at BMO, you’ll get the gist of the tourney from kickoff to final whistle in our newsletter, on social, and beyond.

• You can find all our coverage in one place by checking out our Soccer Help Desk, sponsored by BMO. You’re welcome.

⛳ PGA: U.S. Open — Today through Sunday — TSN

• World No. 25 J.J. Spaun leads the field after a bogey-free first round at Oakmont Country Club, leaving top dogs like No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy in the dust at the toughest major on the men’s calendar. With deep roughs like these, expect the unexpected.

🏀 WNBA: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass

• Fresh off her career-high, 35-point return, rookie Paige Bueckers (pronounced BECK-ers) and Co. are heading to Sin City, taking on the recently vulnerable Aces, who may be without three-time MVP A’ja Wilson after she suffered a head injury on Wednesday.

🏀 WNBA: NY Liberty vs. Indiana Fever — Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass

• All eyes are on the Fever’s injury report, as Caitlin Clark (quad) could return from a five-game absence after practicing with the team this week. Indiana — who lost three of five contests sans Clark — needs all the help they can get against the undefeated Libs (9-0), who are off to their best start in franchise history.

🏎️ F1: Canadian Grand Prix — Sunday at 2 p.m. ET — TSN

• Enjoy a full night’s sleep, racing enthusiasts, because F1 (and F1 Academy) are back in North America. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen might as well be an honorary Canuck after winning the last three races in Montréal, but the fierce McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are poised to end his dominance.

🏆 Need a primer on the men’s Concacaf Gold Cup? Look no further.

💛 The tourney is held every two years and was established in 1991, featuring teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, the regions that make up Concacaf.

🇲🇽 Mexico is the winningest team in Gold Cup history, hosting nine trophies, including the most recent tourney in 2023.

👀 The Americans trail slightly behind, with seven tourney wins, while Canada has only reached the mountaintop once, in 2000.

Ready to be the best fan you can be? Then check out our Soccer Help Desk, created with support from our pals at BMO, where you can find answers to all your footy questions.