Training season’s over

The GIST: Move over, Pitbull — women’s basketball has gone global. The FIBA Women’s World Cup, featuring 70 current or former WNBA players, tipped off this morning (and you can watch all 36 games on TSN Premium). Let’s hoop to it.

• But first, the elephant in the room: Despite boasting a top-ten international ranking, Canada failed to qualify for this year’s tourney. Hopefully they’re saving their best stuff for LA 2028.

⚙️ How it works: Featuring 16 teams split into four groups, step one of the quadrennial tourney is pool play, where each squad faces the other three countries in their group once. The winners of each group automatically punch quarter-final tickets, while the second- and third-place teams battle in the first of four knockout rounds. Making it to the September 13th championship game isn’t for the faint of heart.

🏆 Team USA chasing fifth straight title: The diamond-encrusted chalice has been in American possession since 2010, and this stacked roster is favored to take it home again — even without sidelined injured superstars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum. Just how talented are they? Well, every single member of this squad has at least two WNBA All-Star nods on their résumé.

🏃‍♀️ France headlines the rest of the field: The American dynasty’s been dominant, but the French are closing the gap. Look no further than the nail-biting 2024 Olympic gold medal game. Les Bleues boast the second-most WNBA players (eight), including Golden State Valkyries standout Gabby Williams and dunking phenom Dominique Malonga. A rematch for the World Cup title? Oui, SVP.

The GIST: The third round of the US Open begins in Queens today and time flies when you’re having fun: The next time you hear from us, we’ll be previewing the women’s and men’s singles semis. Cross your fingers the rain delays are done — there’s a lot of tennis to play.

💪 Yesterday’s second-round matches were mostly chalk, but not without upsets: On the women’s side, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, No. 4 Coco Gauff, and No. 18 Alex Eala were victorious, much like No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 10 Taylor Fritz, and No. 15 Learner Tien (who ousted veteran Gaël Monfils in his final major) on the men’s side.

• Elsewhere, No. 4 Félix Auger-Aliassime is heading home early after struggling physically in yesterday’s loss to qualifier Karen Khachanov, a particularly stunning defeat after the Canadian’s semis run last year.

📺 The weekend lineup is jam-packed with starpower: Cross-border rivalries reign supreme in both the women’s and men’s singles tourney today. American No. 3 Jess Pegula takes on Canadian No. 33 Leylah Fernandez at 11:30 a.m. ET, before No. 9 Ben Shelton faces No. 48 Denis Shapovalov in the night session at 8:10 p.m. ET.

• And the US Open also saved one of the most-anticipated matches for Friday night. After yesterday’s rain delay, 14-time Grand Slam doubles champs Venus and Serena Williams make their grand return to the majors, going up against Maya Joint and Chan Hao-ching at 7 p.m. ET. So seated.

⚽ WSL: Manchester United vs. London City Lionesses — Today at 2 p.m. ET — Sportsnet ONE

• It’s opening weekend for the English Women’s Super League (WSL), and the first match is a bonafide barnburner. Man U enters a new era under new manager (aka, head coach) Eva Olid, while the Lionesses have a fierce, fresh captain in two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Alexia Putellas.

🏈 CFL: BC Lions vs. Montreal Alouettes — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — TSN

• Fall isn’t just about PSLs: It’s also about the CFL Playoffs. The league-best Als could become the first team to clinch their spot if they can top the 6-5 Lions. Easy peasy, right? Not so fast, these cats are sporting a five-game win streak.

⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. KC Royals — Tonight at 8:10 p.m. ET — Sportsnet

• September baseball has arrived, upping the ante for the Wild Card–chasing Jays. Now just a half game out of a playoff spot, see if the Jays can soar on the road against the all but eliminated Royals.

🏎️ Formula 1: Italian Grand Prix — Sunday at 9 a.m. ET — TSN

• Grab a cold compress because F1 is heating up, like really heating up. Ferrari’s leveling up at their home race, World Drivers’ Championship leader Kimi Antonelli’s starting at the back of the grid, and the Lightning McQueen’s even taking a few laps. Faster than fast.

⚽ NSL: Montréal Roses vs. Ottawa Rapid — Sunday at 12 p.m. ET — TSN

• Montréal’s the league’s new top dog, taking the crown from Ottawa just last week. Tune in to see how Roses Golden Boot leader Elyse Bennett fares against Rapid goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais, who has the most saves in the NSL this season.