Slam, bam, thank you, ma’am

There’s just one more sleep until the action kicks off and a ton of fun coverage coming your way. Here’s our plans for the biggest sporting event in the world:

• ✅ Special edition preview tomorrow — 48 teams? No problem.

• 🇨🇦 Gametime emails ahead of each CanMNT match. Let’s go, fellas.

• 👀 Full tourney coverage on social.

Simply cannot wait, but first, we scroll.

On the heels of a double-overtime Game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Canes came out firing in last night’s Game 4, lighting the lamp twice in the first four minutes and weathering a Vegas onslaught with a pair of third-period goals. The result? A crowd-silencing 5–3 win, goalie Brandon Bussi’s first playoff victory.

• This back-and-forth series feels destined for a Stanley Cup–deciding Game 7 — but first, it’s back to Carolina for tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5. Expect the chaos to continue: This is the first Final in NHL history where multi-goal deficits have been erased in four straight games.

Give Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama a sketchbook, and the 22-year-old will create a work of art: Wemby’s efficient 32-point performance (and a full-team defensive masterclass) lifted the Spurs to a crucial 115–111 Monday win over the NY Knicks. The Spurs have held double-digit leads in all three games, but improved late-game execution in Game 3 kept the resilient Knicks in check.

• With tonight’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 4 looming, San Antonio will be banking on the status quo: The road team has won the first three Finals games for just the second time in league history. Turns out Dorothy had it all wrong…at least so far.

🏒 Phase 2 of the PWHL’s six-phase expansion process is complete — and Hilary Knight is on the move again. The American legend will join PWHL Detroit (her third team in four seasons) via a sign-and-trade with Las Vegas.

🤦 After wagering an estimated $90K on college and pro sports, including at least 40 bets on his own team, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will be eligible to play NCAA football this fall after serving a two-game suspension. Make it make sense.

🥎 Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s (AUSL) second season began in style yesterday with expansion team Oklahoma City Spark picking up their inaugural win, a high-scoring 13–5 dub over the Texas Volts. Plenty more where that came from.

🇨🇦⚽ No. 9 CanWNT refused to let the men have all the fun this week, defeating No. 43 Costa Rica 6–0 in last night’s friendly thanks to a quick goal from forward Evelyne Viens, plus three from winger Janine Sonis, including two prime penalty shots. Little bit of everything

👀🏒 Longtime Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin wants out, requesting a trade from the NHL team with the longest active playoff drought. Larkin reportedly would like to land with the Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, or Florida Panthers.

⚾ Help is on the way for the Toronto Blue Jays. Pitcher Dylan Cease was stellar in his return from the injured list in last night’s 3–2 walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies, Max Scherzer takes the hill tonight at 7:07 p.m. ET, and catcher Alejandro Kirk is nearing a return. Thank goodness.

⛳ The RBC Canadian Open begins tomorrow at TPC Toronto, the last stop on the PGA Tour before the season’s third major, the U.S. Open. No. 37 American Wyndham Clark is among the favorites, as is No. 62 Canadian Nick Taylor, who won the event in 2023. Fore!