The NWSL was the first North American pro team league to return to play. And now, they’re the first league to start their playoffs as they move on to the knockout round of the Challenge Cup. Thank goodness for women’s sports.

You’d think that pro basketball leagues would be taking all necessary precautions to keep their players safe in the Florida Bubble/Wubble, right? This week we were proven wrong after the WNBA and NBA showed they still have some work to do to protect their most vulnerable (and valuable).

It’s almost football season, and even though the NFL has been steadfast in their belief that they will absolutely, definitely, for sure go ahead with the season, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is prepping the contingency plan...you know, just in case.

This week co-hosts Ellen and Steph give #thegist of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on college sports. With some conferences cancelling fall sports, including football, schools have had to cut some varsity sports teams and make changes to athletic scholarships indefinitely. Meanwhile, some football teams, led by well-paid white coaches, are urging the season to go ahead, putting their unpaid, majority Black, players at risk. Tune in, won’t you.

NBA players petitioned for and won the right to wear social justice messages on their jerseys during the league’s upcoming season restart. And while we figured some players may not take part, we were v. surprised to hear that of all people, superstar LeBron James is one of them.

The MLS may need to reconsider their super inventive return-to-play tournament name, aptly called the “MLS Is Back Tournament.” Maybe something like “MLS is kind of back, but maybe not for long, and not everyone is here...Tournament”?

As we anticipate the return of so many pro sports, the college sports world is not looking great: it seems like a few sports won’t be coming back this year...or ever.

The MLS Is Back Tournament (the most snoozy and literal name ever, we know) kicked off last night, meaning that, along with the NWSL’s Challenge Cup that’s already underway, it’s soccer’s time to shine. But unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the world’s most popular game.

The WNBA season is set to tip off on July 24th. And unfortunately, instead of talking about the upcoming season, it’s what’s happening off the court that’s in the spotlight...and not for the best reasons.

This week co-hosts Ellen and Steph talk sports returning to play. From leagues that are already underway like the NWSL, to the NBA (that’s still going to Disney World), to the NHL (that finally has a plan), Ellen and Steph cover it all. And bonus: they give you #thegist of what each of the leagues, and players, are doing (or not doing) for the Black Lives Matter movement. Tune in, won’t you?

As the musical version of Alexander Hamilton said (by way of Lin-Manuel Miranda, because yes, we’re obsessed), “This is not a moment; it’s a movement.” And he was totally right. Ongoing protests and calls for equality and diversity are leading to great change in the sports world.