Etsy witch–level magic

The GIST: Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Euro final is close enough to taste — but there’s still one semi to go. Scroll on to learn how the defending champs booked their return to the ’ship before we preview today’s must-win match between No. 2 Spain and No. 3 Germany.

🤯 No. 5 England launches yet another comeback, defeats No. 13 Italy 2–1: For the second consecutive game, the Lioness supersubs made all the difference. Underdog Italy capitalized on another slow England start and led 1–0 for much of yesterday’s semi, until teen Lioness striker Michelle Agyemang scored the latest equalizer in tournament semifinal history, forcing extra time.

• Then in the 119th minute, fellow substitute Chloe Kelly sealed the deal when England was awarded a controversial penalty kick. Etsy witch–level magic.

👀 No. 2 Spain has never beaten No. 3 Germany — will that change today?: Defending FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Spain has played flawless fútbol throughout the tourney, winning every match thus far. But old habits die hard — and Germany is Spain’s kryptonite.

• Die Nationalelf has tied three and won five of their eight all-time matches against La Roja, including last year’s Paris Olympics bronze medal match victory. Can this never-say-die squad defy the odds and defeat the tourney favorites once more? We’ll find out at 3 p.m. ET.

The GIST: Just like your fave tunnel fit, the WNBA’s back serving looks as the second half of the season tipped off with last night’s five-game slate. Let’s hoop to it with a mid-week round-up of who’s hot and who’s not, plus a look at the road ahead.

🔥 Minnesota Lynx remain infallible at home: Last night’s 91–68 win over the Chicago Sky moved the Lynx to a perfect 13-0 at Target Center, 15 victories shy of the league’s all-time home win streak record. Undefeated home streaks have been something of a crystal ball in the W: The last five teams to start the season 10-0 (or better) finished as champions. *taps ruby slippers*

• Speaking of champs, the NY Liberty bolstered their repeat hopes on Monday, inking 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman. The 32-year-old led Istanbul’s Fenerbahçe to back-to-back EuroLeague titles since leaving the W in 2022, and she now joins a Libs squad who just celebrated Jonquel Jones’ return from injury.

❄️ Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark remains sidelined: Clark (quad and groin) didn’t take the floor in last night’s 98–84 loss to NY, marking the 12th game (including the Commissioner's Cup final) she’s missed this season. This is uncharted territory for the two-time All-Star, who played every single game during her four-year collegiate career and her first pro season.

➡️ Pushing towards the playoffs: The top eight teams will make the postseason regardless of conference, and every game matters, especially with these jam-packed standings. There’s only one tilt on the docket tonight — and it’s a good one as the second-in-the-East Atlanta Dream battle the second-in-the-West Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. ET. Pop that corn.

We don’t need to tell you the pay gap between female and male athletes is still a thing, forcing women in sports to be extra thoughtful when planning their post-playing careers. And when it comes to making a second act shine, Intuit QuickBooks is changing the game for entrepreneurial athletes. How? Let us count the ways:

✍️ Start Up Training Camp: QuickBooks brought nine lucky stars, including NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Midge Purce, Seattle Reign FC’s Lynn Williams Biyendolo, and the LA Sparks’ Dearica Hamby, to USC’s campus for a crash course in turning their side hustles into successes. An MBA in a day? Yes, please.

👗 USWNT Players’ Ball Retirement Moment: They honored an all-time great retirement class — Alex Morgan, Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Sam Mewis — at the team’s annual Players’ Ball and will support them in whatever they do next, too.

🔢 Small business support superstar: They’re unmatched when it comes to helping players transition from pro athlete to business owner. QuickBooks boosts business owners across the women’s sports ecosystem (The GIST included!) and can be the entrepreneurial coach you didn’t know you needed.

🚴 Tour de France — Ongoing — Peacock

• Just how high can Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar climb? The limit does not exist. The race leader retained his spot yesterday, putting on a record-breaking Mont Ventoux ascent and holding off his nemesis, Jonas Vingegaard, with just five stages to go.

🥎 AUSL: Volts vs. Talons — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — ESPN2

• It’s the final day of the inaugural regular season, and the Talons will be looking to end it on a high note. They’ll soar into this weekend’s best-of-three championship series vs. the Bandits, who finish their own regular season at 8:30 p.m. ET against the Blaze. Look good, feel good, play good.

⚽ MLS: All-Star Game — Tonight at 9 p.m. ET — MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

• The MLS’ finest are looking extra shiny ahead of tonight’s match, which will pit them against the top players in Mexico’s Liga MX. But the question of the night is whether Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi will make his long-awaited All-Star debut or suffer the consequences for skipping. Drama.

Tired of women’s sports getting second billing? Same. Enter: Edmonton, Canada, where women’s sports are the main event — not an afterthought. In Edmonton…

👏 Trailblazing legacies are honored

✨ Today’s stars have a chance to shine (take the FIBA 3x3 women’s series for example)

💭 The next generation of elite women athletes are empowered to dream big

Women’s sports aren’t just played in Edmonton — they’re celebrated. Learn more about how the city’s become one of North America’s premier women’s sports destinations (and one of the world’s best places to travel)…because why settle for crumbs when you can have the whole cake?