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 TNT). Let’s hoop to it.

⚙️ 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.

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

• 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.

⚾ MLB: Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies — Tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET — MLB.TV

• September baseball has arrived, upping the ante as teams push for the postseason. Both of these squads are almost certainly playoff-bound, but this crucial series could decide who wins the National League East crown and the home-field advantage that comes with it.

• And this four-game set is starting off with a battle between two of the game’s best: Atlanta ace Chris Sale will take the mound against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sánchez. Can’t wait.

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

• 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.

⚽ NWSL: Gotham FC vs. Denver Summit — Sunday at 2 p.m. ET — CBS

• Get ready for an NWSL national broadcast doubleheader, starting with surging expansion squad Denver against league-leading Gotham. The Bats are undefeated in their last 10 games, but the Summit are one of the three teams that have topped the defending champs this season.

⚽ NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns — Sunday at 4 p.m. ET — CBS

• Stay tuned to see Spirit forward Trinity Rodman face her fellow espresso queen, Thorns forward Sophia Wilson. The Thorns boast a 13-game home unbeaten streak and Washington has never topped Portland at Providence Park. That said, anything is possible with this many caffeinated goal-scorers.