One WNBA playoffs semifinal is locked in, the other depends on tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3, and just when you thought things couldn’t get spicier, the league MVP will be crowned on Sunday. The hoops drama is about to hit a crescendo — turn it up.

Time flies when you’re having fun…and when the first round is only a best-of-three series. Just a few short days after the WNBA playoffs tipped off, all four series could be decided before our next newsletter with tickets to the best-of-five semifinals on the line. Let’s hoop to it.

The WNBA postseason tips off tomorrow, and we decided all three rounds deserve their own newsletter. Over the next month, we’ll be in your inbox with a trilogy of special editions, breaking down the best-of-three first round, the best-of-five semis, and the best-of-seven finals — it’s like The GIST’s version of a triple‑double.

ICYMI, LA Clipper Kawhi Leonard has been the talk of the sports world amid an alleged salary cap circumvention scandal. Here’s what you need to know about this developing story, initially broken by investigative journalist Pablo Torre, including NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s first public comments on the incident. Drama-rama.

The Seattle Storm officially completed the WNBA’s eight-team playoff field with last night’s win over the Golden State Valkyries — but postseason positioning will come down to the last two days of the season…and so will the league’s MVP award.

The WNBA standings are like reality TV, but with layups. Aside from the Minnesota Lynx, who’ll likely lock in the No. 1 spot this week, nearly every postseason position is up for grabs — and there are only two weeks left in the regular season. The drama.

More than 2.5M fans (and counting) have packed WNBA arenas this year, making 2025 the most-attended season in league history. Amazing what can happen when folks have access to world-class hoops — here’s the latest from the ever-captivating hardwood.

Step aside crab fishermen — the most difficult job in the world isn’t on the high seas; it’s in WNBA arenas across the country, where team medical staff are dealing with a barrage of injuries. Here’s the latest from the league’s injury report.

The struggling Connecticut Sun, who will officially miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016, aren’t just contending with on-court troubles — the saga surrounding the team’s potential sale is just getting started. Let’s break down yesterday’s fascinating ESPN report.

Whether it was the league’s first-ever statue unveiling or an expansion logo tattoo, the W movers and shakers are celebrating the past and future. Now, let’s lock in on the present.

Tonight’s WNBA Canada game was set to be a victory lap, celebrating the league’s growth and Toronto as its first Canadian expansion city. But some on- and off-court drama is crashing the party before the 10 p.m. ET tipoff, demonstrating the challenges of a rapid rise to the mainstream.

All-Star Weekend? Check. Trade deadline? Check. Now it’s full steam ahead to the most important item on the WNBA calendar: the playoffs. With exactly one month left of the regular season, postseason positioning is all that matters. Now the fun really begins.