đ We got one more night of regular-season basketball and then it's go time! The playoffs tip off Sunday, and here's what we already know: Minnesota has locked up the No. 1 seed and will face No. 8 New York. Both teams are limping into the postseason, so this series is up for grabs. Atlanta is locked into the No. 4 spot and looking like they could make a deep run. Dallas sits at No. 7, waiting to see who will most likely beat them. Tonight (Thursday, September 24) settles the rest, with Indiana and Washington battling for the 5 and 6 seeds, and Golden State and Las Vegas fighting for 2 and 3. For only the second time in league history, every playoff team won at least 59% of its games. Which is why I'm calling it now: this is going to be the most exciting WNBA playoffs to date. I'm talking upsets, buzzer beaters, overtime heartbreak. One of the top two seeds will not make it to the Finals. Maybe both. You heard it here first! For the full playoff schedule and where to watch every game, head to WNBA.com.
đ´ It's time to dust off the Peloton, hop on your road bike or pump up the beach cruiser. Saturday's elite women's road race at the Road World Championships in MontrĂŠal is serving serious cycling inspiration. It's the rare race where riders ditch their pro teams and ride for their countries. The course is, let's just say, aggressive: about 112 miles, with more than 8,400 feet of climbing and eight laps around Mount Royal. Canada's Magdeleine Vallières defends her title on home soil, while Demi Vollering rolls in as the favorite after winning the Tour de France Femmes. Team USA sends six riders, led by Kristen Faulkner, the reigning Olympic road race champion, and Kate Courtney, a former mountain bike world champion who won the U.S. road title in her first season on the road. No American woman has won this race since 1980. Feels like it's time. Saturday at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT on FloBikes.
đ What's the new Sunday Funday? A college volleyball doubleheader stacked with killer teams. And obviously, mimosas. First up, No. 3 Kentucky hosts No. 7 Texas. Brooklyn DeLeye is coming off 22 kills in a win over Louisville that earned her SEC Player of the Week. Texas answers with Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears, both All-Americans last season. Then undefeated No. 2 Pitt hosts No. 12 Stanford in a showdown between last year's ACC co-champs. Stanford brings Jordyn Harvey, fresh off a career-high 21 kills and ACC Offensive Player of the Week. Pitt counters with my favorite player, Olivia Babcock, the two-time National Player of the Year. The Panthers also haven't lost at home in 56 matches. Watching Babcock play is the reason I own a TV. Kentucky vs. Texas at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT and Pitt vs. Stanford at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT, both on ESPN.
