A better combo than peanut butter and chocolate

The GIST: Just ahead of the regular season resuming post-Olympics, the NWSL and its players association announced a historic new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), effective immediately, that grants players more agency, compensation, and benefits than ever before. HYFR.

NWSL breaks American precedent, eliminates the college draft: A first among major American sports leagues, the NWSL has eliminated the draft, a move that increases player agency by allowing them to negotiate with teams in an open market rather than anxiously wait to see which club chooses them.

• Though operating without a draft is a novel move in the States, it’s the norm in top overseas footy programs like the Premier League and the Women’s Super League.

• The new CBA also removed limitations on season start and end dates, making it possible for the NWSL to run from fall to spring (like most international soccer leagues) in the future as opposed to its current March to November format.

Say hello to guaranteed contracts, unrestricted free agency, and more: The list goes on and on when it comes to new player benefits. All contracts are now fully guaranteed and individual salary caps have been eliminated. Plus, the league’s minimum salary is set to raise from $48.5K in 2025 to $82.5K by 2030. Keep on climbin’.

• Additionally, all players will be granted unrestricted free agency when their contract expires, a shift from the previous CBA, which only permitted such autonomy to players of a certain tenure.

• Perhaps best of all, all trades will require player consent, meaning athletes can’t be sent to a new squad without agreeing to it first. Love to see it.

Putting people at the center: Last but not least, the CBA expands parental leave, childcare benefits, and mental health services, and cements charter flights for teams for up to six legs (three round trips) in a season. This agreement is more than historic — it’s a new precedent for professional athletes worldwide.

The GIST: Speaking of innovation in women’s sports, the fifth annual Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Softball season comes to a thrilling end this weekend, with 60 of the world’s best softballers jockeying to top the leaderboard and claim the AU crown.

• Championship weekend begins tonight at 6 p.m. ET and culminates with Sunday’s 5:30 p.m. ET season finale — here’s what to know before the first pitch is thrown.

How it works: Along with the leagues in the broader AU network, AU softball is a fun, fantasy-style competition in which athletes compete to earn individual points. Teams are re-drafted week-to-week as chosen by captains — the top-four performers the week prior.

• Athletes earn points for individual inning and overall game wins as well as individual MVP honors as voted by their fellow players. This league truly has it all.

The race to top the leaderboard: Outfielder Amanda Lorenz jumped to the top spot back in Week Two and hasn’t looked back, entering Week 5 with a comfy 230-point cushion. If anyone can catch her, it’s pitchers Georgina Corrick and 2021 champ Aleshia Ocasio, who currently sit in second and third, respectively, with higher point-earning opportunities thanks to their positions.

• That said, Lorenz will be tough to beat — she leads the league in batting average, is tied for first in home runs, and boasts a jaw-dropping, league-best .700 slugging percentage. Literally knocking it out of the park.

There’s no rest for the weary champions: The USWNT superstars are getting right back to work in the hunt for some NWSL hardware, with just two months until playoffs.

• The league sent 57 players to the international stage this summer — more than 20% of the player pool and more than any other league in the world. Here are the footballers to watch as the NWSL returns to action this Friday, airing on CBS, Prime, and ION.

☕ Triple Espresso: The indomitable front line of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman took the world by storm this summer — but now, they’re back with the Portland Thorns, Chicago Red Stars, and Washington Spirit, respectively. If you think they’re exciting when they work together, just wait until you see them go head-to-head.

🧱 Alyssa Naeher: America’s keeper doesn’t save her best play for international tournaments — she’s that good all of the time. You can ask “How does she do that?” again and again when she suits up with the Red Stars.

🔒 Naomi Girma: The lockdown defender proved she’s bound to be a USWNT mainstay — some are already calling the 24-year-old a future captain — and the present is just as impressive as she reunites with the San Diego Wave.

⛳ LPGA: AIG Women’s Open — Today through Sunday — NBC and Peacock

• Forget Winnie the Pooh, it was the LPGA and the Blustery Day when the fifth and final major of the season teed off yesterday. Expect more typical British weather heading into the final three rounds as the current leader, England’s Charley Hull, swings for her first major win.

🏌️ PGA: BMW Championship — Today through Sunday — NBC/ESPN+

• The PGA’s top 50 golfers hit the links for the second leg of the FedEx Cup. American Keegan Bradley leads a star-studded field after the first round, with only the top 30 finishers advancing to next weekend’s Tour Championship.

⚾ Little League World Series: International Championship & U.S. Championship — Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET and 3:30 p.m. ET — ABC

• The kids are swinging right into championship Saturday, with winners advancing to Sunday’s 3 p.m. ET LLWS championship game. Queen at the ready.

🏎️ F1: Dutch Grand Prix — Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET — ESPN

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sits atop the Driver’s Championship standings heading into his home race, but with the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hot on his heels, the Dutchman will need the speediest of starts when the lights go out in Zandvoort.

Looking for something unique and shiny to be the envy of all your pals? No, we’re not talking about a piece of jewelry.

Think outside of the box and pick up a set of Topps’ 2024 Chrome Tennis cards. The world’s best trading card company just released their first tennis edition since 2021, and it’s fabulous.

• We’re talking autographed collectibles from superstars like Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as legends like women’s sports stan, Andy Murray. Invest in history today.