Baby, baby, baby, oh

The GIST: The championship chase is on, with the PWHL’s inaugural postseason Game 1s officially in the books. Turn on tweet notifications to see highlights in real time, and settle in because the best-of-five semis are just getting started.

Top-seeded Toronto dominates No. 4 Minnesota in Game 1: Toronto certainly appeared to have made the right semis choice on Wednesday, topping Minnesota 4–0 in front of a sold out crowd. Regular-season points leader Natalie Spooner scored the first goal in PWHL playoff history, and Toronto never looked back en route to the goalie Kristen Campbell–led shutout.

• That marks six straight Ls for Minnesota, dating back to the regular season, but fortunately their gear will have arrived with plenty of time ahead of tonight’s pivotal 7 p.m. ET Game 2 in Toronto.

No. 3 Boston outlasts No. 2 Montréal on the road: The first-ever overtime (OT) PWHL playoff game saw Boston emerge victorious 2–1 as Susanna Tapani lit the lamp with the golden goal game-winner. Say that three times fast.

• With a massive road win in hand and goalie Aerin Frankel in net fresh off last night’s PWHL-record 53-save performance, Boston now has a chance to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when the puck drops for Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.

The GIST: After last night’s postseason hoopla saw two underdogs come out on top, there’s more chaos to come as the conference semis shift venues for Games 3 and 4. No chicken counting here.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ role players shine in Game 2 upset: Six Cavs scored in double digits, helping Cleveland shock the No. 1 Boston Celtics 118–94 last night. Evan Mobley had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, making him the first Cav since some guy named LeBron James to record a 20/10/5 playoff statline. Can he do it again in tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 3?

Luka Dončić (29 points) steers Dallas Mavericks to gutsy win: Dončić and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were both MVP contenders this season, but Dončić came out on top last night, handing the Thunder their first postseason L, a 119–110 Mavs’ victory. With the series evened 1-1, the action swings to Dallas for Game 3, tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Tonight’s Game 3 doubleheader: First up, it’s the Indiana Pacers (down 0-2) vs. the NY Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, with Indy playing host after submitting a lengthy list of referee complaints from Games 1 and 2. However, the outcome of tonight’s battle will likely hinge less on officiating and more on the Knicks’ growing injury list, which now includes All-Star Jalen Brunson. Uh oh.

• Then at 9:30 p.m. ET, the Minnesota Timberwolves, bolstered by the return of Defensive Player of the Year (and new dad) Rudy Gobert, have a home court chance to extend their 2-0 series lead over the defending champ Denver Nuggets. Can Denver rally? Neigh-ver say never.

A scoring, rebounding, and blocking machine, new pro women’s hooper Cameron Brink was the ultimate two-way player in college. She’s her former conference’s reigning Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year — no wonder the No. 2 overall draft pick partnered with New Balance.

• Just like Brink, New Balance’s gear does it all. It’ll stand up to your toughest workouts, but looks stylish enough to effortlessly slay your post-workout coffee run.

Our top pick? Their TWO WXY v4 sneakers, which are just like Brink in shoe form. These fashion-forward kicks are custom-built for the most versatile of hoopers, drawing eyeballs to your game and your drip.

The GIST: The good ol’ hockey game has not disappointed thus far, as teams bring the heat in conference semis play. Scorching that ice.

NY Rangers are one win away from another sweep: The Presidents’ Trophy winners got off to a slow start, but thanks to winger Artemi Panarin, the Rangers skated to a 3–2 OT Game 3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes to stay undefeated in the postseason. The Canes will now skate to save their season in tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET Game 4.

Dallas Stars eke out win over Colorado Avalanche: The Stars almost re-lived their nightmarish Game 1, surrendering three third-period goals to the high-powered Avs, before escaping with a 5–3 Game 2 win last night. With the series tied at one game apiece, these Central Division foes know each other better than anyone — expect more chaos in Game 3 tomorrow at 10 p.m. ET.

Looking ahead to tonight’s games: The fun begins at 7 p.m. ET in Beantown, where the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers (tied 1-1) will duke it out (probably quite literally) for the upper hand in the series. Just like Katy Perry, each team has been hot and cold through the first two games, so tonight’s winner can gain some serious momentum for the rest of the series.

• Over on the West Coast, the Vancouver Canucks overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Edmonton Oilers 5–4 in Wednesday’s Game 1. Watch for Oilers star Connor McDavid to take more shots (there’s nowhere to go but up) when the Game 2 puck drops at 10 p.m. ET.

⛳ LPGA: Cognizant Founders Cup — Today through Sunday — Peacock

• After one full day at the Cognizant Founders Cup, American and world No. 22 Rose Zhang leads the field with a nine-under par, while world No. 1 Nelly Korda sits six strokes back in her quest for a sixth straight LPGA Tour title.

🎓🥎 NCAA softball: Conference tournaments — Today through Saturday — ESPN Networks

• Upsets, extra innings walk-offs, jaw-dropping catches — all that and we’re only two days into conference tourney play. Expect plenty more May-hem ahead of Sunday’s 7 p.m. ET national tournament selection show.

🎓🥍 NCAA lacrosse: National championship tournament — Today through May 26th — ESPN+

• The natty fun officially begins today with some potential history on the horizon. Northwestern star Izzy Scane is tied for the all-time NCAA scoring record and could break it when her Wildcats begin their title defense Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

⚽ NWSL: San Diego Wave vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC — Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET — ION

• Another record chase, coming right up. Gotham and USWNT forward Lynn Williams is now tied for the all-time NWSL scoring record and could become the sole owner after this clash of middle-of-the-pack squads. Don’t miss it.