Look good, feel good, play good

The GIST: The NWSL’s newly expanded eight-team playoffs is finally here, with quarter-final action kicking off tonight from Orlando. No time to waste — here’s what to expect from each match.

No. 8 seed Chicago Red Stars vs. No. 1 seed Orlando Pride — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET: Marta’s Pride were the team to beat all season long, conceding just two games and clinching the NWSL Shield (awarded to the best regular-season squad). But recent injuries have left this top-seed vulnerable. Can the recently struggling Red Stars pull off the ultimate upset?

No. 5 seed North Carolina Courage vs. No. 4 seed Kansas City Current — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET: CPKC Stadium, the world’s first soccer venue built exclusively for a pro women’s team, will host their first (but not last) playoff game tomorrow, bolstering the Current’s already soaring chances for a dub.

• However, KC, who led the league in scoring this season, may be without their sharpest weapon: injured Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga. Plus, the Current’s last loss on September 1st came at the hands feet of the middling Courage. Spicy.

No. 7 seed Bay FC vs. No. 2 seed Washington Spirit — Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET: Expansion team Bay FC threw down a statement win last week to earn their playoff berth and are riding some serious momentum thanks to forward Racheal Kundananji’s recent form.

• Meanwhile, the Spirit suffered a tough slew of season-ending injuries, but with winger Trinity Rodman back on the pitch, golazos and viral cellys feel inevitable.

No. 6 seed Portland Thorns vs. No. 3 seed NJ/NY Gotham FC — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Once an underdog and now a superteam, defending champs Gotham and leading goal-scorer Esther González are riding high, making this matchup against Christine Sinclair’s Thorns the quarter-final to watch. With her retirement imminent, every game could be Sincy’s last — pass the tissues and pop the corn.

With the NWSL playoffs officially here, we want to give you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness this historic season’s grand finalé: the championship game. Goals.

• We're giving away four VIP tickets to the NWSL title game on Saturday, November 23rd. The match will be played at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium, the world's first soccer stadium built specifically for a women's professional team.

Don’t you want to be part of history? Enter to win today — and have your friends enter to double or triple your chances of winning. No matter who hoists the trophy, it’s going to be an electrifying day. LFG.

🇺🇸🏒 Rivalry Series: Team Canada vs. Team USA — Tonight at 9 p.m. ET — NHL Network

• The Americans dominated their archrival in Wednesday’s 7–2 series-opening shellacking, lighting the lamp five times in the first period. But it takes four wins to snag the series, something the red, white, and blue know all too well. Pedal to the metal.

🎓🏈 NCAA football: No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 14 LSU — Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET — ABC

• There’s still one month until Selection Day, but a playoff berth may very well be on the line tomorrow. Alabama and LSU are both 6-2 with inconsistent play plaguing these SEC juggernauts, and one more loss could put their postseason dreams on ice.

⚽ MLS Cup Playoffs: No. 8 seed Atlanta United vs. No. 1 seed Inter Miami CF — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

• Lionel Messi’s first Miami postseason isn’t going as planned after Atlanta unexpectedly forced this win-or-go-home Game 3. Anything less than winning the MLS Cup would be considered a failure for the GOAT’s stacked squad, so expect Miami to come out kicking.

🏈 NFL: San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — FOX

• Guess who’s back, back again? CMC’s back…finally. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, SF running back Christian McCaffrey will make his season debut this week, and the timing couldn’t be better with the 4-4 Niners in desperate need of some momentum.