Karma is the guy on the…

The GIST: Honey Deuce season is almost over, but before it officially comes to an end, the US Open has three days of action — today’s men’s semis, tomorrow’s women’s final, and Sunday’s men’s final — on the docket.

• Best of all? Two first-time US Open winners will be crowned by the weekend’s end. Brilliant.

Today’s men’s semis features an All-American clash: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is in strong form in Queens, pushing past his recent doping scandal and fighting for a chance to win his second career major following January’s Australian Open win. His 3 p.m. ET opponent? No. 25 Jack Draper, the first British man to advance to the semis since 2012.

• But prime time promises fireworks because tonight at 7 p.m. ET, two red, white, and blue buddies are facing off in the US Open semis for the first time in 19 years: No. 12 Taylor Fritz vs. No. 20 Frances Tiafoe. Expect a real racket at Arthur Ashe.

No. 6 Jessica Pegula taking on No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka for first major title: Pegula defeated unseeded Karolína Muchová in three sets last night, clinching a spot in tomorrow’s final against Sabalenka. Following a dominant hardcourt year that included her first Grand Slam win at the 2024 Australian Open, Sabalenka is the player to beat, dropping just one set this tourney.

• Pegula has never made it this far in a Grand Slam, but after taking out No. 1 Iga Świątek (pronounced SHVEE-ON-TIK) in the quarters, the American just may leverage the home crowd energy to leave Flushing Meadows on the 7 train with a new piece of hardware.

The GIST: USWNT striker Alex Morgan is hanging up her boots, retiring as one of the most dangerous goal scorers in American women’s soccer history and leaving the women’s game in a stronger, more equal place than she found it.

• Here’s a look at Morgan’s iconic career by the numbers before her final match with the San Diego Wave this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

🩷 13: Two things are iconically Morgan: pink pre wrap headbands and the number 13, which she rocked on her jersey from her early days as speedy Baby Horse to her final years as USWNT captain. No wonder she and Taylor Swift are pals.

🇺🇸 224: The number of Morgan’s national team appearances since her 2010 debut. Morgan notched 123 international goals during that time, making her the fifth all-time best USWNT scorer. Making moms proud.

🏆 4: Morgan won four international trophies in her illustrious career, including two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold (2012), and one Olympic bronze (2021). *sips tea*

🎉 2013: The year Morgan became an NWSL champ, winning the league’s inaugural title with the Portland Thorns. Nearly a decade later, Morgan won the 2022 NWSL Golden Boot, awarded to the league’s top scorer, with her hometown expansion team, the San Diego Wave, and led the team to their first NWSL Shield (awarded to the team with the best regular season record) the next season.

🫰 $24M: Beyond her numerous accomplishments on the pitch, what best defines Morgan’s legacy is her fight for equality in the women’s game, exemplified by the $24M settlement the USWNT won after a lengthy legal battle against the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal pay. Morgan was among the first players to sign her name to the lawsuit in 2016.

• Morgan also never backed down when it came to supporting her fellow players, becoming a crucial witness in the NWSL workplace abuse reckoning and forever advocating for respect for women’s sports. There will never be another.

🏈 NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles — Tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET — ESPN

• The NFL’s opening weekend continues with the league’s first-ever game in Brazil. The loaded Birds are hoping to kick off the season on the right foot after last year’s epic collapse, while the youthful Pack’s impressive 2023 has them looking like a title contender.

⚾ MLB: Cleveland Guardians vs. LA Dodgers — Tonight at 10:10 p.m. ET — MLB.TV

• Schedule an afternoon nap because two of baseball’s best teams start a three-game series tonight as Shohei Ohtani’s historic bid for a season with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases continues. Batter up.

🎓🏈 NCAA football: No. 3 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 10 Michigan — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET — ESPN

• The reigning national champs face their first true test of the season when they host the top-three Longhorns. Will Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ offense take care of business? Or will a Michigan D that secured an 86-yard pick-six in their Week 1 win stifle the burnt orange attack?

⚽ NWSL: Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit — Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET — CBS

• After Spirit rookie phenom Croix Bethune’s devastating season-ending injury, the team will lean even more on Ballon d’Or nominee forward Trinity Rodman in this pivotal matchup against fellow triple espresso member and nominee forward Sophia Smith and the Thorns.

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