THE EVE EDITION
FIRST BLUSH | FRI OCT 2
Friday saves its sharpest edge for last. Dallas and Golden State decide a WNBA playoff series in San Francisco, while Orlando hosts San Diego, SmackDown fills the final women’s Money in the Bank place and Beijing opens a packed day of seeded tennis.
#7 Dallas Wings at #2 Golden State Valkyries
Arike Ogunbowale forced one more night with a playoff-record 45 points and the tying three late in regulation Wednesday. Golden State gets the deciding game back at Chase Center, where its league-leading defense now has to answer the scorer who just broke it open. The winner advances to the semifinals; the loser’s season ends. (Series tied 1-1)
San Diego Wave at Orlando Pride
San Diego arrives at Inter&Co Stadium at 15-8-3 with 48 points, fresh off a club-record seventh road win of the season at Racing Louisville. Orlando is 10-13-3 with 33 points and won the first meeting 1-0 in May.
Tiffany Stratton vs Tatum Paxley vs Candice LeRae
The final place in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match is decided in a triple threat. Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jacy Jayne and Roxanne Perez already have their tickets to New Orleans; Stratton, Paxley and LeRae get the last route in.
#2 Aryna Sabalenka vs Renata Zarazua
Sabalenka opens her Beijing campaign against Zarazua, who saved three set points in the opening round before beating Anna Bondar in straight sets. The second seed arrives with a first-round bye and begins another run at a WTA 1000 title against an opponent already tested on these courts.
#11 South Carolina at Mississippi State
South Carolina takes a 10-1 record and a nine-game winning streak to Starkville for a nationally televised conference match. The Gamecocks are #11 in the latest coaches poll and face a Mississippi State side that is 7-1-3.
ELSEWHERE
The China Open resumes at midnight on Tennis Channel with four Round of 64 matches, including #5 Linda Nosková against Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Jasmine Paolini, Clara Tauson, Karolína Muchová, Naomi Osaka and the 11:00 PM group led by Belinda Bencic and Elina Svitolina fill out a long Beijing day.
The LOTTE Championship continues from Hoakalei Country Club, with second-round coverage at 8:00 PM on Golf Channel. In college volleyball, #10 Purdue visits #17 Oregon at 9:00 PM on BTN. College field hockey sends #6 Iowa to Michigan at 5:00 PM on B1G+. In women’s soccer, #12 Notre Dame visits top-ranked North Carolina at 6:00 PM on ACC Network.
Werder Bremen visits Bayer Leverkusen at 12:30 PM on DAZN in the Frauen-Bundesliga.
The Banco do Brasil São Sebastião Pro remains on the daily call at Praia de Maresias, with the women’s competition moving toward the weekend finish. WSL had not yet posted Friday’s confirmed call when this edition was prepared.
SmackDown also has Giulia against Blake Monroe. Additional women’s appearances or unannounced segments may be added.