Mystics, Sky Make Push at Top of WNBA Standings
The first full weekend of August in the sports world is a busy one. We kicked things off last night with the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game, and we now get the start of the Premier League season and some high-level WNBA and MLB action today. With only a few days to go before the WNBA playoffs start, the postseason push is on and the action should be incredibly fun to watch. Plus, lots of star power takes the field tonight in MLB, including Juan Soto against the loaded Dodgers.
Here’s what I’m watching today.
A quick note: Due to COVID-19, sports schedules are fluid and subject to change.
MUST WATCH:
Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky
Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports
Just nine days remain in the WNBA regular season, and so much is still up for grabs in the final week of play. At the top of the standings, the Sky now have a two-game lead in the loss column over the Aces with five games left to play, so a win tonight would move them much closer to claiming the league’s regular-season crown. Meanwhile, the Mystics pulled off yet another impressive win earlier this week when they knocked off the Aces and are very much in the mix to host a first-round playoff series. Washington also has the benefit of two of the team’s final four games being against the lowly Fever, so winning tonight would do even more for its push at the top of the standings.
8 p.m. ET, NBA TV, watch on fuboTV
READ MORE:
- Mercury Try to Focus on the Big Picture Amid Brittney Griner’s Conviction in Russia (Ben Pickman)
- The Aces Are Just a Heck of a Lot of Fun (Amna Subhan)
LINEUP:
• Arsenal at Crystal Palace | The Premier League is officially back! The first match of the season pits a young Arsenal club looking for more consistency this season against a Crystal Palace side that finished 12th in the EPL table a season ago. Can Arsenal challenge powers like Man City and Liverpool for the top spot this year? That journey begins today at Selhurst Park in London. 3 p.m. ET, USA/Universo, watch on fuboTV
• Los Angeles Sparks at Atlanta Dream | The Sparks have done themselves no favors in their playoff pursuit by losing four straight games against teams below .500, including getting swept in a pair of games against the Liberty earlier this week. But L.A. is still just a game out of the last playoff spot, currently held by Rhyne Howard and the Dream. 7:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network, watch on fuboTV
• New York Yankees at St. Louis Cardinals | This series pits a pair of division leaders and should be a ton of fun. The Cardinals have won four straight games, including sweeping a doubleheader yesterday against the Cubs, to move into a tie for the top spot in the NL Central. Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to cruise towards an AL East crown despite slowing down some from their blistering early-season pace. Nestor Cortes takes the ball for the Yanks tonight against Dakota Hudson. 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video/Bally Sports Midwest, watch on fuboTV
HIDDEN GEM:
San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers will likely cruise to an NL West crown regardless of what happens in the final two months of the regular season, but there’s no doubt the Padres have new life in the World Series race with Juan Soto now in tow. This San Diego lineup with Manny Machado, Soto, Josh Bell and eventually Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the scariest groups in baseball, and winning this series in Chavez Ravine would be a statement that the Padres won’t be an easy out come October.
10:10 p.m. ET, Bally Sports San Diego/SportsNet LA/MLB Network, watch on fuboTV
Think we missed something worth watching? Reply to guide@si.com and let us know what we should be looking out for and why.
Happy streaming!
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