Sure, there’s football tonight. There was yesterday as well, but we already devoted some time and space to that. And since this is a somewhat unique Monday I’m kinda glad we already got it out of the way. Arguably, it’s the most unique and biggest yet. As THE ATHLETIC’s Steven Louis Goldstein wrote just as the chickens and moi were rising this morning:
Once again, the stars align and the orbits converge. Fade routes and hammer screens run in unison. A sports equinox is upon us. For our readership, watching a game takes on social and sacred properties. The sports equinox raises all that to another level — there are both World Series and WNBA Finals matchups, plus “Monday Night Football,” nine NBA games and three NHL contests all on the same night.
We mark the sports equinox whenever North America’s “big four” leagues are active on the same night. The NFL, NBA and NHL overlap throughout the fall. But the MLB postseason winds down right as basketball and hockey pick up. As a result, the four-way intersection is exceedingly rare.
Last year’s sports equinox did not cover the WNBA — A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces closed out the finals in a four-game sweep. This 2026 equinox indeed includes the W’s Game 5, thanks in part to the FIBA break that extended the regular season.
The American soccer leagues are still in session, but neither MLS nor the NWSL has any matches on Monday.
I’m a bit more lenient than is Goldstein on what I determine qualifies a “sports” equinox since I already cited such an example on a recent midweek night when college football and the NBA pre-season added to a full slate of MLS matches. Should the (Devil?) Rays win tonight or tomorrow night we will get a similar confluence this coming Wednesday night as well. But yeah, on a weighted basis real NBA games–and a pretty full card of them at that–and a pro game–a divisional showdown for relative survival between the 2-4 Cowboys and Iggles–come out on the higher end of the scale.
I am fully sympatico with my fellow Steven on the pecking order for what bodes to be a celebratory night for the ADD-afflicted:
1. MLB’s World Series, Game 3
The splendor and romanticism of the Fall Classic is hard to beat. It’s been around for more than a century. It’s also free over the air, which invites a bigger audience and more of a monoculture. Jackson Chourio’s Milwaukee Brewers and Junior Caminero’s Tampa Bay Rays each seek their first World Series title. The Brewers held on to win the first two games, but the action now moves to Tampa, where the Rays went 55-26 during the regular season and are 4-1 this postseason.
2. WNBA Finals, Game 5
The 30th WNBA season will crown a first-time champion as well. Angel Reese is truly breaking out for the Atlanta Dream. The Golden State Valkyries have gone from expansion team to exemplary franchise with Gabby Williams in tow. Unfortunately, Games 1 and 4 were the only ones on over-the-air TV. But Game 5 should provide plenty of drama with the series tied 2-2.
3. NFL’s ‘Monday Night Football’
(T)his is still a ferocious rivalry with lots of beef. If nothing else, Dallas wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens make ridiculous catches look easy.
4. NBA (9 games)
This 2026-27 campaign is just taking shape. Opening night was less than a week ago. There’s much to appreciate, but the ardor is definitely dialed down right now. We’re favoring the Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets, for Nikola Jokić and Stephen Curry brilliance but also for the late-night TV gap.
5. NHL (3 games)
Like the NBA’s, the NHL’s 2026-27 season is just starting up. We lock in on the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers, as it’s the lone national listing and has the earliest puck drop. New York winger Alexis Lafrenière is finally playing to his potential.
Goldstein even provides a handy guide for how he plans to orient his own priorities–which given my setup I can practically duplicate:
“A” screen:
- 7 p.m.: Kings at Rangers on NHL Network
- 8 p.m.: Brewers at Rays on Fox
- 11:15 p.m.: Warriors at Nuggets on Peacock/NBCSN
“B” screen:
- 7 p.m.: Game of choice on NBA League Pass
- 8 p.m.: Dream at Valkyries on USA/CNBC
- 10:30 p.m.: Cowboys at Eagles on ABC/ESPN
In theory, that’s doable, especially since I’m apparently three hours behind him. OTOH, the fact that I couldn’t quite manage that sort of workload on Saturday is the whole reason our usual schedule is a bit off kilter this week in the first place.
In which case, I’ll likely need a nap at some point before all of this unfolds. So Merry Equinox to all and to all a good day.
Courage…