The business end of different leagues always makes for plenty of intrigue and drama this time of year. In the case of Canadian sports teams and athletes, it’s made for plenty of opportunities for some of the nation’s best to rise to the occasion.
The Montreal Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge in an all-Canadian Walter Cup final to win the PWHL title, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder back to the NBA Finals, and the Montreal Canadiens are locked in a tense battle with the Carolina Hurricanes for a place in the Stanley Cup final.
Over in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays continued to build some momentum while the tennis world shifts its focus to the French Open.
Here’s everything you need to know about the week that was among Canadian sports teams and athletes.
Montreal defeats Ottawa in Walter Cup final to clinch maiden PWHL title
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – MAY 20: Marie-Philip Poulin #29 and Laura Stacey #7 of the Montreal Victoire gather with friends and family and The Walter Cup after defeating the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the PWHL Walter Cup Final at Canadian Tire Centre on May 20, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)
(Troy Parla via Getty Images)
The Montreal Victoire won its first Walter Cup in franchise history, defeating the Ottawa Charge 4-0 in Game 4 to clinch the best-of-five series 3-1.
Abby Roque scored twice while Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom also added to the scoresheet.
It was a surprise to see a blowout contest to wrap things up considering the first two games were decided in overtime and Game 3 was a 2-1 win for Ottawa. It’s another bitter pill to swallow for the Charge, having lost last year’s Walter Cup final to the Minnesota Frost.
To no one’s surprise, Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin was named playoff MVP. There’ll be more on that to follow.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder locked in enthralling battle with Wembanyama, Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder battle for the rebound during the first quarter in Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 24, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
(Ronald Cortes via Getty Images)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are finally being made to work to the extreme to try and repeat as NBA champions.
After sweeping through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have shown their mettle to win two games so far and have the Western Conference Finals knotted at two games apiece in this best-of-seven series.
Through four games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 24.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and a block. The Spurs have made life difficult for him, though, as the Hamilton, Ont., native has shot just 39.2 percent from the field including 26.7 percent from three.
The Canadian did shine in Game 2, scoring 30 points on 50 per cent shooting to lead the Thunder to a bounce-back win. However, that marks the only time he’s eclipsed the 30-point mark, despite having averaged 31.1 points during the regular season.
Fellow teammate and compatriot Luguentz Dort has averaged nearly 20 minutes per game this series, providing his usual stout defence though he’s only scoring 3.8 points over the four games.
Instead, it’s been Wembanyama who’s been the best player in the series so far, averaging 30.3 points on 52.6 per cent shooting (42.9 per cent from three), along with 13.3 rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs in his debut playoff run.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
Canadiens lose Game 2 of East Finals to Hurricanes
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 23: Jakub Dobes #75 of the Montréal Canadiens makes a save as Mark Jankowski #77 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks for a rebound in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 23, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Bruce Bennett via Getty Images)
After a dominant Game 1 performance where they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2, the Montreal Canadiens were brought crashing back down to earth with a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2. The Hurricanes outshot the Habs 68-38 in an impressive display.
It was Carolina’s first win against Montreal this season after losing all three regular season contests.
“They play the same way all the time,” said Nick Suzuki of the Habs. “I know they weren’t happy with their (Game 1), but I thought we did a good job of breaking down their aggressiveness. That felt pretty much like how we always play against them.
“Just came out on the wrong side.”
Game 3 is Monday night as the series now shifts to the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Athlete of the Week: Marie Philip-Poulin
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – MAY 20: Marie-Philip Poulin #29 of the Montreal Victoire receives the Ilana Kloss Trophy as the 2026 PWHL Playoffs MVP after the win against the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the PWHL Walter Cup Final at Canadian Tire Centre on May 20, 2026 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)
(Troy Parla via Getty Images)
Marie Philip-Poulin won playoff MVP on the back of producing four goals and four assists, which was tied for the most points in a PWHL postseason.
Two of her four goals were game-winners, once again showing off the clutch factor that has etched her name in hockey history.
“After the CWHL closed its doors there were two years where we didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Poulin said. “There was a group of women who came together to put this league together. Three years later it all comes together to win the Walter Cup. It feels good. It feels really good.”
Blue Jays continue upward momentum but new injury concerns emerge
TORONTO, ON – MAY 23: Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) celebrates in the Blue Jays dugout after hitting a solo home run during the bottom of the first inning of an MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Toronto Blue Jays on May 23, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays had a four-game win streak snapped on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but one can’t help but feel that they are just starting to find some of the good baseball many know they are capable of.
Trey Yesavage looked immense in shutting down the New York Yankees bats on Wednesday, giving up just two hits and striking out eight — including Aaron Judge three times — to bring his season ERA down to a brilliant 1.07 through five starts. Yesavage missed the early season as he recovered from an extremely taxing workload joining the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series after working his way up the minor leagues. It has been a huge boost to see him look as good as he has, making the starting pitching rotation look all the more daunting alongside Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease.
Bad news didn’t quite escape the Blue Jays, though, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was struck on the elbow by a pitch in Sunday’s game and was forced to leave. Cease was also forced out of the game in the fifth inning due to a sore left hamstring. X-Rays thankfully came back negative for Guerrero Jr., while Cease expressed hope that he could make his next start.
The Blue Jays now sit at 25-28 on the season, just one game behind a wildcard spot with two very winnable series coming up against the Miami Marlins (25-29) and Baltimore Orioles (23-29).
Tempo get reality check after making more history
Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello (center) gives instructions to her players during a timeout at a Women’s National Basketball Association game between Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire at Coca Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
(NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Tuesday was another historic night for the Tempo as Brittney Sykes scored 31 while Marina Mabrey added 30 to lead Toronto to a 98-90 win over the Phoenix Mercury. It was the first time in WNBA history that a pair of teammates scored at least 30 points in a franchise’s opening season.
It was a special effort from the Tempo’s two biggest stars to get another road win, but the team received a big reality check over the course of the rest of the week. In games against the Minnesota Lynx and fellow expansion team the Portland Fire on Thursday and Saturday, Toronto lost by a combined 47 points, which dropped their overall record to 3-4.
If there was a positive, Chatham, Ont., native Bridget Carleton had her first opportunity to play a WNBA game in Toronto, scoring 15 points for the Fire — who selected her first overall in the expansion draft and left a lot of Canadian fans unhappy.
The Tempo are back on the road Wednesday to face the Chicago Sky.
Canadians begin French Open challenge
HAMBURG, GERMANY – MAY 20: Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada during Day Three of the Bitpanda Hamburg Open at Am Rothenbaum on May 20, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
(BSR Agency via Getty Images)
The French Open began on Sunday, with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime entering the men’s draw as the fourth seed behind Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic. He begins his tournament on Tuesday, as does unseeded compatriot Denis Shapovalov. Gabriel Diallo entered the tournament with a back problem and was forced to retire in his first round match Sunday.
Rising star Vicky Mboko is seeded ninth on the women’s side and starts her tournament on Tuesday while Leylah Fernandez plays her first match Monday against American Alycia Parks. The two Canadians actually faced each other in Strasbourg this past week, Mboko emerging victorious 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. She then went on to lose in the final to American Emma Navarro.
There was a moment from that match that went viral on social media, when Leylah’s father and coach Jorge Fernandez appeared to be criticizing Leylah. Much has been made of the English translation of what Jorge was saying in Spanish, several expressing the opinion that it crossed a line and that it may even be a time for Leylah to consider a coaching change.
Gabriela Dabrowski will be looking to carry her own momentum from Strasbourg, the doubles star teaming with Brazilian Luisa Stefani to win the event. Dabrowski has two Grand Slam doubles titles to her name, both coming at the U.S. Open. Her best finish at Roland Garros in women’s doubles is a quarterfinal appearance in 2019, though she did win the mixed doubles event in 2017.
Canada remain undefeated through 6 games at men’s hockey world championship
FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND – MAY 24: Goalkeeper Jet Greaves of Canada (L) celebrates victory with Sidney Crosby of Canada (R) during the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Switzerland game between Slovakia and Canada at BCF Arena on May 24, 2026 in Fribourg, Fribourg. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
(Eurasia Sport Images via Getty Images)
Team Canada defeated Slovakia 5-1 on Sunday, improving to a perfect 6-0 in the round robin stage of the men’s hockey world championship.
Captain Macklin Celebrini was one of four players to collect a goal and an assist, along with Ryan O’Reilly, John Tavares, and Gabriel Vilardi.
Canada’s final group fixture will be against Czechia on Tuesday, before the quarterfinals begin on Thursday.
NOTEWORTHY
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to Ottawa on Sunday, an event that included Carney lifting the World Cup trophy after taking time to meet with children from the Ottawa City Soccer Club and Junior Achievement Youth. Carney noted that the government is going to spend $755 million over the next five years developing soccer with $660 million of it strictly devoted towards local sports organizations to grow and develop children and youth soccer programs.
Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair — the all-time leading women’s goal scorer — released a short animated documentary on her life on Friday. It is narrated by Ryan Reynolds and pays special tribute to her mother.
Canadian Formula 1 legend Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari helmet from the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix sold for a record US$1.25 million. Villeneuve died just a couple weeks after that race at just 32 years old, in a crash attempting to qualify for the Belgian GP. The previous record for an F1 helmet was held by Ayrton Senna’s McLaren-Honda helmet from the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix that was sold for the equivalent of US$966,449 back then.