The GIST

Five of eight playoff spots on the line in penultimate NWSL weekend

It’s the penultimate weekend of NWSL regular-season play and the stakes are sky-high with five of the eight playoff berths, first-round and semifinal home-field advantage, and the NWSL Shield all on the line this weekend. Here are the games on our radar as clinching opportunities abound.

October 23, 2026

Previewing the 2026 World Series

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The World Series begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET, and plenty of history is on the line in this best-of-seven series. The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Tampa Bay Rays, with both franchises seeking their first World Series crown.

October 23, 2026

Atlanta Dream (up 2-1) rolling ahead of WNBA Finals Game 4

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All eyes are on the WNBA as the best-of-seven Finals series continues with tomorrow’s 1 p.m. ET Game 4. Everything’s coming up Atlanta Dream (up 2-1) after a lopsided Game 3 victory — here’s who’s handing out Ls in the ATL and how the Golden State Valkyries can respond on the road. All hoops, all the time.

October 23, 2026

Finding where your skills, passions, and the industry intersect with Sarah Spain

A longtime friend of The GIST (and hero of our newsletter team), Sarah shared incredible advice on carving out a space for yourself in sports: Find your ikigai (more on what that means below). Spain discussed her pivot from her original passions — acting and comedy — to her iconic sports career as an ESPN journalist.

October 22, 2026

Taking stock of the WNBA Finals storylines after Game 2

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The best-of-seven WNBA Finals is knotted at one after the Atlanta Dream topped the Golden State Valkyries 79–65 in Monday’s Game 2, the franchise’s first-ever Finals win. Let’s take stock of the top storylines as the series shifts to Atlanta for tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 3.

October 21, 2026

Why Canadian Tire’s 50/50 milestone is a masterclass in sports business

In 2023, Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) gave itself a three-year deadline to hit a 50/50 split of sponsorship dollars going towards women's and men’s professional sports. On Wednesday, the company achieved it. More than a milestone, this is a seismic shift in the sports business ecosystem.

October 20, 2026

Spilling the tea on the 2026-27 NBA season

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The NBA returns with tomorrow’s juicy tripleheader — but the best part of men’s basketball is the drama. The tea is always piping hot on the hardwood, and this season’s scorching storylines hinge on the whereabouts of the league’s superstars.

October 19, 2026

Sports News

Previewing the 2026 WNBA Finals

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October 17, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream hit the hardwood today at 3:30 p.m. ET for Game 1 of the best-of-seven WNBA Finals. Rumor has it defense wins championships, but only one defensive juggernaut can win their franchise’s first-ever title.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #599

The Jalen Hurts situation: What we know and what we don't

October 22, 2026

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The Jalen Hurts situation: What we know and what we don't

Today, we need to address the football elephant in the room: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who will not compete in the NFL again this season after being diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his lungs. There’s a lot to unpack with this story, from the timeline around Hurts’ diagnosis to the NFL Players Association now calling for a “full investigation” into his treatment during this saga. That’s why co-hosts Steph Rotz and Alessandra Puccio are here to clearly define what we do know about this story and what we don’t. Game on.