The GIST

Celebrating the holidays with a helping of basketball and football

Stockings were hung by the chimney with care because on Christmas Day, NBA and NFL action would be there. So today unwrap this present — a complete primer for all of the glorious games, tackling both the gridiron and the hardwood.

December 24, 2024

Netflix bags U.S. media rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments

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Netflix pulled off quite the heist on Friday by acquiring the U.S. media rights for the 2027 and 2031 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC). It will be Netflix’s first time covering an entire sports tournament and marks FIFA’s biggest deal with a streamer, not to mention it’s the first time the WWC’s U.S. rights were sold separately from the men’s FIFA World Cup.

December 23, 2024

Second-round College Football Playoff matchups begin December 31st

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After a weekend full of blowouts in the first round of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP), the upcoming quarter-finals (featuring the top four teams who automatically received byes) should be more exciting.

December 23, 2024

Plenty of postseason tickets left to be punched after NFL Week 16

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The 16th NFL Sunday of the season has us feeling like Buffalo Bills quarterback (QB) Josh Allen as we single-handedly tackle our last-minute holiday shopping — and the league’s complicated postseason picture.

December 23, 2024

Athletes Unlimited shuts down its lacrosse league as the sport’s calendar becomes crowded

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On Wednesday, Athletes Unlimited (AU) announced it’s indefinitely suspending its AU Pro Lacrosse league. After jumpstarting opportunities in four sports — softball, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball — within the past four years, this is the first time the company has suspended operations for one of its leagues.

December 20, 2024

Sports Innovation Lab insights show companies plan to spend more in women’s sports in 2025

In recent years, sponsors have talked a big game about increasing their investment in women’s sports, and in 2024, many stepped up. According to Sports Innovation Lab (SIL) survey results released yesterday, brands are boosting women’s sports budgets for 2025 and reallocating sponsorship dollars from men’s sports to women’s.

December 20, 2024

The revamped College Football Playoff begins with first-round games taking place Friday and Saturday

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At long last, the expanded 12-team CFP makes its debut this weekend, with first-round games kicking off tonight and tomorrow. Four squads earned byes straight to the second round and await the winners of these initial clashes.

December 20, 2024

College

Penn State volleyball beats Louisville for its eighth national title and first in 10 years

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December 23, 2024

No. 1 seed Penn State women’s volleyball defeated fellow No. 1 seed Louisville in four sets in yesterday’s national championship game, claiming the program’s eighth overall title and first in a decade.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #423

The ultimate 2024 sports rewind

December 24, 2024

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

It’s time to reflect.

This year was truly one for the books, so today’s episode of The GIST of It is a classic year in review. From the women’s sports movement to the standout moments at the Paris Olympics, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are taking a trip down memory lane, diving headfirst, fearless into a phenomenal year full of championship moments, tear-inducing retirements, and so much more.

A big thank you to Aflac for partnering with us on today’s episode! Add Aflac to your team to close the insurance gap today. Learn more at aflac.com/thegist.