Country club, but make it cute
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Strike a pose!
From the WNBA expansion team Toronto Tempo launching their inaugural merch collection to Unrivaled — the new 3v3 league founded by superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — dropping some sweet looks yesterday, women’s sports are always in style. Strutting straight into today’s news.
— LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, dedicating Monday’s 27–9 Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings to the City of Angels as it recovers and responds to devastating wildfires. Bigger than ball.
Australian Open
🎾 It’s getting hot in here
The GIST: It’s only the second round at the Australian Open (tennis’ first Grand Slam of the season), but headlines are already popping Down Under, from unexpected upsets to a Brazilian teen making a splash in his first career Slam. Ready your Wii remote and dig in.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff cruise to third round: Two-time defending Australian Open champ Sabalenka shows no signs of slowing down, defeating unseeded Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets last night, while super girl Gauff topped Jodie Burrage in the wee hours of the morning.
- Similarly, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 7 Novak Djokovic (plus his new buddy) topped their unseeded opponents last night. All chalk.
Eighteen-year-old João Fonseca stuns No. 9 Andrey Rublev: The new kid on the block, teenaged Fonseca, downed 10-time major quarter-finalist Rublev in three sensational sets yesterday. The Brazilian’s tremendous Grand Slam debut continues against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego later today.
- And the women’s side was not without stunners last night. First, unseeded German Laura Siegemund topped last year’s runner-up No. 5 Qinwen Zheng in straight sets.
- Then four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka defeated No. 20 Karolina Muchová, advancing to the third round in a major for the first time since returning from maternity leave. What can’t moms do?
American women and men dominate: Alongside the aforementioned Gauff, No. 7 Jess Pegula is through to the Round of 32, as is No. 12 Tommy Paul. Next up, a trio of red, white, and blue boys take the court for second-round action today: No. 4 Taylor Fritz, No. 17 Frances Tiafoe, and No. 21 Ben Shelton. Wave that flag.
Australian Open
🎾 It’s getting hot in here
The GIST: It’s only the second round at the Australian Open (tennis’ first Grand Slam of the season), but headlines are already popping Down Under, from unexpected upsets to a Brazilian teen making a splash in his first career Slam. Ready your Wii remote and dig in.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff cruise to third round: Two-time defending Australian Open champ Sabalenka shows no signs of slowing down, defeating unseeded Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets last night, while super girl Gauff topped Jodie Burrage in the wee hours of the morning.
- Similarly, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 7 Novak Djokovic (plus his new buddy) topped their unseeded opponents last night. All chalk.
Eighteen-year-old João Fonseca stuns No. 9 Andrey Rublev: The new kid on the block, teenaged Fonseca, downed 10-time major quarter-finalist Rublev in three sensational sets yesterday. The Brazilian’s tremendous Grand Slam debut continues against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego later today.
- And the women’s side was not without stunners last night. First, unseeded German Laura Siegemund topped last year’s runner-up No. 5 Qinwen Zheng in straight sets.
- Then four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka defeated No. 20 Karolina Muchová, advancing to the third round in a major for the first time since returning from maternity leave. What can’t moms do?
No. 30 Leylah Fernandez is moving on: Canada’s pride and joy is on her best Australian Open run yet, making it to the third round for the first time in her career after defeating Cristina Bucşa last night. But, on the men's side, No. 29 Félix Auger-Aliassime is currently battling with Alejandro Davidovich to get to the next round.
Tomorrow’s Golf League
⛳ Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads
The GIST: ICYMI, Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL) is making waves…today. The tech-infused 3-on-3 golf tournament created by icons Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy drew nearly 1M viewers for last week’s debut, while last night’s second installment saw LA Golf Club beat Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club in front of an A-list crowd.
- With two weeks of virtual golf in the books, let’s answer some burning questions about golf’s latest hole-in-one.
Why is it special?: Well, for starters, it’s indoors: Golfers compete on the largest golf simulator in the world — the screen stands five stories tall, aka 24 times (!!!) larger than a standard simulator. The custom-built TGL facility boasts the latest tech, making it as close as possible to the real outdoors deal.
- The other fun difference is that while golf is typically an individual sport, in the TGL, it’s a team sport, building off dramatic, tension-filled team events like the Solheim and Ryder Cups. Golf is just better with friends — especially when they’re mic’d up.
Who’s playing?: Twenty-four of the world’s best golfers make up the six star-studded teams. Including McIlroy, TGL boasts six of the top 10 golfers in the world, not to mention some of the biggest names in the sport with the aforementioned Woods, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, and Max Homa in the mix.
How does it work?: Two teams (but just three golfers from each squad’s four-person roster) compete in each two-hour, two-part, 15-hole event. The first session is 3-on-3, where three golfers from each team alternate shots for nine holes while the second session is a six-hole, one-on-one battle, where each golfer plays two holes against the same opponent. Drama.
What’s up with the course?: The league’s three course designers let their imaginations run wild in the creation of the event’s 30 unique holes. Some holes look like they could exist in the real world while others…definitely don’t. With a $21M pot on the line, playing on an active volcano is, ahem, par for the course.
How does TGL fit within the PGA?: Great question, especially considering all 24 TGL golfers compete on the Tour. The TGL operates in partnership with the PGA and will run alongside the Tour with events slated for Mondays (and Tuesdays later in the season) so golfers can still compete on the Thursday-to-Sunday PGA grind. Tee-riffic.
Question of the Day
Now that we’ve answered some questions around TGL, the biggest question is: Will you be watching it this season?
Together With Cycling Frog
😏 No hangovers here
Hosting a football watch party this weekend? Then it’s time to stock up on supplies. Thankfully, our friends at Cycling Frog, the ultimate accessible cannabis company, have a few suggestions.
- 🧀 Make a cheeseboard. From manchego to cheddar, dairy never disappoints.
- 🧂 Splurge for the nice chips — you know, the ones that don’t break mid-dip.
- 👀 Pick up a six-pack of Cycling Frog THC seltzers and add some variety to your cooler.
Thanks to Cycling Frog’s THC seltzers, you and your pals can let loose without a next-day hangover. These drinks are gluten-free, low cal, and best of all, clearly labeled, limiting the chances that you…overdo it. Grab a pack today and thank us later.
🏒 PWHL: Minnesota Frost vs. NY Sirens — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — YouTube
- The kids are definitely alright heading into this icy showdown: NY’s 2024 No. 1 draft pick Sarah Fillier and Minnesota’s rookie phenom Claire Thompson are knotted at 10 points apiece, tied for best in the league. Ready the lamps.
🎓🏀 NCAA men’s basketball: No. 9 Kansas vs. No. 2 Iowa State — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — ESPN
- It’s a classic matchup of an old dog and a new trick. Perennial powerhouse Kansas is taking on upstart Iowa State, who are currently rocking their highest ranking in school history.
- What’s more, the Cyclones are undefeated at home this season and on an 11-game overall win streak, but the Jayhawks will present a huge defensive test. Pop that corn.
🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 17 Georgia Tech vs. No. 3 Notre Dame — Tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET — Fubo and ACC Network
- Sorry, football — the Notre Dame hoopers will take center stage tomorrow. Sophomore Hannah Hidalgo is an early front-runner for Player of the Year and is expected to return to the court after a brief absence for a minor ankle injury.
- That said, Georgia Tech could be hungry for a statement conference win after suffering their first two Ls of the season last weekend. Spicy.
🏐 PVF: Indy Ignite vs. Grand Rapids Rise — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — YouTube
- The first of three PVF games gracing our screens tomorrow, the winless Rise will try to live up to their name after dropping both games last weekend, while the Ignite, who won their one and only match, hope to heat it up once more.
Giveaway Alert
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After departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, on the Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Utopia of the Seas ship, you and a pal will spend four nights in a swanky balcony stateroom, enjoying the beauty of Nassau and CocoCay in the Bahamas before circling back to the Sunshine State — all for free.
Ready to board? Enter to win today.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
😡 What to know
That the U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday to pass a bill that would ban trans athletes from women’s and girls’ school sports. The legislation will next head to the Senate. Absolutely heartbreaking.
🏒 What to mark on your cal
The NHL heading outdoors to Florida next season, with the Florida Panthers taking on the NY Rangers in Miami and the Tampa Bay Lightning facing the Boston Bruins in Tampa. Sunshine, palm trees, and ice hockey? Sign us up.
🌹 What to watch
Season 29 of “The Bachelor.” Former pro basketball player Grant Ellis takes the lead in the search for love starting January 27th.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, Megan Murray, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emily Ohman, Emma Leishman, and Rachel Fuenzalida. Fact-checking by Marga Sison. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.