You’re a sunflower
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy hump day!
We know it’s a joyous one for Florida men’s basketball, who claimed their third national title in school history on Monday, and GISTers Maggie S. and John C., who won our women’s and men’s college basketball bracket challenges, respectively. Hoop yeah.
- The Madness may be over (*sniffs*), but the sports news does not stop coming — let’s get into it.
— Florida men’s basketball senior Alijah Martin, sharing how the No. 1 seed Gators fought back from a 12-point second-half deficit to defeat fellow top-seed Houston 65–63 on Monday. It’s not how you start, it’s how you celebrate.
IIHF Women’s World Championship
🏒 Drop the puck
The GIST: If you thought February’s 4 Nations Face-Off was feisty, buckle up — the 24th IIHF Women’s World Championship begins from Czechia today, with the globe’s 10 best women’s national hockey teams in action in the game’s top tourney.
- So while PWHL teams are on break until the end of the month, some spicy international rivalries are about to take the ice. Pass the milk.
How it works: The tourney features 10 teams split into Groups A and B, with the top five ranked countries in the former and the remaining five in the latter. All members of Group A, which includes world No. 1 and defending champs Canada and No. 2 U.S., earn an automatic berth to the quarter-finals, where they’ll be joined by the top three group play finishers from Group B.
- Due to the skill disparity in international women’s hockey, this format ensures the best squads play competitive games the entire time, though history indicates Canada and the U.S. will almost certainly duke it out in the final.
- They’re the only countries to ever win Worlds, not to mention the only other team that’s even competed for the gold medal is No. 3 Finland in 2019. Okay, dominance.
The rivalry to end all rivalries — Team USA vs. Team Canada: Sure, tempers were high when the North American men threw down in February, but the women’s rivalry is even more intense. The Canadians topped the Americans 6–5 in overtime to reclaim the Women’s World title last year, adding a lucky number 13th gold medal to their collection, compared to USA’s 10.
- Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET group play showdown between the U.S. and Canada will likely end up being a championship preview, but before we get there both teams will face fearsome Finland in their opening games.
- The Americans, anchored by incomparable captain Hilary Knight, take on the Finns today at 9 a.m. ET, while the Red and White, led by the legendary Marie-Philip Poulin, have their chance tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET. Let’s do that hockey.
Question of the Day
Now that your skates are sharpened ahead of the Women’s World Championship action, we want to know: What’s your fave part of the high-stakes tourney?
🎓🏀 8.5M tune in for NCAA women’s basketball national championship
Yes, viewership for the highly anticipated showdown between UConn and South Carolina was down 55% compared to last year’s final, but Sunday’s matchup was still the third-most watched title game of all time, garnering a 75% increase in viewership compared to the 2022 championship between the same teams.
- In other women’s hoops news, Notre Dame superstar Olivia Miles officially committed to TCU yesterday after shocking the basketball world by announcing she was forgoing the WNBA Draft and entering the transfer portal at the end of March. This is the start of something new.
🔥 Denver Nuggets shockingly fire head coach Michael Malone
The Nuggets are officially in their Post Malone era, axing their longtime bench boss yesterday before firing their general manager later that same day. The move is a real head-scratcher given Malone boasts the most wins in franchise history and led the team to their first NBA title just two seasons ago.
- Not to mention, with only three regular-season games left on the cal, it’s tied for the latest head coaching change in NBA history as the fifth-place Nuggets jostle for postseason position in a hotly contested Western Conference.
⚽ Denver NWSL team sells 10K season ticket deposits ahead of 2026 debut
The NWSL’s 16th expansion squad is off to a hot start, becoming the fastest club in league history to hit 10K season ticket deposits on Monday. The Mile High City milestone comes shortly after the franchise unveiled exciting plans for a brand new stadium, expected to open in 2028.
- And in national team footy news, the world No. 1 USWNT surprisingly fell 2–1 to No. 8 Brazil in last night’s international friendly, just their fourth-ever loss to the yellow and green across 43 games.
Together With LOVB
🏆 League One Volleyball is ready to crown a champion
It’s finally here: After 13 weeks of regular-season action, one team will hoist the inaugural LOVB Finals trophy this Sunday, April 13th in Louisville, KY. With all six teams (!!!) competing in the tournament-style competition, here are the storylines you need to know:
💪 Atlanta and Houston have dominated all season — but can either front-runner spike it home when it matters most?
👀 Madison opposite hitter Annie Drews Schumacher is a certified winner — will her incredible power push her squad to the top?
🐶 Looking for an underdog? It’s Salt Lake, who sends nearly every battle down to the wire.
You’re primed and ready to cheer — now tune in to the LOVB Finals airing on ESPN2 or ESPN+, from tomorrow’s quarter-finals through Sunday’s title match. A true ace.
🏀 NBA: LA Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN
- It’s been over two months since the Mavs traded superstar Luka Dončić to the Lakers. And with the postseason looming, a lot more than pettiness is on the line in Dončić’s first visit to Dallas in the Purple and Gold. Pop — and we can’t stress this enough — that corn.
🎓🥎 NCAA softball: No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 17 Oklahoma State Cowgirls — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — ESPN2
- These in-state enemies are no longer in the same conference after Oklahoma left the Big 12 for the SEC in the offseason. But Bedlam, one of the sport’s deepest rivalries, is just too good to skip, so they’re squaring off for one game only. Get’cha Cracker Jacks ready.
⛳ PGA: The Masters — Tomorrow through Sunday — ESPN
- Savor last night’s Champions Dinner menu and the iconic $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches (and keep an eye out for tomorrow’s special edition preview) because world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is set to swing for the elusive green jacket that’d complete his career grand slam.
🏒 NCAA men’s hockey: Frozen Four — Tomorrow at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2
- The Stanley Cup Playoffs may still be a few weeks away, but the NHL’s chaotic younger cousin is peaking right now. This year’s edition is even more upset-heavy than usual — Western Michigan is the only seeded team to make the semis. Puck yeah.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
🧢 What to buy
A “Sports Romance Trope” hat. Sustainably made and perfect for letting the world know about your Goodreads habits.
🏎️ Who to know
Atiqa Mir, India’s 10-year-old racing prodigy. She just made history as the first Indian and Asian driver signed by F1 Academy. Vroom, vroom.
🎤 What to play
This game of “guess who said it?” Was it Hannah Montana or Charles Barkley? Time to test your pop culture and sports knowledge.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Serve it up.Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Katie Kehoe Foster, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, Megan Murray, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Rachel Fuenzalida. 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.