Sing it, sports fans
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
It’s Friday!
Everybody’s looking forward to the weekend, but before you get your Rebecca Black on, you gotta get down with the latest sports news. Fun, fun, fun, fun.
— Olympic gold medal–winning skier and 82-time World Cup winner Lindsey Vonn, who is coming out of retirement at 40 years old to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team. Not done yet.
NWSL Playoffs
⚽ Runnin’ back and forth
The GIST: The NWSL semis are here, with the top four teams in the league battling it out for a spot in the upcoming title match. Ready your vocal chords — the games are about to begin.
No. 3 seed NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. No. 2 seed Washington Spirit — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET: These two East Coast powerhouses are facing off at rowdy (and sold-out) Audi Field in D.C. tomorrow. Beyond their home-field advantage, the Spirit enter this game with Trinity Rodman–levels of confidence, having handed Gotham two of their four regular-season losses.
- But the defending champ Bats won’t go down without a fight, and if there’s one thing they can count on, it’s their grit — Gotham netted three stoppage-time winners this year, including last week’s quarter-final (QF) zinger from midfielder Rose Lavelle.
No. 4 seed Kansas City Current vs. No. 1 seed Orlando Pride — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Neither the Current nor the Pride have ever made the NWSL Championship, adding an extra layer of pressure to this already-fiery match. KC is riding a 10-game unbeaten streak, but injured Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga may be limited, adding a wrinkle to their game plan.
- Meanwhile, the Pride boast a healthy and dynamic offensive duo in strikers Marta and Barbra Banda, whose tandem teamwork (and sweet friendship) has dazzled fans all season long. Regardless of the winner, expect happy and sad tears after Sunday’s final whistle.
🏈 The Philadelphia Eagles topped the Washington Commanders 26–18 on Thursday Night Football, taking control of the NFC East’s top spot in the process. Flyin’ high.
🏒 The Winnipeg Jets fell 4–1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night, recording only their second loss of the season after winning a league-record 15 games through their first 16 starts.
🎾 Team USA was stunned at the Billie Jean King Cup yesterday, losing to Slovakia in the first round, while defending champ Canada — already through to the QFs with a bye — awaits the winner of today’s match between Germany and Great Britain.
🥍 The Women’s Lacrosse League will debut next February and provide pro women’s lax stars with another opportunity to hone their skills before lacrosse returns to the Olympics in 2028.
🏒 Sharpen your skates because all six PWHL teams and their athletes will be on the ice in the latest edition of EA Sports’ hockey video game NHL 25.
⚾ The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 home games at the NY Yankees’ Tampa-based spring training home, Steinbrenner Field after Hurricane Milton significantly damaged their own Tropicana Field. Root root root for the home team.
🇺🇸⚽ The three-time defending champ No. 18 USMNT are off to a banner start in the Concacaf Nations League, defeating No. 61 Jamaica 1–0 last night in the first leg of their QF series. Golazos galore.
⛳ LPGA: The Annika — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel
- There’s a two-way tie at the top of the leaderboard in the penultimate LPGA event of the year, but world No. 1 Nelly Korda trails by only two strokes in her first competition since injuring her neck. No viral shanks here.
🏀 NBA Cup: LA Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — TSN
- It’s a tale as old as time: a new dog in the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama — who dropped a career-high 50 points on Wednesday — against old tricks, aka Laker LeBron James, the oldest player ever to record three straight triple-doubles.
🎓🏈 CFB: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Georgia — Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET — ABC
- With only one blemish on their record, the surging Vols head into this highly anticipated conference tilt with a straight shot at the SEC Championship — but first, they’ll have to top a two-loss Dawgs squad desperate to keep their 12-team playoff hopes alive.
🏈 NFL: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — CBS
- Not only is the AFC North’s top spot on the line in this pivotal divisional matchup, but the Ravens’ superman, quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson, will have to conquer his kryptonite: a Steelers squad the reigning MVP’s beaten only once over his illustrious career.
Question of the Day
If you made it this far, then you know there is no shortage of sports to occupy your time this weekend. So tell us: What event will you be following most closely?
Recs from our roster!
🏈 What to debate
Extra point or go for two? NFL coaches are split, and it’s giving fans plenty to discuss.
🔥 Who to know
Antonia Bronze, the designer dressing soccer’s finest with custom outerwear that’s turned into matchday essentials. Fashion goals.
📚 What (else) to read
The Snap by Elizabeth Staple. This month’s pick for The GIST Book Club is a feminist sports whodunnit that you just won’t be able to put down. Read with us on Fable today.
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