The real Super Bowl is the friends we made along the way
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Super Bowl weekend!
You already know we’ll have a full Sunday Scroll preview before kickoff, but there’s another must-watch matchup before the big game: No. 2 Iowa women’s hoops star Caitlin Clark netted 27 points last night and is now just 39 away from breaking the all-time NCAA women’s scoring record.
- Her next game? Sunday at 1 p.m. ET vs. Nebraska. Prepping for the real Super Bowl as we scroll through today’s news…
— U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, responding to a question from two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson yesterday. Wilson’s currently promoting her debut book Dear Black Girls and continuing to crush it on and off the hardwood.
WNBA free agency & NBA trade deadline
🏀 Did not see that one coming
The GIST: While the defending champ Las Vegas Aces are running it back after re-signing Candace Parker to a one-year deal on Wednesday, the rest of the pro hoops scene is about to look pretty different amid stunning WNBA and NBA news.
Elena Delle Donne will take a break from basketball: The two-time MVP and highly coveted free agent has decided to take time away from the game and not sign the one-year supermax deal her current team, the Washington Mystics, offered her. EDD led the ’Stics to their only title in 2019 and has seven career All-Star appearances but has struggled with injury in recent years.
- Delle Donne missed the entire 2020 season due to health concerns and has overcome multiple back surgeries across her nine-year W career. Wishing her nothing but the best.
Contenders load up at the NBA trade deadline: Most of the big names on the trade block stayed put, but yesterday’s deadline did see some sharpshooters and difference makers swapping jerseys. The surging NY Knicks made quite the splash, picking up double-digit scores Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons. Bing bong, indeed.
- Elsewhere, the Western Conference–leading Oklahoma City “how did they get there?” Thunder gained three-point specialist Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets and the injured Philadelphia 76ers added scoring of their own in former Indiana Pacer Buddy Hield. Let the playoff push begin.
🏈 Lamar Jackson wins NFL MVP honors
Baltimore Ravens quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson won his second MVP last night after a dominant all-around season that saw the Ravens clinch their first-ever No. 1 postseason seed. Meanwhile, Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud snagged Offensive Rookie of the Year after being the only signal caller in the league to toss at least 20 touchdowns and less than five interceptions. Well deserved.
⚽ USWNT announces Gold Cup roster
NWSL Defender of the Year Naomi Girma and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith headline the world No. 2 red, white, and blue’s youth movement ahead of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup later this month. Veterans like Alex Morgan and Becky Sauerbrunn were noticeably left off the roster — is there a new era loading?
⛳ Tiger Woods to make season debut next week
After being sidelined for most of last season due to an ankle surgery, Tiger Woods will make his 2024 debut at the Tour event he hosts: next week’s Genesis Invitational. And while time will tell how competitive Tiger will be in his first PGA Tour action since last year’s Masters, the more important question is who he’ll be wearing.
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⛳ PGA: WM Phoenix Open — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel
- Missed tee times and weather delays aside, the annual party in the desert is off to its signature raucous start, with two-time defending champ Scottie Scheffler looking to make it a three-peat in Scottsdale.
🇺🇸 Rivalry Series: USA vs. Canada — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — NHL Network
- The red, white, and blue gave up three third period goals in Wednesday’s 4–2 loss. But with one more game on Canadian soil before Sunday’s game seven in Minnesota, tonight’s the night to clinch a Rivalry Series dub.
🏀 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament: No. 11 Nigeria vs. No. 1 USA — Tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. ET — Courtside 1891
- Breanna Stewart tipped in a missed shot as time expired to lift the reigning Olympic champs to an 81–79 win over No. 6 Belgium yesterday. With their Paris 2024 ticket already booked, the American hoopers hit the hardwood again tomorrow. Lunch plans, confirmed.
Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
👀 What to witness
History. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is just 39 points away from becoming the all-time NCAA women’s basketball leading scorer. Clark’s dropping over 30 points per game on average, meaning she has a chance to break the record when Iowa takes on Nebraska this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
- State Farm and her bestie Jake will be watching, along with the rest of the world.*
🏀 What to watch
Steph vs. Sabrina. The All-Star shooting showdown between Golden State Warrior Steph Curry and NY Liberty icon Sabrina Ionescu is set for February 17th, and it’s about to rain three-pointers. Grab an umbrella.
♥️ What to plan for
Valentine’s Day. Rumor has it Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce might be taking Taylor Swift on a date to…Chili’s? Spicy.
Question of the Day
Super Bowl weekend has it all: football, entertainment, and, perhaps most importantly, snacks. With the big game on deck, what’s your go-to food to pair with the action? Select an option below or reply with what’s on your Super Bowl spread. Bonus points for pics!
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Lisa Minutillo, Karissa Dzurik, Monica Schrock, Rachel Fuenzalida and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alexis Allison, and Dee Lab. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.