Indiana Fever, you up?
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Women’s History Month!
To celebrate our favorite month of the year, look out for two additional newsletters in your inbox this weekend: tomorrow’s Formula 1 season preview special edition, followed by a full Women’s History Month Sunday Scroll. Let’s go, girls.
— No. 6 Iowa women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark, confirming she will forgo her extra year of NCAA eligibility and turn pro at the end of this college season. Indiana Fever, you up?
Concacaf W Gold Cup quarter-finals
⚽ Only shooting stars break the mold
The GIST: The knockout stage of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup kicks off tomorrow, and while some squads are finding their stride in the Paris 2024 Olympics tune-up tourney, others are faltering. Times, they are a-changin’.
USWNT vs. Colombia — Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET: The USWNT’s reign as the undisputed queens of Concacaf is in jeopardy. A veteran-heavy American lineup lost 2–0 to No. 35 Mexico on Tuesday, a costly L that set them up with a challenging quarter-final matchup.
- This team in transition is still finding its groove, but there have been bright spots: teen phenoms forward Jaedyn Shaw and midfielder Olivia Moultrie have already scored in their introduction to elite international footy.
- But it’s the American defense that will have their feet, er, hands full on Sunday, tasked with handling Colombia’s best goal scorer, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup breakout star, forward Linda Caicedo. *gulp*
The other quarter-final matches: Sitting on the Americans’ side of the bracket is our neighbor to the north, reigning Olympic champions No. 10 CanWNT, who play No. 43 Costa Rica (who they just beat 3–0 in the group stage) tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
- Meanwhile, No. 11 Brazil takes on No. 31 Argentina tomorrow at 10:15 p.m. ET, followed by No. 35 Mexico vs. No. 50 Paraguay on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. Golazos everywhere you turn.
🏒 PWHL reveals innovative playoff format
The league spiced things up by unveiling a chaotic choose-your-opponent playoff format on Wednesday. The No. 1 seed will have the opportunity to choose whether they want to face the third- or fourth-place team in the best-of-five semis series.
- And the PWHL also introduced the “Gold Plan,” which determines who will win the first pick of the 2024 draft and ensures that non-playoff teams play meaningful games until the end of the season. Pop that corn.
🇨🇦 New updates in World Juniors sexual assault trial
The five members — four of whom are NHLers currently on leave from their teams — of the 2018 Canadian world juniors hockey team at the center of an investigation into sexual assault allegations chose and were granted a jury trial yesterday. The case will return to court on April 30th in London, Ontario.
⚽ Only two Olympic berths remain in women’s soccer
World No. 12 Australia, No. 8 Japan, and No. 6 Germany recently booked their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the Germans qualifying by finishing third at the Women’s Nations League on Wednesday. Two Olympic berths remain for African nations, which will be decided next month.
- Speaking of the Women’s Nations League, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, No. 1 Spain claimed the inaugural title by defeating No. 2 France 2–0 in Wednesday’s championship game. Vamos!
Together With LMNT
💧 In your element
Sometimes you’re grinding at the gym, sometimes you’re being ground down by insufficient recovery. When fatigue sabotages your workout routine, LMNT’s elite rehydration system helps you bounce back.
Unlike other sports drinks, LMNT replenishes all-important electrolytes without added sugar, and it comes in way tastier flavors than your standard battery-acid yellow. Seriously, you can even make everything from mocktails to hot chocolate with it.
- See why the world’s top athletes rehydrate and recover with LMNT — and as a bonus, they’ll throw in a free eight-count sample pack with any purchase. Fatigue and post-workout brain fog are a thing of the past.
🏀 AU Basketball: Team Mitchell vs. Team Gray — Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET — WNBA app
- After last night’s season tip-off, the exhilarating and innovative league’s opening weekend continues through Sunday. Hoopy weekend, indeed.
👑 NBA: Denver Nuggets vs. LA Lakers — Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET — ABC
- Just nine points away from reaching the 40K career-point mark, Lakers legend LeBron James will shoot for history in this Western Conference Finals rematch against Nikola Jokić and the reigning champion Nuggets. Hollywood magic.
🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Iowa — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — FOX Sports
- College GameDay takes to Iowa City with the aforementioned Clark just 18 points shy of Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA scoring record and poised to smash it in this crucial Big Ten battle.
Giveaway Alert
February flew by, meaning everyone’s favorite season — March Madness — will be here before you know it.
- But, the college basketball tournaments won’t be the only hoops sweeping the nation this month — Athletes Unlimited (AU) is hosting their Champions Weekend games and we’ve teamed up with them to give you a chance to catch the action live.
Enter for your chance to win a trip for two to Dallas including round-trip flights, accommodations, and tickets to catch four games between March 22nd and 24th.
- The best part? You’ll have a chance to meet and greet AU’s top athletes. A dream come true.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🥛 What to drink
Milk, which might just be the new sports drink.
🏋️ How to stay in shape
With a ClassPass membership. It’s a great way to try different workouts, studios, and classes.
📖 Where to meet
In your inbox for The GIST Book Club’s discussion of February’s book of the month, Us Against You by Fredrik Backman. Subscribe to The GIST Book Club newsletters to keep the conversation going.
Take Your Pick
No. 2 USWNT
No. 23 Colombia
Start off your Women’s History Month celebrations with the aforementioned Concacaf W Gold Cup quarter-finals. Who do you think will win this feisty footy fight?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Rachel Fuenzalida, 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.