It all comes down to this…maybe
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey there!
The countdown to the official start of summer continues (just three more days!), but bachelorette and bachelor party season is already in full swing — including for hockey legends Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, who celebrated in true GIST fashion over the weekend…literally. Here’s to an equally iconic week ahead.
— Las Vegas Aces star and reigning WNBA Finals MVP A’ja Wilson, fighting through tears while discussing her leadership style. The defending champs are in the midst of an uncharacteristic slump, but their fearless leader is taking accountability from the very top.
NBA Finals
🏀 Pack up the brooms
The GIST: And just like that, the NBA Finals are no longer destined for the broom closet — the Dallas Mavericks staved off a sweep by the Boston Celtics (now up 3-1), routing the Cs 122–84 in Friday’s Game 4. These balls just keep bouncing.
Mavs’ Luka Dončić dominates Game 4: After a chorus of criticism following his distracted Game 3 performance, Dončić kept his focus on the hardwood rather than the refs in Game 4, pouring in 29 points, forcing turnovers, and working in offensive tandem with his other half, Kyrie Irving (21 points).
- And while the Dončić-Irving duo danced the night away, Boston’s twosome — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — were held to 15 and 10 points, respectively, aka their worst performances of the series thus far.
Celtics have a chance to clinch 18th franchise championship in Boston tonight: Just one win away from their first title since 2008, the Cs failed to meet the moment in Game 4, struggling to score (they shot a mere 36.2%, the worst-ever performance in NBA Finals history) and looking unusually shaky on defense.
- But the last time Boston lost two consecutive games was April 11th — nearly two months and 20 games ago. Let’s see what they can do with a chance to hang that elusive NBA record 18th banner on their home floor tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Stanley Cup Final
🏒 Get in the action, feel the attraction
The GIST: Okay, so the Edmonton Oilers scored eight goals? That did impress the queen of country pop… and helped the Oils avoid being swept by the Florida Panthers (now up 3-1). The Oils are showing signs of life with an 8–1 Saturday Game 4 rout under their belts, but now this series is heading back to Sunrise…
Connor McDavid scores first Stanley Cup Final goal: Edmonton’s captain and superstar notched his first career final goal in the second period, shortly before breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists in a single postseason with 32.
- McDavid wowed, but this was a full team effort — Dylan Holloway scored twice and Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman each notched two assists, which forced Florida to pull their previously lights-out goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the second period. Talk about a turnaround.
Florida can close out the series at home tonight: Lucky for the Panthers, they still have nine lives another chance to hoist Lord Stanley for the very first time and they can do it in front of their home crowd.
- The Cats are 8-3 in Amerant Bank Arena this postseason, and if they can repeat their Games 1 and 2 performances, history just might unfold when the Game 5 puck drops tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET.
⚽ Danish captain Christian Eriksen makes triumphant return to the men’s Euro
Eriksen scored his team’s lone goal in world No. 21 Denmark’s tourney-opening 1–1 draw with No. 57 Slovenia yesterday, an incredible feat that came three years after he collapsed on the pitch and nearly lost his life to cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
- In other Euro group stage headlines, No. 66 Albania scored the fastest goal in tourney history on Saturday, but lost 2–1 to No. 9 Italy, while standout midfielder Jude Bellingham scored the only goal in No. 4 England’s 1–0 dub over No. 33 Serbia yesterday.
⛳ Bryson DeChambeau wins his second men’s U.S. Open, Lilia Vu secures first victory of the season
The fan favorite LIV golfer survived the hills and slopes of Pinehurst No. 2 (and benefitted from a world No. 2 Rory McIlroy collapse) to claim his second career U.S. Open title yesterday, 25 years after his hero Payne Stewart won it on the same course. Kismet.
- And the drama extended to LPGA action, where world No. 2 Lilia Vu (who had been sidelined with a back injury since March) overcame an eight-stroke deficit to win yesterday’s Meijer LPGA Classic on the third playoff hole, beating out fellow American Lexi Thompson and Australia’s Grace Kim.
⚾🥎 Men’s College World Series, AUX softball roll on
The diamond was shimmering with baseball and softball action this weekend. In NCAA news, the eight-team MCWS field is down to seven after a weekend full of walk-off wins and record-high viewership numbers from Omaha, Nebraska. The fun continues today with squads ultimately swinging for one of two spots in this weekend’s three-game championship series.
- As for AUX softball, captain Jocelyn Alo remains atop the leaderboard through the first two games of week two, but there’s plenty of pitches still to be thrown, including tonight’s 6 p.m. ET doubleheader airing on ESPNU.
🏊 Katie Ledecky reaches fourth Games, attendance record shattered at historic U.S. Olympic swimming trials
The record 20K crowd at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium witnessed a whole lot of history over the weekend. Stop us if you ’ve heard this before, but seven-time gold medalist Ledecky swam away with the 400m-freestyle title on Saturday to earn a spot in her fourth career Olympics.
- Meanwhile, Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh set a world record during Saturday’s 100m semis, which she nearly broke again in last night’s final to reach her first-ever Games. Just keep swimming.
Together With Heineken Silver
Between buying your favorite WNBA rookie’s pro jersey and the tickets to catch them in action, being a women’s sports fan can be pricey.
- Our pals at Heineken understand this. That’s why, in addition to supporting this free newsletter, Heineken is giving one lucky winner free beer for a year. Sign up for a shot to sip like rent isn’t due.
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🧠 How to get your head in the game
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👟 What to wear
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⚾ What to read
This interview with comedian Marcello Hernández, who talks SNL, why "baseball is so sick,” and his work with MLB to celebrate Latino culture.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Health is wealth.Take Your Pick
Boston Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
It all comes down to this…maybe. Will the Boston Celtics raise their league-record 18th championship banner tonight or will the Dallas Mavericks force a Game 6 back in the big D? Chime in with your winner of tonight’s NBA Finals Game 5.
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