Blocking as a form of self care
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey there!
Before we dig into today’s sports news, we’re thinking of everyone impacted by the devastating plane crash in D.C. on Wednesday, a tragedy that claimed the lives of several members of the U.S. figure skating community.
- Sending love, sending strength, and sending hugs as we head into the weekend.
— Basketball icon Candace Parker, announcing that she’s part of the group working to bring the WNBA’s 16th franchise to Tennessee.
- The two-time W MVP and former Lady Vols hooper has always been vocal about the positive influence her collegiate coach, the late, great Pat Summitt, had on her life. Chills.
Justin Tucker allegations
🏈 Not great
The GIST: Seven-time Pro Bowler and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, as reported by The Baltimore Banner in a bombshell article yesterday. Here’s everything we know.
The allegations: According to claims from six massage therapists, the alleged misconduct occurred between 2012 and 2016 — during Tucker’s first five seasons in the NFL — and resulted in multiple massage therapists refusing to work with the long-time Ravens kicker, along with two spas banning him from returning.
- All of the horrifying alleged incidents occurred while Tucker was receiving treatment. The matter is being investigated by the NFL, and Tucker could be disciplined under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Tucker’s response: The veteran kicker responded with a lengthy social media post an hour after the allegations went public, calling the claims “unequivocally false.” His lawyers also denied the reports, stating that they’re speculative and “impossible to prove,” while maintaining that Tucker was never banned from the two spas.
Zooming out: It’s no secret that the NFL has a disappointingly long history of sexual misconduct amongst its athletes — and the league’s punishments rarely fit the crime. Though there’s still plenty to sort through, all eyes will once again be on the league’s handling of this reprehensible situation.
🏒 With only two weeks until the puck drops on the 4 Nations Cup, all four contending teams have named their captains. Sidney Crosby (Canada), Auston Matthews (USA), Victor Hedman (Sweden), and Aleksander Barkov (Finland) will don the Cs for their respective squads.
1️⃣ There was not one but two aces during yesterday’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am opening day with both world No. 3 Rory McIlroy and world No. 28 Shane Lowry tallying holes-in-one.
- And with American Russell Henley leading the way by just one stroke, the rest of the weekend’s action will be all grand and all green.
⛳ South Korea’s Kim A-lim leads the Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions after yesterday’s first round, boasting a four-shot lead over the rest of the field.
🏀 It’s a good weekend to wear No. 22 — South Carolina star A’ja Wilson and Iowa icon Caitlin Clark will have their college jerseys retired on Sunday. It feels like one of those nights.
👀 And that’s not the only Clark news to report: Though the hoops phenom won’t bring her talents to this year’s NBA All-Star action, she will bring them back to the Hawkeyes’ homecourt when the Indiana Fever play an exhibition game there in May.
🥎 Former Oklahoma State pitcher and two-time Team USA gold medalist Lexi Kilfoyl was the No. 1 pick in Wednesday’s inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) draft, taken by the Bandits ahead of the groundbreaking league’s June launch. Nothing soft about it.
✅ Two-time WNBA champion Monica Wright Rogers was announced as the Toronto Tempo’s inaugural general manager (GM) on Wednesday after spending the last two seasons as the assistant GM for the Phoenix Mercury.
Together With Cycling Frog
😴Sip your way to a good night’s sleep
Exercising more in 2025? Well, take it from this Cycling Frog — tired muscles do not always coincide with a tired brain. If you’re looking for a way to enhance your relaxation and sleep, try incorporating Cycling Frog’s cannabis products into your routine.
- From their Black Currant THC seltzer to their popular Wintergreen THC Mints, Cycling Frog has a little something so everyone can take the edge off. Thank you and goodnight.
🏀 Unrivaled: Lunar Owls BC vs. Laces BC — Tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET — TNT
- Two undefeated teams and the league’s top-three leading scorers in the Owls’ Napheesa Collier and the Laces’ Kayla McBride and Tiffany Hayes? Say less, then procure an umbrella because it’s about to be raining (threes).
🏐 PVF: Vegas Thrill vs. Indy Ignite — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — YouTube
- The two top teams in the PVF are as evenly matched as they come, so the big question is which high-flying outside hitter will reign supreme: Indy’s Leketor Member-Meneh or Vegas’ Hannah Maddux?
🏒 PWHL: Montréal Victoire vs. NY Sirens — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — Fubo
- A classic case of an old dog facing off against new tricks, this top-of-the-table showdown features Montréal’s fearless leader, Marie-Philip Poulin, and NY’s rookie phenom, Sarah Fillier, both of whom lead their respective squads in points. Drop that puck.
🏈 NFL Pro Bowl: American Football Conference (AFC) vs. National Football Conference (NFC) — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET — ESPN
- If last night’s Pro Bowl Games brought the harmony to your household, there’s more where that came from with Part 2 of the NFL’s All-Star festivities slated for Sunday, highlighted by the annual flag football showdown.
- The AFC has some work to do, but The Great Football Race only cares about where you finish, not where you start.
Together With Reverse Health
🧘 Two dollars doesn’t stretch too far in this economy — unless your goal is to get stretchy yourself. That’s right — Reverse Health, the best at-home fitness app for women, is offering a promotion alongside their 28-Day Yoga Challenge, selling subscriptions for as little as $2 a week.
- Because Reverse Health offers yoga classes for all levels, think of this as a small investment with a major payoff, increasing your flexibility, improving your posture, and calming your mind — all at once. Check out their fitness plans today.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
💪 How to tackle your wellness goals
With Nasoya’s free-to-enter Power of 9 sweepstakes. There’s a year-long gym membership on the line (among other prizes), so you can double down on that new year, new you era.*
🏉 Who’s ready to ruck
Women’s Elite Rugby (WER), the first-ever pro women’s rugby league in the U.S. WER recently revealed its six team names and logos ahead of their March season start and they’re truly try-mendous.
🎨 Who to know
“Queen Tahj” Williams, a New Orleans artist who made history as the first Black woman to design the Super Bowl logo and theme art.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Wellness always wins.Giveaway Alert
🎨 Looking for ways to elevate your space? How about refreshing your walls with gorgeous, quality landscape prints? You’re in luck — we’re giving you a chance to win $1,500 to Scott Kemper Imagery.
Whether you love the mountains, beaches, or forests, you can truly have it all and wow your friends when you host the next happy hour.
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Upgrade your empty walls and enter to win today.
Question of the Day
Believe it or not, today’s the last day of January. With the second month of the year on deck tomorrow, which of the following events are you most stoked for in February?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, Rachel Fuenzalida, 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. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.