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From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey there!
It was a tough start to the week for undefeated teams — the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers saw their 15-0 perfect start marred by the defending champ Boston Celtics last night, joining their football friends, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the one-loss gang. As the great Nelly Furtado once foretold, all good things come to an end.
— The Parent Trap star Lindsay Lohan, giving props to the Minnesota Vikings’ Camryn Bynum and Joshua Metellus, who nailed the classic film’s iconic handshake in October. Timeless, just like peanut butter and Oreos.
Rafael Nadal retires
🎾 Parting is such sweet sorrow
The GIST: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal officially retired yesterday following Spain’s quarter-final exit from the Davis Cup, marking the end of his career with a final pro match loss to world No. 80 Botic van de Zandschulp. Consider the circle closed.
- Today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to honor the undisputed (and very ’stitious) King of Clay, with the generational shift in men’s tennis fully underway.
On-court legacy: At just 18 years old, Nadal burst on the scene, poetically enough, at the 2004 Davis Cup, topping then–No. 2 Andy Roddick to clinch the title for Spain. Months later, he won the first of 14 record-setting French Open titles, a run that would cement his status as the best to ever play at Roland-Garros, with 112 wins and just four losses across 116 event appearances.
- But Nadal’s clay court dominance was only part of his game. The Spaniard is retiring with two Olympic gold medals, a career Grand Slam, and 22 major titles, trailing only No. 7 Novak Djokovic as the all-time men’s Grand Slam winner.
- Nadal’s final two Grand Slam titles came in 2022, when he won both the Australian Open and French Open. His career has since been plagued by injuries, forcing Nadal to slow down, and in October, he announced his retirement following the Davis Cup.
Zooming out: Of the Big Three — Roger Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic — only Djokovic remains active. However, despite winning an Olympic gold this summer, 2024 marked one of Djokovic’s worst seasons in recent memory, injured and winless at the majors for the first time since 2017.
- In fact, 2024 marked the first time in 22 years that all four Slams were won by someone who wasn’t named Federer, Nadal, or Djokovic. A true passing of the torch.
- Though fierce competitors, the Big Three have shown unwavering support for each other as their dominant era comes to a close, paving the way for rising stars like No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and No. 4 Taylor Fritz to take their place. Pass the tissues.
LPGA
⛳ It's all grand and it's all green
The GIST: Tomorrow, the world’s best golfers will tee off in Naples, Florida, at the final LPGA event of the year, the CME Group Tour Championship. With the largest first-place prize in the history of women’s golf, a whopping $4M (!!!), the grass is definitely greener on this side.
How it works: Much like the PGA Tour Championship, players collected points based on where they finished at 33 sanctioned Tour events. The goal? Earn enough points to land in the LPGA’s top 60 golfers and gain a spot at the Championship. With a clean slate to start the four-round season finale, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The playing field: As is, ahem, par for the championship course, the 60-player field is stacked with the likes of world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who nabbed a mind-boggling seven wins in 2024, and two-time finale winner world No. 9 Jin Young Ko. Expect three-time event winner world No. 4 Lydia Ko to live up to her Hall of Fame billing too, after standing atop the podium at this year’s Paris Olympics.
- And while four Tour rookies will make their Championship debuts, this is likely veteran Lexi Thompson’s last edition after the 2017 Championship winner announced her retirement from full-time competition earlier this year.
🏈🤌 Both NY football teams make big changes amid season struggles
The eight-loss NY Jets had more pink slips up their sleeves, firing general manager Joe Douglas yesterday, just six weeks after axing head coach Robert Saleh. Douglas was the architect behind bringing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple — and the rumors? They’re already swirling.
- And just up the hallway, the equally abysmal NY Giants swapped dimes for cutlets, benching QB Daniel Jones on Monday in favor of Big Blue cult hero, New Jersey’s very own, Tommy DeVito. *pinches fingers*
🎓🏈 Oregon’s reign continues in third college football playoff (CFP) rankings drop
The undefeated Ducks weren’t the only squad to hold steady in this week’s CFP national rankings — college football’s top five teams all stayed put. From there, the two-loss SEC squads caused a raucous for the selection committee, with the Big 12’s BYU getting the short end of the stick and plummeting eight spots to No. 14.
- Only three more polls will drop before the expanded 12-team CFP action begins on December 20th. Stay tuned by subscribing to our college newsletter for more. You’re welcome.
🏀 Unrivaled has yet to announce final two players with today’s draft on deck
As of publication, the 36-player field wasn’t complete, but the player-founded 3v3 WNBA offseason league might just be feeling 22. We’ll know for sure before today’s 11 a.m. ET draft (streamed live on YouTube) where the league’s six coaches will collaborate to pick the teams — without knowing which team is theirs. Drama.
🏒 NHL superstars Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews dealing with injuries
Ovechkin's quest to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer is on pause after the Washington Capitals captain exited his team’s 6–2 Monday night win over the Utah Hockey Club with a lower-leg injury. Still, the league’s leading scorer lit the lamp twice before the injury, bringing his career total to 868, just 26 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are also without their high-scoring captain: Matthews hasn’t played since November 3rd and is in Germany receiving treatment for an upper-body injury. Needless to say, he’ll be OOO for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET bout vs. the Vegas Golden Knights.
Take Your Pick
Italy
Slovakia
After one week of thrilling tennis action at the Billie Jean King Cup finals, today’s grand finale will feature world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini’s Italy and a Slovakia team that upset the United States, Australia, and Great Britain to reach their first event final since 2002. Take your best shot and let us know who you think will hoist this year’s trophy.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
🎥 What to stream
A Radical Act, an inspiring doc by UNINTERRUPTED that follows Renee Montgomery’s journey from athlete to owner.
⚽ What to celebrate
UEFA’s “Unstoppable” Plan. Aiming to make women’s soccer Europe’s top team sport, UEFA’s new six-year strategy promises big things for the game’s future.
🏈 What to debate
Extra point or go for two? NFL coaches are split, and it’s giving fans plenty to discuss.
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