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From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
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In just 23 days, Post Malone and Reba will open the Usher concert Super Bowl LVIII. With sunflowers, gentle hands, and the heart of a fighter, let’s dive into today’s sports news round up.
— Sixteen-year-old forward Casey Phair, commenting on the evolving women’s soccer pipeline after signing her first professional contract with the NWSL’s Angel City FC yesterday. The kids are alright.
NFL Divisional Round Playoffs
🏈 Chasing the crown
The GIST: After a Super Wild Card Weekend chock-full of gridiron chaos, eight teams — four from the American Football Conference (AFC) and four from the National Football Conference (NFC) — punched their tickets to this weekend’s divisional round. Hut, hut, here we go.
AFC
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 1 Baltimore Ravens, tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET: The Ravens, led by All-Pro quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson, were Super Bowl favorites all season and for good reason: They led the league in rushing and sacks. Coming off a bye week, the Ravens will be extra dangerous.
- But don’t count out rookie phenom QB C.J. Stroud and the Texans, who torched Cleveland’s top-ranked defense last weekend.
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET: This matchup is guaranteed to make the whole place shimmer. The defending Super Bowl champ Chiefs have bested Buffalo in their last two postseason tilts, with Mr. Swift, aka tight end Travis Kelce, hauling in a total of three touchdowns (TDs) in those two games. Bad blood, indeed.
- That said, KC will be hitting the road in the playoffs for the first time in the QB Patrick Mahomes era. And playing at Orchard Park is never easy. Plus, Bills QB Josh Allen is feeling it after absolutely slaying last week.
NFC
No. 7 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 1 San Francisco 49ers, tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET: Yes, the Packers shocked the world with last week’s dismantling of the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys, but they’re in for an even bigger challenge against the 49ers, who enjoyed a first-round bye after securing the No. 1 seed.
- With seven All-Pros, including running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Fred Warner, San Fran looks poised to quash the upstart Pack.
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 3 Detroit Lions, Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Coming off their first playoff win since 1992, the Lions are looking for their first multi-win postseason since 1957. Even better, the squad can do it at home as they prepare to host their second playoff game in as many weeks. Safe to say, Motown is electric.
- Lions QB Jared Goff is still riding high after topping his former squad last week while star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will hope to make Bucs QB Baker Mayfield uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Tampa will rely on their postseason pedigree to stifle the Lions’ charge.
🎾 Upsets reign supreme Down Under
World No. 5 Jessica Pegula lost to unseeded Clara Burel in the second round on Wednesday, making Pegula the fifth Top 8 women’s player to be bounced out of the Australian Open this year, joining the defeated ranks of No. 3 Elena Rybakina and No. 6 Ons Jabeur.
- And No. 1 Iga Świątek narrowly avoided a second-round upset of her own, powering back to top American Danielle Collins.
- On the men’s side, world No. 16 Ben Shelton fell to No. 20 Adrian Mannarino in the third round, bringing the 21-year-old’s time in Melbourne to a surprisingly early end. His loss, coupled with No. 15 Francis Tiafoe's second round exit, means America’s best chance for their first male Grand Slam champion in 20 years lies with No. 12 Taylor Fritz.
⏩ North America’s youths are cruising
Canada’s very own No. 27 Félix Auger-Aliassime has locked in his third round berth, set to play later today, while the United States’ Fritz defeated his third round opponent last night to cruise into the fourth. Slay all day.
- And on the women’s side, forever favorite No. 4 Coco Gauff is well on her way to her second Grand Slam title, topping fellow American Alycia Parks overnight in the third round. You go, Coco.
👀 Off-court drama making all the wrong headlines
No. 6 Alexander Zverev will play in the third round of the tourney later today, despite awaiting a criminal trial back home in Germany amid allegations of domestic abuse.
- Other top men’s players have notably avoided answering any questions about Zverev, but some women’s players are speaking out, including Świątek, who said it’s “not good when a player that’s facing charges like that is being promoted.” Retweet.
Together With The GIST
👕 Wear your heart on your sleeve
Want to show off your support for women in sports? We thought so. And with The GIST’s capsule collection, you can. The pieces are sporty, bold, and playful…just like our GIST community.
Speaking of, this drop truly has something for everyone: Basketball-specific threads for hoops fans, “leveling the playing field” looks if you love making a statement, and tennis tees if you want to, ahem, serve.
But don’t just take our word for it, check it out for yourself. Happy shopping!
⛳ LPGA: HGV Tournament of Champions — Today through Sunday — Peacock
- Japan’s Ayaka Furue leads the field after day one of the season opener, but Americans Ally Ewing and Danielle Kang each sit just three strokes back. Eyes on your inbox this Sunday for all things LPGA.
🏀 NBA: Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN
- The league-leading Celtics are undefeated at home with a 20-0 record this season, but reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets can certainly end that streak tonight. Hoopy watching.
🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 5 UCLA vs. No. 3 Colorado — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — Pac-12 Network
- Two of the best teams in the nation will tip-off from the Boulder State in this highly anticipated Pac-12 matchup, featuring a Bruins squad that suffered their first loss of the season last week and the Buffs who are on a nine-game win streak. Madness, loading…
🏒 PWHL: New York vs. Boston — Tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET — YouTube
- Both teams find themselves in the middle of the pack looking to reach the top.
Giveaway Alert
Are the winter blues catching up to you? Well, today’s your lucky day because the 305 is calling your name. We want you and a pal to enjoy a three-day, two-night stay at the beautiful Elser Hotel in downtown Miami.
- And that’s not even the best part. We’ll give you two tickets to watch the Boston Celtics take on the Miami Heat in a rematch of last season’s NBA Eastern Conference Finals on January 25th.
- Enter this contest today to start the year with a slam dunk.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🏌️ What’s ending
Tiger Woods x Nike. The golf GOAT is parting ways with the sporting giant after 27 years and too many iconic looks to count.
🏔️ What to watch
Society of the Snow. This heart-wrenching film is based on the real-life story of the Uruguayan rugby team, whose plane crashed into a glacier over the Andes in 1972. Grab the tissues.
👛 What to buy
A Baggu bag. They’re cute, versatile, and equipped with two interior pockets to stay organized. What more could you want?
Take Your Pick
Kansas City Chiefs
Buffalo Bills
As you read, there will be no mad love in this AFC Divisional Round clash, with a spot in the conference championship on the line. Who’s your pick to win the big game?
Today's email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, 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 Ellen Hyslop.