Jingling all the way
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Ho ho hope you’re having a great week!
The holiday break is just around the corner, there was a giant dog courtside at an NBA game, and you’re here with us for even more sports news. Jingling all the way…
— LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese, fondly recalling going head-to-head with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark during the 2023 national championship game, as she and Clark were named The Sporting News Athletes of the Year yesterday. Beyond well deserved.
NBA
🏀 Onwards and upwards
The GIST: Last night, embattled Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant made an emphatic return to the court for the first time this season, hitting a buzzer-beating game-winner in a 34-point effort after serving a 25-game suspension.
The off-court context: Back in March, Morant flashed a gun on Instagram Live, drawing an eight-game suspension. Then in May, just two weeks after the Grizzlies’ first-round playoff elimination, Morant repeated the same reckless offense.
- After a full investigation, the NBA handed the two-time All-Star a 25-game suspension and privately informed him of the conditions he’d have to meet before rejoining the league.
- Ahead of last night’s return, a refreshingly vulnerable Morant spoke openly about how therapy has changed his outlook on life, calling his time away “eye-opening.”
The on-court effect: Morant led his team in both points and assists last season, lifting the Grizzlies to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before their early playoff exit. But they’ve struggled in his absence, going 6-19 before Morant’s season debut while notably dealing with major roster injuries.
- All to say Memphis (and superstars around the league) were overjoyed to see his storybook return in last night’s nail-biting 115–113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. A major step forward.
🎓🏐 Sunday’s NCAA volleyball championship game averaged 1.7M viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched college volleyball match ever. A true serve.
⚽ NWSL free agency is getting positively batty, with rumors that a whole host of USWNT stars are in advanced talks with the defending champs, NJ/NY Gotham FC.
🏈 Despite teasing a possible miraculous return from an Achilles injury, NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers won’t hit the gridiron again this season, with the Jets officially out of the playoff hunt.
🏀 Grab your 2024 planner — the WNBA released next year’s regular-season schedule on Monday and announced an updated Commissioner's Cup format.
💰 The Houston Dash re-signed forward Maria Sánchez to a three-year, $1.5M contract on Monday, making her the highest-paid player in NWSL history.
📈 MLS hosted the SuperDraft 2024 yesterday, filling rosters with promising college talent, including sophomores and juniors for the first time.
🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 23 Washington vs. No. 19 Louisville — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — ACC Network
- The undefeated Huskies have entered the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2017, but they’ll face an immediate test on the road in the Cardinals.
🏀 NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Philadelphia 76ers — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — NBA TV
- Karl-Anthony Towns and the best in the West Timberwolves visit the City of Brotherly Love to face league-leading scorer Joel Embiid and the Sixers.
🏈 NFL: New Orleans Saints vs. LA Rams — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — Prime Video
- Oh the Saints are marching into SoFi Stadium for an all-important Thursday Night Football showdown. These two NFC teams boast identical records and will be hoping for an early Christmas miracle as they aim to enter the playoff picture.
Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
📶 How to do more with less
By signing up for Verizon’s myPlan, where you can customize your plan with an à la carte menu of perks, including Netflix and Max for only $10. Only pay for what you want — no gimmicks or excessive bundling here.*
⚽ What to read
This opinion article arguing that newly appointed USWNT head coach Emma Hayes is a bigger deal for U.S. soccer than Leo Messi coming to MLS.
📽️ What to check out
Letterboxd. Log your favorite flicks on the social network for film lovers.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Ring ring.Question of the Day
The Detroit Pistons have been making the wrong kind of history this season — they’re on a dismal 24-game losing streak. That’s creeping dangerously close to the NBA’s all-time losing streak record of 28. With five games left in 2023, including tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET tilt against the Utah Jazz, we want to know: Do you think the Pistons will snap their losing skid before the new year?
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, 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 Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.