Boom, roasted
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy first Monday in May!
As the Met Gala attendees prepare to bring as much heat as Kendrick Lamar, there’s a whole lot of beef going down on the playing field. Let the reawakening begin.
— ESPN reporter Angel Gray, celebrating because tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET preseason game between the Chicago Sky and the NY Liberty will officially air on WNBA League Pass after the league failed to broadcast Friday’s preseason meeting between the Sky and Minnesota Lynx.
- Luckily, a fan live-streamed the action to 2M (!!!) viewers. Lights, camera, hoops, smile.
NBA Conference semifinals
🏀 If these walls could talk
The GIST: With an epic first round done and dusted, the NBA conference semifinals have arrived and are already bringing the early upsets. No more horsing around.
Eastern Conference: In the latest example that the 90s are so back, the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers face off in Game 1 tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Jalen Brunson’s gritty Big Apple squad has been setting the pace, but can NY’s battered roster shut down Indy’s resident Hercules, Tyrese Haliburton? TBD.
- Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their first semis ticket since LeBron James departed in 2018, defeating the Orlando Magic 106–94 in Game 7 yesterday.
- The reward for Donovan Mitchell’s heroics? A matchup with the regular-season best (and well-rested) Boston Celtics, starting in Boston tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
Western Conference: Anthony Edwards scored 43 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a feisty Game 1 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Saturday — no small feat in the Mile High arena. Now trailing in a playoff series for the first time since 2022, the Nugs will try to defend home court tonight at 10 p.m. ET.
- Then tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET, rising stars will collide when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder host Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks. Two MVP contenders facing off in the second round? Say less.
NHL Playoffs
🏒 Bad blood
The GIST: The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially in the books, with four teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) advancing as the conference semis get underway. Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.
Game 7s weekend recap: Somebody check on Justin Bieber because the Toronto Maple Leafs once again lost in devastating fashion, suffering a 2–1 overtime (OT) loss to their archrivals, the Boston Bruins, on Saturday. The Buds started the scoring in the third period, but the Bruins responded a minute later, with right winger David Pastrňák ultimately delivering the OT game-winner.
- Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars eliminated the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights, winning last night’s Game 7 2–1 in front of their home crowd. Center Radek Faksa lit the lamp early in the third period, sending the Stars into a second-round meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.
Second round preview: The Presidents’ Trophy–winning NY Rangers are still undefeated this postseason following last night’s 4–3 Game 1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Metropolitan Division foes clash again from the Big Apple in Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
- The Bruins, meanwhile, will dress for revenge as they head to the Sunshine State to face the Florida Panthers in Game 1 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
- The other West semi will feature a Pacific Division showdown between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, their first playoff battle since 1992. The Canucks swept the regular-season series, but don’t count out Connor McDavid’s squad, who put up a flurry of goals in the first round. The Game 1 action begins Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
🏒 The four-team PWHL playoff picture is officially set, with Boston and Minnesota clinching over the weekend to join No. 1 seed Toronto and Montréal. Is it Wednesday yet?
🏇 Blink and you’ll miss it — Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a three-way photo finish on Saturday, marking the sixth straight year the favorite did not win the famed race.
🎾 World No. 1 Iga Świątek beat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set Madrid Open final thriller on Saturday, giving the 22-year-old her 20th career title.
🏎️ McLaren’s Lando Norris brought the heat at yesterday’s Miami Grand Prix, winning his first career race, finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (second) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (third). Pop the champagne.
⚽ Another weekend, another MLS record for Lionel Messi — Leo registered the most assists (five) and most goal contributions (six) in a single game during Inter Miami CF’s 6–2 Saturday victory over the NY Red Bulls.
🎓🥍 Speaking of records, No. 1 Northwestern women’s lacrosse star Izzy Scane tied the all-time NCAA scoring record over the weekend and is poised to break it when the NCAA championship tournament begins later this week. Ripping twine left and right.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🏳️⚧️ What to shop
The GIST's Protect Trans Athletes merch. Join us in making a statement and supporting inclusivity in sports.
📚 What to read
Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner’s upcoming memoir Coming Home in which she details her 10-month detainment in Russia and her journey to get back to the U.S. A must-read.
☀️ What to subscribe to
Nice News, a daily newsletter filled with positive and uplifting stories. No better way to start the day.
Question of the Day
Wake up sleeping beauties, the Met Gala is here. To celebrate the biggest night in fashion, let’s take a look back at some of our fave athlete looks. Cast your vote as to who you think wore it best.
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 Annie Chan. Ops by Marga Sison and Annie Chan. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alexis Allison, and Dee Lab. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.