And for the grand finale
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Congratulations!
You made it through the first week of 2024. How about we celebrate with some sports news?
— International hooper and former NBAer Ricky Rubio, reflecting on his 12-year NBA career as he announced his retirement from the league to focus on his mental health. Prioritizing your well-being is always a winning move.
NFL
🏈 And for the grand finale
The GIST: Seventeen weeks and countless controversial calls later, it all comes down to this: the NFL’s five remaining playoff spots (plus all-important seeding) will be decided over the next two days of final regular-season action. No pressure.
- As a quick refresher, 14 of the league’s 32 teams — seven from the American Football Conference (AFC) and seven from the National Football Conference (NFC) — make the postseason, with four AFC spots already locked in and five accounted for in the NFC.
Three-way tie atop the AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans boast identical 9-7 records, making the division crown (and the playoff berth that comes with it) anyone’s for the taking. The Jags hold the tiebreaker, so they’ll only need a dub over the Tennessee Titans, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, to nab it.
- But first things first: tomorrow’s 8:15 p.m. ET game pits the Texans against the Colts. Winner majorly boosts their playoff odds and could even take the division title should the Jags falter. This one’s can’t miss.
Lowly NFC South still seeking winner: Giddy on up because we have another three-way race, this one in the NFC South, where no team owns a record better than .500. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can claim the crown with a win over the Carolina Panthers, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, but the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons will be manifesting a Bucs loss as they square off against each other simultaneously.
Green Bay Packers control their destiny: No Aaron Rodgers, possibly no problem. The Pack could begin the sans-Rodgers era with a playoff appearance…if they top the Chicago Bears, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. And if the Pack loses? Chaos ensues.
The game of the weekend: The NFL truly saved the best for last: Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. ET battle for the AFC East between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. The Fins have already clinched a postseason ticket, but the once–Super Bowl favorite Bills could miss the playoffs entirely with an L. Talk about down to the wire.
NCAA gymnastics
🎓🤸 Let’s flipping go
The GIST: You don’t have to wait until this summer’s Paris Olympics to catch world-class gymnastics — the collegiate women’s season hits the mat this weekend. Check out our primer, then slip on your sparkliest leo and jump in.
The top teams: Oklahoma is back, baby. Despite graduating some key athletes, the Sooners’ squad is as formidable as ever, and a natty three-peat is definitely on the table. However, standing in their way is Florida, the 2023 national runner-up, who’s filling a Trinity Thomas–shaped hole with an all-star cast of freshmen.
Gymnasts to know: Utah fifth-year and beam queen Maile (pronounced MY-lee) O’Keefe returns to the Red Rocks to defend her NCAA all-around title, the sport’s most prestigious individual honor. Florida junior Leanne Wong is also back and better than ever after a big offseason on the international circuit.
- And while senior Hayleigh Bryant isn’t the most famous member of LSU’s roster, she’s certainly the most dominant. She qualified as an All-American in all five categories (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor, and all-around). A quintuple-threat.
What to watch: Opening weekend’s premier meet is the Super 16 in Las Vegas, which features…you guessed it, 16 of the nation’s top teams, including Oklahoma. The best part? It’s sponsored by the upcoming Mean Girls film, complete with a website that’s so fetch. The first session kicks off today at 3 p.m. ET on the event’s YouTube page, where you can always sit with us.
⚽ NJ/NY Gotham FC signs two more USWNT stars
Buoyed by an increased salary cap, the reigning NWSL champs signed former OL Reign midfielders Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett to multi-year contracts yesterday. After the additions of fellow USWNTers Crystal Dunn and Tierna Davidson earlier this week, the move adds even more starpower to the Big Apple’s latest superteam. If you can make it there…
🎓🏀 NCAA and ESPN agree to $920M deal, includes women’s March Madness
NCAA women’s basketball is valued at a record-setting $65M (!!!) in the NCAA’s new eight-year, $920M media contract with ESPN, a nearly 10-times increase from the current deal. However, despite ever-growing interest in women’s sports, the women’s March Madness tournament is still being sold as part of a bundle, unlike its lucrative male equivalent. Ugh.
- That said, the new deal does guarantee the women’s title game will air nationally, and the eight-year expiration date creates an opportunity for both the men’s and women’s tournaments to hit the market as their own bundle in 2032.
💰 Portland Thorns FC sold for record $63M
After more than a year on the market, RAJ Sports group, which holds part-ownership of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, purchased the three-time NWSL Championship franchise on Wednesday — the largest sale in league history. RAJ Sports have committed to both keeping the club in Portland and building a new training facility. Booyah.
🏒 PWHL’s successful opening week inspires optimism
A crowd of 8,318 fans — the largest audience to ever watch a pro women’s hockey game — took in Tuesday’s PWHL Ottawa vs. Montréal game, but PWHL Minnesota is coming for the throne. The squad expects to break that record at tomorrow’s 3:30 p.m. ET home opener against Montréal.
- Plus, the PWHL’s completely free YouTube streams of every game are bringing in serious numbers. Crying supportive tears.
🇺🇲 IIHF World Junior Championship: USA vs. Sweden — Today at 1:30 p.m. ET — NHL Network
- Thanks to Cutter Gauthier’s game-winner in yesterday’s 3–2 semifinal victory over Finland, the Stars and Stripes will skate for World Juniors gold glory, but they’ll need to take down the host Swedes. Drop that puck.
🏒 PWHL: Toronto vs. New York — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — YouTube
- After a lopsided season-opening loss, Toronto will dress for revenge and look for their first franchise goal in tonight’s rematch in the Big Apple. It’s been waiting for you.
🎓🏈 NCAA FCS National Championship: Montana Grizzlies vs. South Dakota Jackrabbits — Sunday at 2 p.m. ET — ABC
- Warm up for Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game with the FCS title battle between the Big Sky champs, Montana, and the undefeated, defending champ Jackrabbits, who hop into this one with a 28-game win streak. Hut, hut, here we go.
Together With Visit Sun Valley
Picture this: The holiday season has come and gone, and you’re staring down the barrel of another monotonous weekend. Sound familiar? Then let Sun Valley, Idaho, solve your winter blues.
- World-class skiing and snowboarding are just the beginning of what makes Sun Valley special. Their jam-packed events calendar and to-die-for après-ski scene will keep the vibes high ’til summer. January boredom doesn’t stand a chance.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
📚 What to read
The Strong Girl by Molly Hurford. The historical fiction novel is inspired by the incredible story of Canadian athlete Louise Armaindo and includes great tips for strength training and endurance sport.
🎧 What to listen to
Normal Gossip. The hosts share juicy, strange, funny, and utterly banal gossip about people you’ll never know or meet. Spill that tea.
👗 Who to know
Max Alexander. The seven-year-old fashion designer has become a viral success.
Take Your Pick
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
As you read, the Bills and Dolphins will play for all the AFC East marbles on Sunday Night Football. Who do you think will take the title? Waiting all day for Sunday night, baby.
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 Bonnie Lee. 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.