Just another Manic Monday
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Good morning!
May you approach the new week with the patience of this female pro golfer receiving some unsolicited advice on the driving range. Swinging right past the mansplainers and into today’s news.
— High school wrestler Audrey Jimenez, after her history-making Arizona state wrestling title, the state’s first won by a female competing against male opponents. (P)in it to win it.
NCAA women’s basketball
🎓🏀 Watch the throne
The GIST: With just over three weeks until March Madness, two of the biggest names in women’s college hoops are crushing records and commanding our attention day in and day out. You know this…ballin’.
Senior Caitlin Clark, No. 4 Iowa: Already the owner of the all-time NCAA women’s scoring record, Clark — who’s averaging over 32 points per game — is now just 51 points away from breaking former LSU and NBA star Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA record of 3,667 with two regular-season games to go.
- And she’s inching toward even more history along the way: the Hawkeye notched her 16th career triple-double yesterday, making her second among all NCAA Division 1 women and men, behind only WNBA three-point queen Sabrina Ionescu, who had 26 at Oregon.
Freshman JuJu Watkins, No. 7 USC: The hometown hero is catapulting USC women’s basketball back into the national conversation in her first collegiate season. Watkins notched her 12th 30-point game of the season yesterday, making her the highest-scoring Trojan freshman ever. Just the beginning.
⛳ World No. 43 and Thailand’s own Patty Tavatanakit sunk a birdie on the final hole to win the Honda LPGA Thailand yesterday, her first Tour win since 2021. Meanwhile, world No. 1 American Lilia Vu finished tied for seventh.
😲 The Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren became the first NBA rookie to ever post 150+ blocks, 150+ assists, and 100+ three-pointers in a single season during yesterday’s win over the Houston Rockets. Jaw-dropping.
🏀 Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young needs hand surgery on a torn ligament and will miss at least the next four weeks as his team clings to an NBA play-in spot.
⚾ Former MVP outfielder Cody Bellinger re-signed with the Chicago Cubs on a three-year, $80M deal yesterday, potentially opening up the previously stagnant MLB free agent market. Watch this space.
👀 The Athletes Unlimited Basketball Week 1 draft will be held tonight ahead of Thursday’s season-opening tip-off, which will mark the innovative league’s third annual campaign. Hoop, there it is.
⚽ CONCACAF W Gold Cup: No. 2 USWNT vs. No. 35 Mexico — Tonight at 10:15 p.m. ET — Paramount+
- With their knockout stage berth already in hand, the red, white, and blue and their brickwall defense have a chance to keep up their tourney
donutshutout streak in this group stage finale.
🏀 NBA: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics — Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET — TNT
- The fifth-in-the-Eastern-Conference Sixers are trying to find their groove in the absence of injured superstar Joel Embiid, but it’ll be quite the challenge against the league-leading Celtics, who are riding an eight-game win streak.
🏒 PWHL: Toronto vs. Minnesota — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — YouTube
- A battle between the No. 3 and No. 2 teams, these foes are about as evenly matched as they come. Puck yeah.
Together With The GIST
Here at The GIST, we’ve had the pleasure of working with amazing partners including Mejuri, Nike, FanDuel, and the U.S. Open, helping them foster meaningful connections with our GISTers.
- If you or your company values the power of women, let’s talk.
Peep our squad’s MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
📺 What to watch
The Greatest Night in Pop. If you grew up listening to “We Are the World,” this is the doc for you. It details how 46 of the biggest pop stars had only one night to turn chaos into magic — true teamwork.
🍩 How to stay positive
With the Positive DONUT community. Add some weekly smiles to your routine with their wellness and mindfulness tips, plus cute animal photos. Go ahead, dig in.
🏈 What to binge
The Dynasty: New England Patriots. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the NFL team everyone loves (or loves to hate) and their historic 20-year run during the Brady-Belichick-Kraft era.
Question of the Day
Crocs seem to be making a comeback on and off the court, so let’s settle this debate: Are Crocs in or out? Put it in sport mode and chime in below.
On Friday, we asked when you think Caitlin Clark will break the all-time NCAA scoring record. 36% voted for March 3rd vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 29% voted for February 28th vs. Minnesota, 23% voted for March 6th at the Big 10 Tournament, and 12% voted for February 25th vs. Illinois. Only time will tell.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, 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.