“Everyone — everyone watches women’s sports”
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hi!
The hump day mood? Hyped, because we have a very special announcement dropping within the hour. Keep an eye on your inbox and, in the meantime, enjoy today’s sports news. Let’s get this party started.
— President Joe Biden, giving the 2023 NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC major props during the team’s Monday visit, which made the Bats the first NWSL team ever celebrated at the White House. Truly the start of something new.
WNBA Playoffs
🏀 It’s getting hot in here
The GIST: Front office shake ups aside, all is going as expected in the WNBA, with two higher seeded-squads clinching their semis spots last night and the remaining two berths on the line tonight — pass the milk, it’s going to be spicy.
No. 1 NY Liberty launch comeback against No. 8 Atlanta Dream, sweep series: Atlanta’s Allisha Gray made things interesting, but NY’s Sabrina Ionescu (36 points, a playoff career high) and double-double queen Jonquel Jones entertained the star-studded Brooklyn crowd, leading NY’s second-half surge in a 91–82 win over the Dream.
Two-time defending champ No. 4 Las Vegas Aces clinch sixth straight semis appearance: Despite a strong night from the No. 5 Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike (pronounced NEH-kah Oh-GWOO-mih-kay), the Aces’ Kelsey Plum netted 29 points and superstar A’ja Wilson did gilded M’VP things, dropping a double-double of her own, in Vegas’ 83–76 win.
- That sets up an Aces vs. Liberty semi beginning this weekend, a rematch of last year’s super-squad WNBA Finals, which Vegas won in four games. Clash of the titans, reloading.
No. 3 Connecticut Sun one win away from knocking out No. 6 Indiana Fever: Fever star Caitlin Clark’s rookie season may end the same way it started: with a loss to the Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, so long as Alyssa Thomas’ experienced Connecticut squad can keep the dynamic rook at bay again tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. One thing’s for sure: millions will be watching.
No. 7 Phoenix Mercury (down 1-0) fighting to extend Diana Taurasi’s career: Though the GOAT’s remained tight-lipped about her possible retirement, tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 2 vs. Napheesa Collier and the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx could be the last time the 20-year vet takes the floor. Pop that corn and pass the tissues.
Question of the Day
With two first-round matchups done and dusted, which team(s) — if any — do you think will join the Liberty and Aces in sweeping?
On Monday, we asked you which team(s) would sweep by today’s newsletter. 40% guessed correctly and voted both the NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, 37% voted NY Liberty only, 16% voted Las Vegas Aces only, and 7% voted neither.Presidents Cup
🏌️ As par as the eye can see
The GIST: Fresh off Team USA’s Solheim Cup victory earlier this month, the best in the men’s game take over Canada’s beautiful The Royal Montreal Golf Club for the 15th edition of the Presidents Cup, a biennial team event pitting 12 Americans against 12 non-European golfers. Here’s what to know before the fun begins tomorrow — it’s ball or nothing.
How it works: Unlike the three-day Ryder Cup (featuring the men’s Team USA vs. Team Europe), this four-day match play event includes four-ball (best ball) and foursome (alternate shot) competitions through the first three days, culminating with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
- The team that earns the most points wins the Cup, an honor Team USA has had all but two times, boasting a nine-tourney win streak that dates back to 2005. Talk about dominant.
Golfers to know: Captained by 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, this American squad is stacked with five of the top 10 golfers in the world: No. 1 Scottie “year of his life” Scheffler, No. 2 Xander Schauffele, No. 4 Collin Morikawa, No. 6 Wyndham Clark, and No. 9 Patrick Cantlay.
- That strong lineup seems destined for a win, but all eyes are on seven-time 2024 PGA Tour winner Scheffler to see if he can break out of his team event slump and lead the red, white, and blue to a 10th straight victory.
Zooming out: Given the success of the Solheim Cup, it begs the question why there isn’t a women’s event equivalent to the Presidents. Seven of the top 10 women’s players in the world hail from countries other than the U.S., including New Zealand’s 2024 Olympic gold medalist and World No. 3 Lydia Ko.
- Creating another opportunity for golf's best to shine in a team event would be a significant move in growing the game. Now that would be tee-riffic.
Together With Bumble
🐘 What would Ellie do?
Need a confidence boost before your next date? Forget the superhero pose — just ask yourself, “What would New York Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant do?” A few ideas:
- 💅 Make every sidewalk your pre-game catwalk
- 👂 Toss on your finest pair of hoops
- 👀 Confirm that your match has the Sports Interest Badge on their Bumble profile
With Bumble, you can date on your own terms thanks to features like adding Interest Badges to your profile and setting an Opening Move — a new way to kickstart the conversation. Download Bumble and start channeling your inner Ellie today.
Together With Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
The best way to conquer hump day? Booking your next girls' trip — and we know just the event: the 2025 Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. Only in Pitbull’s city can you combine culture, class, and confetti for a weekend getaway at the biggest party of the year.
- From cheering in the Grandstands to luxuriating in a private suite, the Miami Grand Prix has something for every Formula 1 fan, regardless of budget. Snag your tickets today or pay the FOMO price.
🎓🏐 NCAA volleyball: No. 4 Penn State vs. No. 10 Purdue — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — Big Ten Network
- As viewership numbers bump, set, spike to new heights this season, the powerhouse mid-week matchups roll on with this top-10 battle between the Nittany Lions and the Boilermakers.
⚾ MLB: LA Angels vs. Chicago White Sox — Tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET — MLB.TV
- After narrowly avoiding making the wrong kind of history last night, the White Sox will once again look to fend off setting the MLB modern era record for most losses in a season. Here goes nothing.
⛳ LPGA: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel
- The grass looks greener at the Pinnacle Country Club, where South Korean LPGA sophomore Haeran Ryu tees off to defend her title and claim the biggest slice of the $3M purse.
🏈 NFL: Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — Amazon Prime
- This topsy-turvy NFL season enters Week 4, beginning with an NFC East matchup that should help to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
- The home team Giants are on the upswing after nabbing their first win last week while the ’Boys are sputtering following two straight head-shaking losses. Anything could happen.
Giveaway Alert
The WNBA postseason is in full swing swish and the NFL's serving up touchdowns left and right, but it's still important to make you time. This ultimate wellness giveaway will do just the trick.
The eco-friendly and empowering prize package includes:
🧘♀️ $500 worth of jewelry from Gogh Jewelry Design
🍰 $100 Gift card to pushmydough.com, an online European bakery
👙 $150 Gift card to Oh Undies
💄 $100 Spend on Halftee.com
🍃 $400 worth of Mindfulness Meditation Tools from Daily Pnut
Doesn’t that namaslay? Enter to win today.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
⚾ Who’s safe at home
You, when you have help from Aflac supplemental health coverage. They pay cash for expenses like co-pays or rent that regular health insurance may not cover, so you can focus on getting back in the game.*
🏀 Who’s heading to the rafters
Toronto Raptors icon Vince “Air Canada” Carter, who’ll be the first Dino in the franchise’s 30-year history to have his jersey retired. The first true superstar in the Six, Carter is credited with providing a spark that ignited Canadian kids’ passion for hoops.
🍩 What to subscribe to
The DONUT. Stay informed on current events with their free, witty newsletter. Scrumptious.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Quack quack.Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emily Ohman, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.