The GIST

Brands big and small seize social-forward Olympics marketing opportunities

On Friday, Canadian figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek stunned in a costume crafted by luxury designer Oscar de la Renta — the label’s first-ever figure skating outfit. Partnering with Stellato-Dudek is a splashy move considering her 2024 world title and compelling backstory, and it epitomizes the kind of hype luxury brands are embracing at the Olympics.

January 13, 2026

Phantom BC’s Kelsey Plum scores 38 points, ties single-game Unrivaled scoring record

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The first week of Unrivaled’s sophomore season is nearly in the books and the high-energy 3v3 league is already grabbing headlines. From record-tying performances to undefeated showdowns, scroll on for the 411 on the basketball league bringing the heat in Miami. Dale.

January 12, 2026

NFL Wild Card weekend sees four games decided by a single score

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NFL Wild Card weekend lived up to the hype as four out of five games came down to a single score. Here’s who advanced to next week’s Divisional Round with one Wild Card game still to go — scroll to the bottom for a preview of tonight’s Monday Night Football throwdown between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. So much football, so little time.

January 12, 2026

Brands turn to emerging women’s sports leagues to reach young digital natives

Softball. Baseball. Lacrosse. What do these sports have in common? In 2025, they all fielded brand-new professional women’s leagues.

January 10, 2026

Breaking down the NFL’s first five Wild Card Weekend games

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But wait, there’s even more high-stakes playoff football on deck: It’s also NFL Wild Card Weekend, giving us five straight days of touchdowns, tackles, and tension. We’ll preview Monday’s tilt between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in our next newsletter. Until then, here’s a two-minute drill on this weekend’s five games. That NFL bracket won’t pick itself, after all.

January 09, 2026

No. 10 Miami tops No. 6 Ole Miss; will face winner of No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon in CFP title game

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Settle into your best RBF — the College Football Playoff (CFP) national title game is halfway set following last night’s heart-stopping semifinal, and one more squad will punch their ticket to the January 19th championship tonight. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

January 09, 2026

TGL announces WTGL in partnership with LPGA as women’s golf attracts young, tech-savvy audience

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After months of consideration, Tomorrow Golf League (TGL) is teaming up with the LPGA to launch the WTGL, a virtual offseason golf league featuring LPGA athletes. When announcing the league on ESPN’s SportsCenter, LPGA star Lexi Thompson said WTGL “brings in a whole different fan base” than traditional golf does.

January 08, 2026

LOVB Austin off to a raucous start in second season

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

LOVB Austin off to a raucous start in second season

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January 08, 2026

The second League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “love”) season is officially underway. Here’s what went down during Wednesday’s season-opening rematch between defending champ Austin and runner-up Nebraska, plus where to watch the NCAA-stars-turned-LOVB-rookies you know and love this weekend. Bump to it.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #522

Getting emotional watching figure skating

January 13, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Getting emotional watching figure skating

Axels, and lutzes, and salchows, oh my.

Still picking your jaw up off the floor after last weekend’s national figure skating championships? Same. That’s why today’s episode of The GIST of It is a twizzling, axel-filled ode to the newly-named figure skating Olympians representing the USA and Canada at the Milano Cortina Games next month. Tune in to hear co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz wax poetic about one of the Olympics’ most popular sports.