The GIST

Everything you need to know about the 2025 PWHL playoffs

After a wildly successful sophomore season, the puck drops on the PWHL postseason tonight, with four of the league’s six teams competing to hoist the Walter Cup. Here’s everything you need to know before the icy and spicy fun begins.

May 07, 2025

2025 media upfronts shed light on 2024 wins for sports networks and streamers

Last week, broadcast networks and streamers shared a glimpse into current strategies during the 2025 Upfronts in NYC. Companies like NBC, Amazon, Netflix, and Disney all observed the same trend: It’s smart to double down on live sports because of the impressive engagement the industry generates, both from viewers and advertisers.

May 19, 2025

WNBA enjoys record numbers of sponsors as new, old brands join the league

🏀

The 29th WNBA season tipped off last Friday with a record 45 official sponsors, including 10 brands that signed on during the past year, according to Sports Business Journal (SBJ). Let’s dive into why these old and new brands are recognizing the potential for brand amplification in the W.

May 19, 2025

Oklahoma City Thunder book first conference final berth since 2016

🏀

After a whirlwind two rounds of high-stakes basketball, it’s on to the conference finals. The Eastern Conference action, featuring a pair of dragon slayers in the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers, doesn’t tip off until Wednesday, so today’s all about the West. Let’s hoop to it.

May 19, 2025

Together With

PWHL Finals will feature defending champs Minnesota Frost vs. Ottawa Charge

🏒

The best-of-five PWHL Finals are officially set after the Ottawa Charge eliminated the Montréal Victoire (who notably chose to play Ottawa) with Friday’s 2–1 Game 4 win. Revenge, served cold. Can the Charge keep up their Cinderella run, or will the defending champ Minnesota Frost (who pulled off their own upset of the Toronto Sceptres last week) repeat? We’re about to find out — the puck drops on Game 1 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.

May 19, 2025

WNBA and CarMax benefit from free early-season content offerings

🏀

Yesterday, the WNBA announced that partner CarMax activated its Tip-Off Test Drive promotion once again, meaning fans can catch the beginning of the season on WNBA League Pass for free. Sponsoring exclusive, free content is a fantastic way to rev up positive brand association, which is especially key in a space where consumers reward their favorite sponsors.

May 16, 2025

Sports Innovation Lab shares data insights on WNBA fans

🏀

With the WNBA season tipping off tomorrow, we’re seeing an increase in aspirational companies choosing to partner with the W. And according to the latest data insights from Sports Innovation Lab (SIL), there’s a reason why brands like Fenty Beauty are choosing the WNBA, especially teams like the NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries.

May 16, 2025

Sports News

Inside the Line with A.J. Andrews and Katelyn Ohashi

May 06, 2025

We’re flipping out over the first guest in our Inside the Lines series: former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, who took the internet by storm with her viral 2019 floor routine, a massive comeback after significant time away from the sport due to injury.

Read Full Story

The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #459

WTF: Ironman reverses their equality stance

May 15, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

WTF: Ironman reverses their equality stance

Well that ain’t it.

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about Ironman (no, not this Iron Man) after the sport’s governing body recently announced that women won’t have their own championship race starting in 2026. It’s only been three years since the sport separated the women’s and men’s events — and the ripple effects of shifting back are vast.

Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz provide the context you need before digging into the details about the decision itself, including how it will disproportionately affect women competitors. Not cool.