Sports News | The GIST

WAFCON semis kick off today, featuring Algeria, Malawi, Morocco, and Cameroon

Though it’s been infamously difficult to watch here in North America, the WAFCON semis kick off in Morocco today. All four African nations automatically booked their spots in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup by making it this far — now, it’s all about continental glory. Here’s what to expect on the pitch.

August 12, 2026

A WNBA update: on-court headlines only

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Believe it or not, there’s plenty of actual basketball happening in the WNBA these days, so let’s catch up on the latest from the hardwood.

August 12, 2026

Nigeria’s quarter-final exit opens up WAFCON competition; Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco, and Malawi advance to the semifinals on Wednesday.

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The WAFCON semis are officially set, but not without a major plot twist. Defending champs Nigeria are heading home with a double dose of heartbreak — their title defense is over, and they might not be heading to next summer’s Women’s World Cup either. Here’s how it went down and what’s still at stake.

August 10, 2026

Chicago Sky’s DiJonai Carrington ejected for flagrant foul on Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham

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Stop us if you heard this one before, but the WNBA is once again making national news — sadly not because Minnesota Lynx star Kayla McBride broke the league’s single-game 3-point record yesterday (10), but due to on- and off-court drama. Here’s what went down in one tension-filled game.

August 10, 2026

USA Basketball drops 12-player roster for upcoming FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup

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USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird dropped the red, white, and blue’s 12-player FIBA Women’s World Cup (WWC) roster yesterday — and it’s 100% stacked. Here’s more on the tourney before it tips off in Berlin next month, plus the WNBA superstars who’ll be repping the stars and stripes.

August 07, 2026

World No. 20 Alex Eala wins big ahead of National Bank Open

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Fresh off her historic DC Open victory, 21-year-old world No. 20 Alex Eala — the first Filipino to win a WTA title — is the player to know ahead of this week’s National Bank Open. From her meteoric rise to her powerful ball-striking, here’s why Eala’s been called the most exciting player on the WTA tour.

August 05, 2026

Kelsey Plum hits game-winner in Phoenix Mercury debut

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Kelsey Plum hits game-winner in Phoenix Mercury debut

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So much WNBA news, so little time — here’s everything you need to know from the last couple of days on the hardwood.

August 04, 2026

Breaking down both of the WNBA’s trade deadline deals and handing out flowers

Sports News

Breaking down both of the WNBA’s trade deadline deals and handing out flowers

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August 03, 2026

Twelve of the WNBA’s 16 teams stood pat at yesterday’s trade deadline, so let’s dissect the two deals that did go through before giving flowers to an undrafted rookie who’s making it rain.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #580

Why the WNBA is stuck in a right-wing culture war

August 11, 2026

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Why the WNBA is stuck in a right-wing culture war

The WNBA seems to be everywhere these days, but not in a great way. A lot of the oxygen around the league is being taken up by off-court issues, particularly regarding trans women and trans athletes. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share their thoughts on it all, detailing the anti-trans comments that sparked this nationwide debate, the Players Association’s response, commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leaked internal memo.