College hoops go global
From The GIST College Sports (hi@thegistsports.com)
See you post-Paris!
This is our last college newsletter until after the Summer Olympics because The GIST is pivoting to all things Paris — with newsletters every weekday and ’round-the-clock social media coverage — until the August 11th Closing Ceremony.
- Want to keep up with your favorite NCAA Olympians? Check out this competition schedule and this collegiate medal table. We’ll see you on the other side — but first, let’s hoop to the NCAA basketball coaches heading to France. Oh la la.
— U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to 2023–24 national champions at the White House’s annual NCAA Sports Day on Monday. Big week for the Coconut Crowd.
NCAA coaches leading Team USA in Paris
💪 Guiding glow-ups
The GIST: There’s a long legacy of college coaches managing Olympic basketball rosters, and this year, two rising stars of the women’s game are taking their first crack at the biggest international stage as Team USA assistant coaches.
Duke head coach (HC) Kara Lawson: Lawson’s basketball pedigree is sterling: She played for the legendary Pat Summitt at Tennessee, blazed trails as an NBA broadcaster, became the Boston Celtics’ first-ever woman assistant coach, and is currently leading the Blue Devils in a rapid glow-up.
- And this is far from Lawson’s first Olympic rodeo: She won gold as a player at the 2008 Beijing Games and again as the women’s 3x3 HC in Tokyo in 2021 — earning her this year’s 5x5 call-up.
- From her viral speeches to her quick quips and unparalleled basketball knowledge, Lawson’s leading era is just beginning, but a third gold medal would cement her amongst Team USA’s coaching legends.
Texas A&M HC Joni Taylor: This is Taylor’s first trip to the Olympics, but she’s bringing lots of international coaching experience. She piloted U18 and U19 USA teams to great success and helped the national team win the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
- Although her Aggies didn’t exactly crush it last season — they finished 6-10 in SEC play and lost in March Madness’ opening round — it was only her second year at the helm. More importantly, the season was considerably better than the 2-14 record they posted in her first year.
- Taylor’s A&M rebuild is just beginning, and the clout that comes from coaching Team USA to the podium should help her recruit enough NCAA star power to make waves in the cutthroat SEC for the next few years. Watch this space.
🥇 Accolades? He has a Few
The GIST: Team USA’s Olympic men’s roster is absolutely jam-packed with NBA All-Stars, and just one men’s college HC was called up to guide them to victory under Golden State Warriors and USA HC Steve Kerr: Gonzaga legend Mark Few.
His NCAA resume: Over his 35 years at Gonzaga (25 of ’em as HC), Few has built the Bulldogs into a March Madness mainstay and a national brand — a stunning accomplishment for a West Coast Conference team without the resources of its Power conference rivals.
- Few knows a thing or two about coaching all-stars: He’s guided 21 All-Americans, including recent March Madness phenoms Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme. With a list of accomplishments this long, it’s no wonder he’s a two-time Naismith Coach of the Year.
His international experience: USA Basketball has called on him a Few many times, mainly to help prep the national squad for the Olympics or FIBA World Cup by assistant coaching the Select Teams (aka scrimmage players).
- But last summer, Few had the chance to assistant coach the World Cup itself, and now, he’s ready for his biggest assignment yet.
📺 Netflix announces Michigan sign-stealing scandal documentary
The Connor Stalions saga rocked college football last season, and now it’s receiving the Netflix sports doc treatment. The streamer announced Monday that the former Wolverines football staffer will discuss his role in the scheme that saw then–HC Jim Harbaugh suspended for three games as Michigan marched to the national title. The title? Sign Stealer, of course.
⚖️ Ex-Harvard women’s hockey HC sues for sex discrimination
Katey Stone, who led the Crimson women’s hockey team for 27 years, filed a lawsuit against the university yesterday. Stone claims that the abuse and hazing allegations made against her last year were purposefully manufactured or overblown to force her June 2023 retirement, all because she complained that Harvard undervalues and underpays women coaches. Messy is an understatement.
👊 ACC commissioner doubles down on realignment battle
As Clemson and Florida State seek to escape their long-term ACC deal to potentially join the stampede to the SEC and Big Ten, ACC commish Jim Phillips affirmed Monday that the conference is not backing down from the fight to keep the schools on its roster against their will. An ugly, public battle over money, just three weeks before fall sports begin? Drama, drama.
🥎 AU Pro Softball season starts Friday
Expect a Special Edition primer on the new season in your inbox on Friday — this innovative league is providing pro opportunities for 16 recent NCAA softball grads, including 2023 Player of the Year Valerie Cagle and 2024 Women’s College World Series phenom Skylar Wallace. Batter up.
Giveaway Alert
Looking for ways to spice up your summer? We can help with that. We want to send you and your bestie on the ultimate NYC women’s sports weekend to watch the NY Liberty and NJ/NY Gotham FC. Here’s what’s on the line:
🏀 Two tickets to watch the NY Liberty vs. Dallas Wings on August 20th. This also includes a $200 gift certificate for the team store and dinner at The Crown Club.
⚽ Two Founders Club tickets (including VIP Warm Up Watcher passes) to catch Gotham FC take on the seven-time Women’s Super League champions from the UK, Chelsea FC. The winner will also get fitted with a signed Gotham FC jersey.
✈️ $1,000 cash for travel and accommodations.
Enter to win today. The bright lights in the big city are waiting for you.
Recs from our roster!
💰 What to learn about
Unrivaled. The new 3x3 basketball league founded by WNBAers Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart promises high pay and big stars, changing the hoops landscape — and athletes’ bank accounts. More of this, please.
🏀 What to try
Spinning a ball on your finger. Can’t do it? That’s okay — neither can NBA and Team USA legend Steph Curry.
🎧 What to listen to
Two Guys, Five Rings, the new Olympic podcast from comedy kings Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. With the top storylines, Paris culture, and what really goes down in the Olympic Village, it’s bound to be hysterical.
Today's email was brought to you by Katie Kehoe Foster and Briana Ekanem. Fact checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Lisa Minutillo and Elisha Gunaratnam. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Dee Lab. Head of Content Ellen Hyslop.