About last night
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Wednesday!
And happy International Tea Day — grab a cuppa (or your beverage of choice) while we spill on today’s piping hot sports news.
— Legendary Team USA women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight, announcing that the 2026 Milan Olympics will be her fifth and final Games. Enjoying every moment.
Playoffs
🏆 About last night
The GIST: There’s no season quite like the postseason, especially after last night’s triple-header of Game 1s in the PWHL, NHL, and NBA. The stakes couldn’t be higher — let’s dive in.
🔥 Ottawa Charge take Game 1 in overtime (OT): Charge forward Emily Clark found the back of the net just three minutes into OT, securing a hard-fought 2–1 Game 1 dub over the Minnesota Frost last night. Ottawa — specifically netminder Gwyneth Philips — have been dominant on home ice during the franchise’s first-ever postseason, winning all three games at TD Place.
- The best-of-five series continues from Canada’s capital tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, with the Charge looking to deFrost Minnesota once more. But it won’t be easy, especially considering the top four playoff point scorers, including friend of The GIST Taylor Heise, wear purple.
🐱 Florida Panthers weather the Carolina Hurricanes: Ultimately, the only stat that matters in hockey is goals — good news for Florida, who had fewer shots, power plays, and faceoff wins than the Canes, but still skated away with a lopsided 5–2 win on the road. Expect an extra spicy Game 2 tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET as the Canes try to avoid repeating history.
- And there’s more hockey where that came from: The puck drops on the Western Conference finals tonight at 8 p.m. ET, with the (completely healthy) Dallas Stars skating for revenge after falling in six games to the Connor McDavid–led Edmonton Oilers this time last year.
⛈️ Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines: From picking pockets to dropping dimes, the MVP candidate did it all for OKC last night, recording a 31-point, nine-assist masterpiece to top the Minnesota Timberwolves 114–88. Unexpectedly quiet (for him)? Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who’ll need to match SGA’s energy in tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 2.
- Tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Eastern Conference finals showdown between the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers is a blast from the past. After last year’s injury-riddled conference semis, this decades-old rivalry is ready to catch fire again. Something about those 90s trends.
🏀 New season, new record — Saturday’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky averaged 2.7M viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA regular-season game in 25 years.
🏒 The PWHL’s first-ever expansion draft rules have arrived ahead of next month’s event. The deets? Each Original Six team can protect only three of their players, and each team will lose at least four players. Wild.
⚽ No. 7 CanWNT has released their roster for two upcoming international friendlies against No. 53 Haiti in Winnipeg (May 31st) and Montréal (June 3rd).
- The lineup features one special shoutout: The national team will honor retiring longtime midfielder and hometown hero Desiree Scott in Winnipeg. It’s a bittersweet symphony.
🏈 The NFL’s officially going to the Olympics. Team owners approved a proposal yesterday allowing players to compete in flag football when the sport makes its debut at LA 2028.
- And that’s not the only proposal on the docket: The Green Bay Packers submitted a revised plan to ban the tush push, a tactic synonymous with the defending Super Bowl champ Philadelphia Eagles. Stay tuned.
🇨🇦 Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie first team yesterday following a standout debut campaign. Score one for Toronto.
Together With Destination Toronto
🏀 Calling all Toronto Tempo fans
Looking for weekend plans in Toronto? We’ve got ’em. Head to Tempo Live, a fan fest celebrating the city’s upcoming WNBA team, this Saturday and Sunday at Stackt. The Tempo’s on-court tipoff may be a year away, but in just a few days, you can…
👕 Grab exclusive Tempo merch
⛹️ Catch some local hoopers on the community court
🎤 Listen to a special guest speaker series, presented by Sephora.
Text your brunch buddy that you found the perfect post-omelette plan, and visit Tempo Live to catch some GIST-y vibes IRL. And to experience all Toronto has to offer, from dining to nightlife to sporting spectacles like this, check out Destination Toronto, the ultimate guide to the 6ix.
🪽 Dallas Wings vs. 🐱 Minnesota Lynx — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass
- On the heels of a career-best performance, rookie Wings phenom and Minnesotan Paige Bueckers is returning to her old stomping grounds for a rematch against the inimitable Napheesa Collier and the Lynx. Never back down, never what?
🔮 Washington Mystics vs. ⚔️ Golden State Valkyries — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass
- As the expansion team Valkyries fight to find their footing, the new-look ’Stics are thriving, starting the season with a pair of dubs behind explosive production from their top two draft picks, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Pop on those shades.
💜 LA Sparks vs. 🪐 Phoenix Mercury — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass
- The Mercury are not in retrograde thanks to the new dynamic duo in the desert: Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas combined for 47 points in Phoenix’s season-opener and are hooping for a repeat performance against a red-hot Kelsey Plum and the Sparks.
Together With Smirnoff
You’re a party-planning queen when it comes to women’s hockey hangs — but even an expert entertainer can’t do it alone. Enter: Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, aka the perfect on-ice partner for any watch party.
🍸 Mix up a storm of bevvys to please every preference, from classic Smirnoff Mules to team-inspired cocktails.
🚨 That’s right, the smooth taste and versatility of Smirnoff’s No.21 Vodka lets you focus on what really matters: good company and goal scoring.*
*Please enjoy responsibly.Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
📣 Who to celebrate
Lilly Singh, owner and Chief Hype Officer for the Toronto Tempo. We love a multi-hyphenate.
👀 What to check out
“The Future of Sports,” our research report in partnership with Barbarian, highlighting the rising trends in women’s sports and deep-diving on the forces driving the evolving landscape. It’s always a beautiful day to level the playing field.
📆 What to check out
The Baltimore Ravens' Severance-inspired schedule drop. The crossover we didn't know we needed.
Question of the Day
As you read, the NBA conference finals are officially underway — which championship matchup would you most like to see?
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