You know it used to be mad love
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Wednesday!
Today’s the day before World Mental Health Day, so take inspo from Simone Biles and make some time for yourself this week — including a lovely scroll of today’s news.
— Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell, who made history during yesterday’s season opener, becoming the first woman to hold a full-time coaching position in the NHL. Changing the game.
WNBA playoffs
🏀 It’s electric
The GIST: Nine stellar semis games later, the WNBA Finals matchup is finally set — the No. 1 NY Liberty will face the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx for that shiny Tiffany & Co. Championship Trophy. Here’s how the Lynx clinched their spot and what to expect when the Finals tip off tomorrow.
Napheesa Collier leads Lynx to 88–77 Game 5 win over No. 3 Connecticut Sun: The Lynx had this one on lock from the first quarter. Collier was a force, scoring a game-high 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. But she didn’t do it alone: teammate Courtney Williams was a perfect six-for-six in the first half, finishing with 24 points.
- Meanwhile, despite a strong defensive push in the fourth quarter, the sun has set on Connecticut’s stellar season — and perhaps their title chances with this talented squad.
- Stars Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones are all unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason, making last night’s loss quite possibly the last time this starting lineup plays together. Say it isn’t so.
The Finals begin in New York tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET: The Libs and Lynx met three times in the regular season and the Lynx won two of those contests, meaning they’re the only squad to notch multiple victories over NY. Perhaps most importantly, these powerhouses also faced off in June’s Commissioner’s Cup Final, which Minnesota also won.
- Minny certainly has a knack for stifling the Liberty this season, but NY has more recent Finals experience. The Libs will be out to avenge last year’s championship loss, while the Lynx are making their first Finals appearance since 2017, when now retired legends Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles were running the show.
- As for the Liberty, NY is counting on this season’s breakout star, Sabrina Ionescu, to continue her dominance and work in tandem with her partner-in-dimes Jonquel Jones and two-time MVP Breanna Stewart. Let the games begin.
MLB playoffs
⚾ You know it used to be mad love
The GIST: New tricks, new treats — things are getting downright spooky in the best-of-five Division Series, where the hotly contested National League (NL) battles wrapped up Game 3s last night and the American League (AL) matchups take center stage today. Boo-yeah.
NL No. 6 NY Mets one win away from advancing: With a plethora of Grimaces watching on, the Mets reigned supreme in Queens, topping the No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies 7–2 behind clutch late-game hitting and a masterclass from pitcher Sean Manaea. The Phils know how to stage a comeback, but they’ll need to track down their bats ahead of Game 4 today at 5:08 p.m. ET.
NL No. 4 San Diego Padres overpower No. 1 LA Dodgers to take 2-1 series lead: The Padres put the off-field drama aside, using a six-run second inning to beat LA 6–5 despite a towering grand slam from Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández. Now the stacked Dodgers are looking extra blue, facing elimination (and a third straight first-round exit) tonight at 9:08 p.m. ET. *gulps*
AL No. 6 Detroit Tigers even series vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians ahead of first home game: October is about unlikely heroes, and Tigers pinch hitter Kerry Carpenter played the role perfectly, blasting a three-run ninth inning home run and lifting Detroit to a 3–0 Game 2 win before the series shifts gears to the Motor City today at 3:08 p.m. ET, the Tigers’ first home playoff game since 2014.
AL No. 5 Kansas City Royals rally, level series with No. 1 NY Yankees: The Royals are similarly preparing for their first home game of this postseason after topping the Yanks 4–2 in Game 2 on Monday. Both squads’ stars — KC shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and NY outfielder Aaron Judge — have been noticeably quiet so far this series. See if either one shines in Game 3 tonight at 7:08 p.m. ET.
Together With The GIST
🎉 Limited edition “Bet on Women” Tees are 18% off
It takes a village to level the playing field, and turns out, our village is 1 million GISTers strong — so it’s time to celebrate. In honor of reaching the 1 million subscriber mark, we launched a limited edition “Bet on Women” t-shirt collection that honors power, strength, and resilience.
- For a short time, take 18% off your order with code BETONWOMEN18 — and while you’re at it, grab a tee for your sports-loving bestie and help our supportive community grow.
- Click here to pre-order your shirts and let the world know: When you bet on women, everyone wins.
⚽ Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair joins ownership group of NSL’s Vancouver Rise
Burnaby, B.C.’s very own is coming home. On Monday, Rise FC announced that the world’s top goal scorer will co-own her hometown club. Sinclair recently shared her plans to retire from the NWSL at the end of the season, but she’ll still be involved in the beautiful game, helping to grow Canada’s new pro women’s soccer league that kicks off next spring. Goals.
🏈 NY Jets fire head coach Robert Saleh, New Orleans Saints quarterback (QB) Derek Carr suffers injury
Saleh received the season’s first pink slip yesterday, two days after the Jets’ 23–17 Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Expectations were sky-high for the 2-3 Gang Green this season, due in large part to the return of veteran QB Aaron Rodgers — but with three losses already, Saleh’s seemingly the scapegoat for the team’s ugly start.
- Elsewhere, Carr’s expected to miss multiple weeks after injuring his oblique in the Saints’ 26–13 Monday Night Football L to the Kansas City Chiefs. After a scorching season start, the Saints have dropped three straight as backup QB Jake Haener prepares to take the reins in Week 6.
🏀 Canada Basketball and senior women’s national team coach part ways, Toronto Raptor RJ Barrett sidelined
Victor Lapeña mutually parted ways with Canada Basketball on Monday, ending a two-year tenure with the red and white. He was hired by women’s Turkish club Çukurova Basketbol Kulübü earlier this year, but the departure could also be due to a disappointing showing at this summer’s Paris Olympics, where the No. 7 Canadians went winless in the group stage.
- Over in the Six, the Dinos will be without RJ Barrett for the rest of the preseason after the national superstar suffered a shoulder sprain in Sunday’s 125–98 tune-up tilt win over the Washington Wizards. Saving it for the regular season.
Together With Concord Pacific Racing
In need of some mid-week inspiration? Look no further than Isabella Bertold, the trailblazer leading Team Canada at the inaugural Puig Women’s America’s Cup, which is taking place in Barcelona now through October 13th.
- Bertold, a two-time World Cup medalist, is one speedy sailor, with 17 years of experience representing her country on the water, making her the perfect choice to steer the Canadians.
- Support Team Canada by following Concord Pacific Racing, who are fueling the women’s sailing revolution alongside Royal Bank of Canada, TELUS, and Dilawri, and watch the competition on TSN, TELUS Optik TV or AmericasCup.com. A rising tide sure does lift all boats.
🏒 NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- As per tradition, the Leafs and Habs renew their rivalry to begin the 2024–25 campaign. The new-look Leafs will be hoping to snap their Stanley Cup curse, while Montreal will rely on 2022 No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky in their quest to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021.
⛳ LPGA: Buick LPGA Shanghai — Tonight through Sunday — Golf Channel
- The tour is taking over Asia for the next few weeks and the first stop is Shanghai, China. Can world No. 4 and China’s very own Ruoning Yin claim the biggest slice of the $2.1M purse? Let the par-tee begin.
🏈 NFL: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN4/5
- Week 6 kicks off with this heated (albeit injury-plagued) NFC West divisional battle. Both squads are coming off tough Week 5 Ls, so expect the rowdy 12s to give the Hawks a home-field boost against their archrivals.
Question of the Day
From the courts, to the fields, to the ice, and all the playing surfaces in between, we want to know: How often do you attend live sporting events?
Giveaway Alert
Spooky season 🤝 hockey season. The NHL is finally underway again, and to celebrate, we want you to be part of the action this fall.
We’re giving you and a hockey-crazed pal the chance to win the ultimate NHL experience:
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If the cold never bothered you anyway, enter to win today, then tell your bestie to enter to double your chances of winning. Puck yeah.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
👟 What to cop
The Kobe V. Inspired by the Black Mamba’s love of haunted houses, these new kicks are perfect for Halloween. Don’t miss the drop on October 17th.
🇲🇽 Who to follow
Artist Maria Flores. Her Catrina ’fits are stunning and often sports-themed, including her Raiders look, which she debuted in Las Vegas’ scorching 108-degree heat.
🎃 What to prep for
Halloween, of course. Stumped? Why not go as your favorite athlete?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, Megan Murray, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emily Ohman, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.