And they took that personally
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Missed ya!
Wake up from the post–long weekend slump because the sports world doesn’t stop churning, especially with playoff action at its peak. Grab some caffeine and get your scroll on.
— Four-time WNBA champ, eight-time All-Star, and overall legend Seimone Augustus, reflecting on her incomparable career through an original poem recited during her induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame over the weekend. It’s so much more than a game.
WNBA Finals
🏀 It’ll be better than before
The GIST: We’re only two games into the WNBA Finals, but as No. 1 NY Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello said, there’s already a winner: women’s basketball. NY’s 80–66 Game 2 win over the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx was the most-watched Finals showdown in 23 years.
- And it’s just the beginning. Here’s how NY evened the thrilling best-of-five series on Sunday and a preview of what’s to come during tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 3 in Minneapolis.
Liberty’s Breanna Stewart records history-making seven steals in Game 2, NY defense prevails: Fueled by a record-setting 18,064 fans at Barclays, the Libs dominated Sunday’s Game 2, thanks in part to a season-high scoring performance from Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (20 points) and lockdown defense from Stewie, who was tasked with guarding her pal and former collegiate teammate, Lynx star Napheesa Collier. All business.
Even at 1-1, the series now shifts to Minnesota: The Lynx went down early in both Games 1 and 2 and trailed by as many as 17 points on Sunday. Finding a rhythm early (especially in shooting the three) will be imperative on their home floor — looking at you, Lynx Game 1 hero Courtney Williams.
Take Your Pick
NY Liberty
Minnesota Lynx
As you gear up for tonight’s crucial Game 3, cast your vote below for the team you think will come out on top. Swish swish.
MLB playoffs
⚾ You traded your baseball cap for a crown
The GIST: And then there were four. The best-of-seven championship series are well underway, with two spots in the World Series — one from the American League (AL) and one from the National League (NL) — up for grabs. Here’s who’s knocking it out of the park as October baseball rolls on.
NY Yankees take commanding 2-0 ALCS lead over Cleveland Guardians: The Bronx Bombers turned in another all-around team performance in last night’s 6–3 Game 2 win, rallying behind a strong start from top pitcher Gerrit Cole and slugger Aaron Judge’s first home run of the postseason to put themselves two wins away from a record-extending 41st World Series appearance.
- Today’s an off day before things pick back up in Cleveland with tomorrow’s 5:08 p.m. ET Game 3. Guards fans will certainly be hoping a day of rest helps the bats come alive at home.
NY Mets even series with LA Dodgers ahead of tonight’s 8:08 p.m. ET Game 3 in New York: These NLCS foes split two high-powered games (LA won Game 1 9–0 and the Mets roared back 7–3 in Game 2). The offensive stars (Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts and Met Francisco Lindor) shined in Games 1 and 2, but all eyes are on the pitching as the series shifts to Queens.
- NY has the better starting pitching rotation and will send stout hurler Luis Severino to the mound, while LA counters with a strong bullpen. Which one will gain the edge tonight?
Together With The GIST
🎉 Snag your limited edition “Bet on Women” tee
It takes a village to level the playing field, but turns out, our village is 1 million GISTers strong — so it’s time to celebrate. To commemorate reaching the 1 million subscriber mark, we’ve launched a limited edition “Bet on Women” t-shirt collection that honors power, strength, and resilience.
- Click here to pre-order your shirts and let the world know: When you bet on women, everyone wins.
🔄 Wide receivers (WRs) Davante Adams and Amari Cooper on the move to NY Jets and Buffalo Bills, respectively
Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay there — after requesting a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders following Week 3, six-time Pro Bowler Adams packed his bags for the Big Apple yesterday, ready for a reunion with Jets quarterback (QB) Aaron Rodgers, who he previously teamed up with on the Green Bay Packers.
- Elsewhere, former Cleveland Brown Amari Cooper will need to familiarize himself with table-smashing after being traded to the Bills yesterday. A certified target for superstar Buffalo QB Josh Allen? Watch out, league.
❤️🩹 Detroit Lions lose defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to horrific leg injury
The NFL injury woes unfortunately continued into Week 6. The Lions’ defensive superstar had emergency surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula and will miss the remainder of the season, but is expected to make a full recovery.
- And Hutch wasn’t the only defensive lineman lost for the season: The Washington Commanders will be without defensive tackle Jonathan Allen for the rest of the year after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Ouch.
📈 Baltimore Ravens fly, Dallas Cowboys flail in Week 6
As for the on-field results, the Ravens are surging, topping the upstart Commanders 30–23 on Sunday behind a monster game from running back Derrick Henry. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are down bad crying at the gym (and on air) after their lopsided 47–9 loss to the Lions, Dallas’ fourth straight home loss where they’ve trailed by at least 22 points.
💰 NFL owners approve NFL legend Tom Brady’s bid for minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders
The current co-owner of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces is adding NFL owner to his jam-packed résumé after his bid to purchase a stake in the Raiders was approved yesterday. When he’s not purchasing pro sports teams, Brady, who retired from the NFL in 2023, is FOX’s lead NFL analyst. Talk about booked and busy.
PWHL
🏒 Season two, loading
The GIST: Sharpen your skates because, before pre-season mini camps get underway soon, the PWHL released the Year Two schedule yesterday, with the action set to begin on November 30th. While waiting for puck drop, let’s break down the league’s sophomore schedule by the numbers.
90: The total number of games on the 2024–25 schedule. The Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, NY Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres will each play 30 regular-season games, an increase from the 24 played in the league’s debut season.
Three: The number of international breaks to account for the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour (December 9th through 16th), the Canada-USA Rivalry Series (February 3rd through 10th), and the 2025 Women’s World Championship (April 3rd through 25th). So much hockey, so little time.
8,140: The number of seats at the Coca-Cola Coliseum, the new home of the Sceptres. Toronto played most of last season’s home games at the 2,500-seat Mattamy Athletic Centre, but after selling out season ticket memberships for the second straight year, it was time to move on to bigger and better.
18: As in the 18th of December, when the Sirens will play their first home game at the Prudential Center, home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Numerous game venues were left off the initial schedule release, signaling that the PWHL might build off last season’s success in Detroit and Pittsburgh and test out hosting games at more neutral sites and NHL rinks. Yes, please.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
⚽ What to look forward to
It’s All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football. The upcoming Netflix documentary drops on November 1st and follows Spain’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup win and the game-changing movement it sparked.
📖 What to read
This article about the growth in women’s sports, but the attitude check needed as new fans enter the fold.
🤓 How to rev up your job search
By using The GIST’s job board, of course. Featuring positions with leagues, teams, tech and media companies, and more, there’s truly something for every skill set.
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.