More spice than an episode of “Hot Ones”
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hello!
Or should we say bonjour because the French Open begins this weekend. We’ll be serving up a Sunday Scroll preview before taking Monday off to observe Memorial Day with our U.S. pals. Now that the house has been kept, let’s scroll on.
— WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, officially confirming yesterday that an expansion squad is heading to Toronto and will tip-off in the 2026 season. HYFR.
- P.S. — tell us what you’d name the WNBA Toronto squad in the Fun & Games section below.
NHL Conference Final
🏒 Not in our house
The GIST: It’s been all about the road teams after two nights of Conference Final play, with both home teams stunned on their own ice. How will they respond in Game 2? Only one way to find out.
Connor McDavid lifts Edmonton Oilers to double overtime (OT) Game 1 win over Dallas Stars: After squandering their two-goal lead in regulation, McDavid saved the day, giving Edmonton a massive 3–2 OT road win in this wild wild west series.
- Dallas was definitely missing veteran forward Roope Hintz (who missed his third straight game due to injury), but he could be back in the lineup when the puck drops for Game 2 tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET.
Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (24 saves) shuts out the NY Rangers: Bobrovsky’s first shutout of the postseason couldn’t have come at a better time, as he led the Cats to an impressive 3–0 Game 1 road win over the typically high-scoring Rangers on Wednesday. Ice in his veins.
- After opening the playoffs with seven straight wins, the Presidents’ Trophy winning–Rangers have now lost three of their last four and will need to shake off whispers of the infamous curse if they plan to even the series at home in Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
NBA Conference Finals
🏀 Thinking out loud
The GIST: The conference finals are delivering more spice than Ed Sheeran’s episode of “Hot Ones,” with high-scoring outbursts and home court upsets lighting up both the Eastern and Western Conference Final. Pass the milk and let’s dive in.
No. 1 Boston Celtics take 2-0 series lead: Bolstered by Jaylen Brown’s 40 points, the Cs shook off their Game 1 struggles and took care of business at the TD Garden last night, winning 126–110 and holding off a stupendous 28-point effort from the No. 6 Indiana Pacers Pascal Siakam.
- The series now shifts to Indy for tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 3, but the Pacers may be in trouble after All-Star Tyrese Haliburton exited Game 2 with left hamstring soreness and did not return. Ruh roh.
Luka Dončić leads the Dallas Mavericks’ comeback: Despite first half heroics from Kyrie Irving, the No. 5 Mavs were trailing the No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves in Wednesday’s Game 1. That is, until injury-riddled Dončić found his stride, eventually scoring 33 points — including 15 in the fourth quarter — in the 108–105 W. So clutch.
- Now, the pressure’s on Minnesota youngster Anthony Edwards to play stronger defense, especially against Irving, and defend home court in Game 2 tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Together With The GIST
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Slay your career by checking out our job board today. Happy applying!
PWHL Finals
🏒 Major key alert
The GIST: With No. 3 Boston and No. 4 Minnesota knotted at one game apiece, the best-of-five PWHL championship series is shifting to the State of Hockey for Game 3 tonight at 7 p.m. ET and Game 4 Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
- The inaugural champ could be crowned before the weekend is up, so here are the storylines to watch as both teams try to gain an edge.
The goalie battle: Boston’s goaltender of the year finalist Aerin Frankel has come back down to earth after a lights out semis, but is still a major difference maker, especially while backstopping a squad that doesn’t score in bunches.
- On the flip side, Minnesota has a goalie tandem choice to make — stick with Nicole Hensley, who shutout Boston in Game 2, or go back to Maddie Rooney, who had two shutouts in the semis. What a problem to have.
The power play: Boston’s failed to generate any power play success, going 0-for-12 in the playoffs, including a frustrating 0-for-4 in Game 2. Minny, meanwhile, has been impressive on the kill all season long and has yet to give up a power play goal in the postseason.
- Boston has plenty of clutch talent (hi, U.S. national team stalwart Hilary Knight), but only time will tell if they can light the lamp with the Walter Cup on the line.
⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers — Tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET — Sportsnet+
- The home run jacket has returned to the Jays’ dugout, hopefully marking a turnaround for the Toronto offense. And with pitcher Alek Manoah taking the mound in the Motor City, it’s shaping up to be a solid weekend of baseball.
🏀 WNBA: Indiana Fever vs. LA Sparks — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — WNBA League Pass
- The Friday night lights will be shining bright as three of the top four 2024 draft picks square off in a Hollywood hoops fest. Caitlin Clark’s Fever are still searching for their first win of the season, while LA’s rookie tandem of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson will be out to steal the spotlight.
- And if you want more W in your weekend, Clark will go up against her Iowa bestie Kate Martin and the defending champ Las Vegas Aces tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.
⚽ MLS: Inter Miami CF vs. Vancouver Whitecaps — Tomorrow at 10:30 p.m. ET — MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- A record-breaking crowd was supposed to fill the seats at BC Place to watch Lionel Messi’s first-place squad square off against the seventh-in-the-West Caps, but turns out the footy legend isn’t making the trip out to the West Coast, much to the dismay of the Southsiders.
🏎️ F1: Monaco Grand Prix — Sunday at 9 a.m. ET — TSN5
- The glitziest Grand Prix on the schedule will feature Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc flying through the iconic street Circuit de Monaco in hopes of a maiden win in his home race.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🤌 What to savor
Tonight’s 10 p.m. ET matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the LA Sparks’ Cameron Brink…and the gametime meal you order via DoorDash, a proud partner of the W. Delicious.*
⛳ What to watch
The golf classic Happy Gilmore. Netflix announced last week that a TV sequel of the '90s film is in the works, starring Will Ferrell. Tee up for laughs.
📚 What to read
This Summer Will Be Different. Carley Fortune’s new book is full of romance and suspense. Say less.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Yum yum.Question of the Day
Now that Toronto has officially been awarded a WNBA franchise, it’s time to brainstorm what the team’s name should be. Choose from the options below or reply to this email with your ideas.
On Wednesday, we asked which social media platform you use to follow sports. 40% voted for Instagram, 21% voted for YouTube, 14% voted for Facebook, 11% voted for X (aka Twitter), 8% voted for TikTok, and 6% voted for Reddit.Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alexis Allison, and Dee Lab. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.