Fear the youths
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Cancel those plans!
Our sports cup overfloweth this weekend, with Unrivaled — the innovative new 3v3 women’s hoops league — tipping off tonight and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship game kicking off on Monday, in addition to a bevvy of other action.
- We’ll have a hoop-tastic Unrivaled preview in your inbox later today plus a CFP Scroll on Sunday before our U.S. team is off on Monday in observance of MLK Day.
- Feeling booked and busy in the best way as we scroll through today’s news.
— Chicago Sky and Rose Basketball Club star Angel Reese, ahead of Unrivaled’s long-awaited launch. The aforementioned 3v3 league tips off from Miami tonight at 7 p.m. ET — grab your pals and pop that corn.
NFL Divisional Round
🏈 Chips and dip
The GIST: Playoff football continues this weekend with eight squads hoping to book their ticket to next weekend’s Conference Championships. Read on for all the deets then, however you make your picks, complete our bracket challenge for your shot at gridiron glory. Hut, hut, here we go.
American Football Conference (AFC)
No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs — Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET: KC quarterback (QB) Patrick Mahomes has never lost in the Divisional Round, the Chiefs are well-rested after enjoying their first-round bye, and the Texans’ offense, despite putting up 32 points last week, has been more inconsistent than your bestie’s love life. All signs point to a KC dub.
No. 3 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills — Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET: The juiciest of this weekend’s games, this heavyweight showdown has the potential to be the best game in NFL history (no, seriously). Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Bills QB Josh Allen have been dueling all season for league MVP, but only one can reign supreme.
- The Bills are undefeated at home this year, posting a perfect 8-0 regular-season record at Orchard Park; however, they have yet to host the one-two punch of Jackson and running back (RB) Derrick Henry, a duo that lit them up for 35 points in Baltimore in September.
National Football Conference (NFC)
No. 6 Washington Commanders vs. No. 1 Detroit Lions — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET: With RB David Montgomery back in the lineup, watch for the already fierce Lions to be even more dynamic, especially against a mediocre District defense.
- Yes, the Commanders are livin’ on a prayer, but rookie QB Jayden Daniels knows a little something about tossing Hail Marys and balled out in his playoff debut last week.
No. 4 LA Rams vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles — Sunday at 3 p.m. ET: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley was an absolute menace for the Rams when these squads faced off in Philly’s Week 12 win, rushing for 255 yards, the ninth-best single-game showing in NFL history.
- LA will have to clamp down on Barkley in order to give their surging offense, led by QB Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua, the opportunity to shine. Go time, baby.
NCAA Women’s March Madness
🎓🏀 Money moves
The GIST: The gals are getting paid. On Wednesday, the NCAA unanimously voted to pay women’s college basketball teams for playing in the NCAA Tournament, a long-overdue perk men’s squads have received for years. Here’s what you need to know about the game-changing decision.
How does it work?: The NCAA will commit $15M to support women’s basketball through the Women’s Basketball Equal Conference Fund and Women’s Basketball Performance Fund next year. Squads will earn financial rewards for each round they advance to in March Madness.
- Teams will begin accruing units (more on that in a sec) during this year’s tourney, which will be distributed beginning in 2026.
Where will the money go?: Players and teams don’t directly benefit from the payments. Instead, conferences are awarded “performance units” — aka revenue — based on how far their teams advance. From there, the conference’s governing body decides how to distribute the funds.
- The monetary value of a unit will vary from year to year, but a single unit was worth $2M during the 2024 men’s tournament. Cha-ching.
The impact: Women’s college hoops continue to grow, with last season’s national title game bringing in a whopping 18.7M viewers — 4M more than the men’s championship. Now, the women competing will benefit from the viewership and revenue they generate, finally aligning with the structure on the men’s side. About damn time.
🎾 World No. 30 Leylah Fernandez falls to No. 3 Coco Gauff in the Australian Open third round
A 2021 US Open finalist, Fernandez is sadly out in Melbourne, losing in straight sets to American phenom Gauff overnight. Still, Fernandez’s run Down Under is worth applauding, as it was her best performance at the Happy Slam yet.
- As for the men’s side, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 7 Novak Djokovic are through to the fourth round after topping Nuno Borges and Tomáš Macháč, respectively, last night. Duh.
- Finally, Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Gabriel Diallo are done swinging in Melbourne, falling in the second round on Wednesday. Shucks.
⚽ USWNT center back Naomi Girma being eyed by multiple European clubs
Regarded as one of the world’s best defenders, Girma (who currently plays for the NWSL’s San Diego Wave) is reportedly courting interest from French team Lyon, as well as two teams in England’s Women’s Super League.
- Girma is not an NWSL free agent, so any prospective team would have to pay a hefty price. Lyon, which is owned by Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang, has reportedly offered a $1M transfer fee for the superstar. Money, money, money.
- Meanwhile up north, CanWNT legend (and friend of The GIST) Quinn is joining the Northern Super League ahead of the Canadian venture’s April debut, signing with the Vancouver Rise after spending six seasons with the NWSL’s Seattle Reign.
🏒 Another sellout imminent as PWHL Takeover Tour lands in Québec City
Following successful stops in Seattle, Vancouver, and Denver, the fourth edition of the nine-game Takeover Tour is heading to Northern Québec for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET puck drop between the Ottawa Charge and Montréal Victoire.
- The sky-rocketing attendance so far underscores the league’s growing popularity amidst plans to expand into two new markets as early as 2026. Consider the lamp lit.
- And while women’s hockey continues to flourish in the Great White North, the NHL’s Canadian contingents aren’t far behind with all seven squads in the running to make the postseason for the first time since the 1980s.
🏀 Raptors snap 10-game losing skid with convincing win over Boston Celtics
It’s been a tough year for the rebuilding 10-31 Dinos, who sit 13th in the Eastern Conference. That said, they flipped the script during Wednesday’s 110–97 win over the reigning champs, a dub powered by hometown hero RJ Barrett’s 22-point, 10-rebound double-double.
- The Raps will hoop for their third straight win, a feat they have yet to accomplish this season, tonight at 8 p.m. ET vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
Recs from our roster!
💙 How to help out
Through the Teaming Up for LA initiative, a women’s sports organization–powered effort to support victims of the devastating LA wildfires. We’re all in this together.
🎾 What to read
This article about Aces for Earth. Sisters Emily and Ava Samay created the tennis ball recycling program that’s a win for the environment and animal shelters.
🏀 Who to know
The iconic sister duos of NCAA basketball, like the Cavinder twins and the Burges, who dominated courts and captured hearts. “Double Teamed,” IRL.
Question of the Day
Lucky for us, the list of sporting events to watch just keeps on growing. Of the options below, which will you be following the closest this weekend?
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, Megan Murray, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emma Leishman, and Rachel Fuenzalida. Fact-checking by Marga Sison. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.