Guilty on all counts of loving women’s sports
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Gotta get down on Friday!
Our weekend status? Guilty on all counts of loving postseason sports. Let’s jump right in.
— PWHL Minnesota captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, hoisting the inaugural Walter Cup after her team beat Boston 3–0 to win the league’s first championship on Wednesday. A hockey legend, Schofield was integral in launching the historic league. An epic full circle moment.
NBA & NHL Conference Finals
🏆 Drop it like it’s hot
The GIST: You can’t make a diamond without serious pressure — no wonder the NBA and NHL Conference Finals stars are making the whole place postseason shimmer.
🏀 The NBA Finals are set as No. 5 Dallas Mavericks advance: The Mavs took down the No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves 124–103 last night to lock in their first NBA Finals appearance since their 2011 title run. To no one’s surprise, Dallas' Luka Dončić was crowned king of trash talk Western Conference Finals MVP following yet another double-double performance.
- It may have taken five games, but the Mavs still have plenty of time to rest up before taking on the Eastern Conference Champion No. 1 Boston Celtics for the title, starting on June 6th. Can’t wait.
🥅 The Florida Panthers are one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final: Despite sensational goaltending by NY Ranger Igor Shesterkin (34 saves), center Anton Lundell and the Panthers pulled away with a 3–2 Game 5 dub last night, quieting NY’s Madison Square Garden.
- With the series heading back south, Florida has a firm Eastern Conference Final advantage ahead of a crucial Game 6, tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET.
- Elsewhere, the Edmonton Oilers evened the Western Conference Final 2-2 by scoring five unanswered goals in Wednesday’s 5–2 Game 4 win over the injury-contending Dallas Stars. The spicy series heads back to Dallas for Game 5 tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Women’s basketball
🏀 Baller, shot-caller
The GIST: Unrivaled — the 3x3 pro women’s hoops league launched by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — rolled out some game-changing announcements yesterday.
- The league confirmed some all-star investors (hi, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe) that will allow Unrivaled to offer a six-figure salary, the highest in pro women’s sports league history. Bank (on) it.
The league: Unrivaled will launch in January 2025, featuring 30 players (including at least 10 WNBA All-Stars) competing in an eight-week season from January to March. Stewart and Collier announced the league last summer, and it should become an attractive offseason option for WNBA players that will also further the popular 3x3 format.
Zooming out: As the WNBA flourishes, so will the entire women’s basketball ecosystem. Overtime Select launches its high school league this weekend, Athletes Unlimited’s 5-on-5 tournament keeps growing each season, and Unrivaled will soon offer an unparalleled salary. Hoop, there it is, indeed.
P.S. For more on the booming business of women’s sports, subscribe to our three-times weekly sports biz newsletter.Together With Air Canada
⚡ It’s electric!
The atmosphere during the PWHL Finals was unmatched, the perfect grand finale for a groundbreaking season. Knowing it would be a watershed moment for young hockey fans, huge league supporter Air Canada hosted their first-ever PWHL Fan Flight.
Four superfans (and their plus-ones) were selected for the trip of their dreams to Game 3 — a huge 4–1 win for eventual champs PWHL Minnesota. Round-trip flights, a cozy hotel stay, and tickets to one of the biggest games of the season? It truly doesn’t get better than that.
- The Fan Flight isn’t the only way Air Canada’s boosting the country’s new favorite league — they're also the PWHL’s Inaugural Premier Partner and Official Airline. That’s some top-flight support.
🎾 The French Open bans alcohol from the stands, No. 1 seeds advance to the third round
Tournament director and two-time Grand Slam champion Amélie Mauresmo announced the ban yesterday after a spectator spat gum at a player during a match. On the court, No. 1 Iga Świątek dug deep to defeat Naomi Osaka in three sets on Wednesday.
- As for the Canadians, Denis Shapovalov upset No. 25 Frances Tiafoe and is through to the third round where his fellow Canucks, No. 21 Félix Auger-Aliassime, No. 31 Leylah Annie Fernandez, and unranked Bianca Andreescu, will join him. The red and white French Open hopes are alive and well.
⛳ Nelly Korda shoots a career-worst 80 at the opening round of the US Women’s Open
The world No. 1 struggled on the 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club yesterday and now sits tied for 137th at the second major of the season, making way for world No. 30 (and 2021 US Women’s Open champion) Japan’s Yuka Saso, who leads the way with a two-under par heading into today’s second round.
- Canada’s Brooke Henderson also has a lot of ground to make up after scoring 10-over par yesterday, which puts her tied for 137th with Korda. Just keep swingin’.
⚽ Defending Olympic gold medalists No. 9 CanWNT begin tune-ups for the Paris Games
The red and white host No. 31 Mexico in Montréal for the first of two June friendlies tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. With 21 wins in 26 games against La Tri, Canada is the favorite, but expect the players to (literally) put their best foot forward with a spot on the 18-person roster for the Paris Olympics on the line.
- A few players to watch? Goalie Kailen Sheridan, who’s been on a tear for San Diego Wave FC, and forward Evelyne Viens, fresh off a stellar scoring season with AS Roma in Italy's Serie A.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
💚 Who wants to share their love of the game
PGA–certified golf coaches. There are more than 3.9K spread across Canada who are passionate about growing the game for women. How refreshing. Whether you’re an experienced player or don’t know a tee box from a shoe box, a pro is here to help.*
🐶 What to check out
The Stanley Pup. The NHL’s cutest event features 16 rescue dogs facing off in a friendly competition showcasing their adorable canine skills. Paw-some.
📖 Where to meet
In your inbox for The GIST Book Club’s discussion of May’s book of the month, Night Shift by Annie Crown. Subscribe to The GIST Book Club’s newsletters to keep the convo going.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Fore!Take Your Pick
Chicago Sky
Indiana Fever
Buckle up, hoops fans — the revamped Commissioner’s Cup (an in-season WNBA tourney) tips off tomorrow, with all 12 teams competing for the $500K grand prize. First up? A highly-anticipated battle of the rookies.
- The Chicago Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso will suit up for her W debut and play alongside fellow rook Angel Reese, but don’t forget about Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, who are seeking their second win of the season. Who ya got?
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