In a Birkin
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
That Friday feeling!
Heads up, there’ll be no newsletter on Monday as our team enjoys some egg-shaped treats, but some bunny told us there’s something exciting and new in store for Sunday. Can’t wait to show you what we’ve been cooking — but first, today’s news.
— USWNT legend and Unrivaled investor Alex Morgan, praising the innovative 3v3 basketball league in a profile on its founders, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, who were named to the 2025 TIME100 list yesterday. Taking matters into their own hands.
NHL Playoffs
🏒 With glowing hearts
The GIST: Count ’em — not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Canadian NHL teams are playoff-bound this season, the most since 2017. That means five chances to end Canada’s 32-year Stanley Cup drought. Eh-xcellent.
The Battle of Ontario takes center stage: A squad from the Great White North will definitely advance to the second round because the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will face off in the playoffs (starting Sunday at 7 p.m. ET) for the first time since 2004. And that series was a real treat, needing a spicy series-deciding seventh game. More of that, please.
- The Leafs won that series, and all four previous postseason meetings of the provincial rivals. They also boast the higher seed this season, but the Sens can’t be underestimated: Ottawa swept the Buds across their three regular-season games.
Presidents’ Trophy–winning Winnipeg Jets skating for bigger prize: The Jets were the top regular-season squad this season, earning home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, including for tomorrow’s 6 p.m. ET series-opener vs. the St. Louis Blues. But the Presidents’ Trophy curse is no joke: Since the inception of the award in 1985, only eight winners have gone on to win the Cup.
Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens complete Canadian contingent: The two most recent Canadian Stanley Cup finalists, Edmonton’s hoping to return to the promised land after falling in seven games to the defending champ Florida Panthers last year, while the Habs are making their first postseason appearance since their finals trip in 2021.
- Montreal will have their work cut out for them vs. the beast-of-the-East Washington Capitals Monday at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Oilers taking on their divisional foe, the LA Kings, at 10 p.m. ET. Sleep? Never heard of her.
🏎️ Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (GP) features the return of F1 Academy
Parity has been the name of the game this year, with every team tallying at least a point so far (a rarity, especially this early in the season). And it’ll only get spicier this weekend: The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a street circuit, meaning it takes place on city roads. It’s extra fast, tight, and twisty — and oh so fun.
- The Saudi Arabian GP also brings the second round of F1 Academy, the all-women racing championship. Mercedes’ Doriane Pin sits atop the leaderboard, but Ferrari’s Maya Weug is hot on her heels. Buckle up.
⚽ CanWNT star Quinn scores Northern Super League’s (NSL’s) first goal, lifting the Vancouver Rise FC over Calgary Wild FC 1–0 in league premiere
Quinn rose to the occasion on Wednesday, burying the first goal in NSL history with a perfect penalty kick at Vancouver’s BC Place. And the fun has only just begun: AFC Toronto hosts the Montreal Roses at BMO Field tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET.
- Meanwhile in the NWSL, Angel City FC hired Alexander Straus as their new head coach effective June 1st, bringing the back-to-back Bundesliga winner stateside.
🏀 NBA Playoffs tip off tomorrow after Play-In Tournament wraps tonight
Pop that corn because the eighth and final postseason berth in both the Eastern and Western Conferences is up for grabs tonight. After dropping their first Play-In tilt, the Atlanta Hawks will face the surging Miami Heat at 7 p.m. ET before fellow first-game loser, the Memphis Grizzlies, attempt a rebound of their own vs. the Dallas Mavericks at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- In other NBA news, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard has been medically cleared of the blood clot that sidelined him last month. The news opens the door for a postseason return though he’s been ruled out for tomorrow’s series opener against the Indiana Pacers.
🏒 World No. 1 Canada demolishes No. 7 Japan 9–1 in IIHF Women’s Worlds quarter-final (QF)
The defending champs are onto the semis (as expected), with captain Marie-Philip Poulin making headway on some impressive side quests in the QF win. Captain Clutch played in her 200th national team game yesterday and notched one assist to level her with Hayley Wickenheiser as Canada’s all-time leading Worlds scorer.
- Up next: tomorrow’s 1 p.m. ET semi against No. 3 Finland, where a win guarantees a spot in Sunday’s 12 p.m. ET final. Bring it on.
Question of the Day
As you read, only four teams remain in contention for the IIHF Women’s World Championship title. Which squad do you think will hoist the trophy come Sunday?
Together With Smirnoff
🥂 Ditch the party-planning stress
Hosting a party sounds fun — until you realize you’re juggling snacks, drinks, and last-minute RSVPs. But don’t sweat it. The next time you have your pals over to watch women’s hockey, why not grab a bottle of Smirnoff.
With these creative cocktail recipes, your guests will be raving about more than just the game.
🍸 For the sophisticated yet chaotic ones (aka Montréal fans), what else but a classic French Martini? It’s elegant, refined, and a little dramatic — just like them.
🍁 The underdog believers in Ottawa deserve a drink that’ll love them back: the beloved Caesar. Kick up the spice to match the vibes.
🧊 For Torontonians, it’s a vodka Collins—crisp, balanced, and cool under pressure. Just like the team in overtime.
With drinks sorted, all that’s left to do is put on a fire playlist and cheers to a hosting job well done.*
*Please enjoy responsibly.
⛳ LPGA: LA Championship — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel
- It’s no Birkin, but there’s a giant $3.75M purse on the line at the LA Championship, aka the final tourney before next week’s Chevron Championship, the first major of the LPGA season.
- Sweden’s Madelene Sagström is tied for third with plenty to celebrate after hitting the tour’s first hole-in-one of the season yesterday. Pop that.
🏌️ PGA: RBC Heritage — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel
- For the first time in forever, world No. 8 Justin Thomas is leading the field after posting a 10-under-par in the first round. Notably, Heritage is the first PGA event to permit rangefinders (which measure distance on a hole) as the tour toys with ideas to ramp up the speed of play.
⚾ MLB: Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays — Tonight at 7:07 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- The Jays found flight against the struggling Atlanta Braves this week, clinching the three-game set with Wednesday’s 3–1 victory. Fingers crossed that winning attitude sticks around the Rogers Centre when pitcher Bowden Francis takes the mound tonight.
Together With CIBC
Women love sports, but the industry hasn't always loved them back. That’s why CIBC is investing in women’s hoops, recently becoming a founding partner of the Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first WNBA team — but that’s not the only way CIBC is breaking the press.
🏆 CIBC’s “Champions of Ambition” program will support game-changers from coast-to-coast-to-coast while creating opportunities for representation on and off the court.
🧠 CIBC knows everyone’s dreams are unique, which is why they’re proud to assist goal-chasers by championing their ambitions, whatever they may be.
Recs from our roster!
👟 What to wear
Allbirds to keep your feet dry and supported, no matter the activity.
🛍️ What to shop
Kt’s anniversary sale. Enjoy 30% off period underwear and sleep shorts and leakproof activewear. Bleeding confidence has never been easier.
⭐ Who to celebrate
BJK, as usual. Billie Jean King just became the first woman athlete with a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s sports entertainment category. Just GOAT things.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Katie Kehoe Foster, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Mikaela Perez. 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.