This renovation won’t pay for itself
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
It’s a new day!
…and there’s still no new WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Yesterday marked the league’s deadline to ensure the season start wouldn’t be delayed, but despite 12 hours of overnight meetings, it came and went without an agreement. The clock keeps ticking…
- In other hoops news, the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points (!!!) last night. And while we hope to see his better half, Las Vegas Aces icon A’ja Wilson, on the court soon, she could consider coaching in the interim after Adebayo credited her for his stellar play.
— UConn women’s basketball star Azzi Fudd, who stopped by The GIST of It podcast before leading the defending national champion Huskies to their sixth straight Big East title on Monday. One step at a time.
NFL
🏈 Ready, steady, go!
The GIST: The NFL’s free agency period starts today, kicking off the 2026 league year. And there’s New Year resolutions everywhere you look as contenders fill out their rosters, stars hunt for new homes, and the trade market heats up. No dropping the ball here — let’s discuss the latest.
⚙️ How it works: Free agency doesn’t start until today at 4 p.m. ET, but your notifications might already be flooded with deals. That’s because the 52-hour “legal tampering period” started on Monday, allowing teams to begin negotiating with players’ agents. Deals can’t be officially inked until later today.
💸 Salary cap increases by league record $22M: Teams have some extra cash this offseason as the league’s 2026 salary cap (the total amount each front office can spend on player contracts in a given year) is now $301.2M per team. And squads are spending, from record-breaking contracts to the Tennessee Titans dropping a cool $284M on Monday alone.
♻️ Quarterback (QB) carousel keeps spinning: The Miami Dolphins are on the hook for an NFL-record $99.2M after releasing QB Tua Tagovailoa, but the lefty signal caller already landed elsewhere, agreeing to a deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.
- Meanwhile, former Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith is poised for a full-circle moment after being dealt back to the NY Jets nine years after his first stint with Gang Green.
- As for the reigning Super Bowl MVP, running back Kenneth Walker III is on his way to Kansas City, where he’ll play alongside 36-year-old tight end Travis Kelce, who’s returning to the gridiron on a one-year deal. Those renovations won’t pay for themselves, after all.
🎾 World No. 10 Victoria Mboko onto semis at Indian Wells Open
The competition is fierce at tennis’ “fifth major,” but 19-year-old Mboko is relishing in the pressure, taking down No. 6 Amanda Anisomova in the Round of 16 last night. She’s onto tomorrow’s semi vs. world No. 1 Sabalenka, unlike her countryman No. 9 Félix Auger-Aliassime, who lost in the Round of 16 yesterday.
🇮🇷⚽ Two additional members of Iranian women’s national team granted asylum in Australia
Another Iranian player and a member of the national team staff will stay Down Under, joining the five players who have been granted asylum in Australia with the war in Iran underway.
- The Iranian team was in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup when the U.S. and Israel bombed their country on February 28th and fear potential consequences after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match.
⚾ Team Canada playing for chance at World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarter-finals
Canada’s WBC knockout hopes are still alive after last night’s narrow 3–2 win over previously undefeated Puerto Rico. Now the road ahead is simple: Win vs. Cuba today at 3 p.m. ET and the Great White North will advance out of the WBC group stage for the first time ever. Here goes nothing.
🥌 Team Canada wheelchair curling improves to 6-0, remains undefeated in group stage
The Canadians are off to a dominant start, defeating two-time defending gold medalist China and 2022 silver medalist Sweden yesterday — perhaps they were inspired by Jon Thurston’s truly perfect shot on Sunday? The round-robin action continues against Slovakia today at 3:05 p.m. ET.
TOGETHER WITH RBC Training Ground
☀️ With the Winter Olympics wrapped, it’s full steam ahead to the 2028 Summer Games. Enter: Sophia Jensen, sprint canoe savant, pre-race hype queen, RBC Olympian, and supporter of RBC Training Ground. Here’s what you need to know about this bilingual water wizard:
👏 She’s a multi-talented queen: Jensen competes in cross-country running and skiing in the offseason, and she has aspirations of going to medical school. What can’t she do?
🪙 She’s a treasure hunter: Jensen doesn’t just rack up medals; she’s also an avid coin collector, adding pieces from around the globe to her growing collection.
🥇 She’s a 10-time World Champ: A canoe sprint prodigy, Jensen’s been riding the waves since she was 12, winning six junior and four senior world titles along the way.
And the best is still yet to come, especially with RBC supporting her journey to represent Team Canada. Next stop: LA 2028.
In partnership with RBC Training Ground, we’re spotlighting RBC Olympians and RBC Training Ground alumni as we look ahead to the 2028 Summer Games.
🇨🇦🏀 FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifier: Canada vs. Türkiye — Today at 1:30 p.m. ET — TSN
- Looking for your women’s basketball fix? Us too. Luckily, some of Canada’s best hoopers, including Bridget Carleton, Aaliyah Edwards, and Kia Nurse, are in action today as the world No. 7 Canucks look to punch their ticket to September’s World Cup. Buckets, loading.
🏒 PWHL: Boston Fleet vs. Seattle Torrent — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — TSN
- League-leading Boston extended their win streak to six with last night’s W over the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Now the Fleet have a chance to sweep the poorly performing West Coast expansion squads. Can Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel get the job done? All signs point to yes.
⛳ PGA: THE PLAYERS Championship — Tomorrow to Sunday — Golf Channel
- The PGA’s finest will compete for the largest purse on the Tour at TPC Sawgrass, a 123-golfer field that includes world No. 2 and defending PLAYERS champ Rory McIlroy, who was initially questionable to participate after a recent injury. No stopping him.
🏀 NBA: Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — Tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet+
- OKC superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s reigning MVP for a reason: He matched NBA icon Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight games with 20+ points earlier this week, only upping the ante ahead of this showdown with fellow MVP candidate, Boston’s Jaylen Brown.
💰 How to make March Madness bets with ease
By downloading the new PROLINE app. It’s simple to wager on your Cinderella pick using PROLINE — just build your bet, place it in store while you’re on your hot girl walk, and get ready to cheer. Swish swish.*
💙 Who hasn’t won a hockey game in 36 days
The Toronto Maple Leafs, whose losing streak was extended to eight after last night’s 3–1 loss to Original Six rival, the Montreal Canadiens. Will Toronto ever turn over a new, ahem, leaf? Ask the Magic 8 ball.
❤️🩹 Who’s sending healing vibes
The entire country of Canada after World Cup captain and CanMNT defender Alphonso Davies suffered an injury while playing for Bayern Munich yesterday. If you need us, we’ll be not so patiently waiting for an update.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Game on.Question of the Day
Today marks 58 days until the WNBA season is supposed to tip off on May 8th. But with CBA negotiations still ongoing, we want to know: Do you think the season start will be delayed?
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Elisha Gunaratnam. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.