Karma is the guy on the…
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy NFL opening weekend!
The Taylor Swift fan club Kansas City Chiefs started the gridiron party last night, topping the Baltimore Ravens 27–20. But the festivities have only just begun, with a full weekend of wins ahead and a newsletter full of sports news below. Keep calm and scroll on.
— LA Laker LeBron James, giving the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark well-deserved props after she silenced her critics with her second triple-double (a WNBA rookie record) in Wednesday’s 93–86 win over the LA Sparks. Icons love to celebrate iconic sh!t.
US Open
🎾 Game, set, match
The GIST: Honey Deuce season is almost over, but before it officially comes to an end, the US Open has three days of action — today’s men’s semis, tomorrow’s women’s final, and Sunday’s men’s final — on the docket.
- Best of all? Two first-time US Open winners will be crowned by the weekend’s end. Brilliant.
Today’s men’s semis features an All-American clash: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is in strong form in Queens, pushing past his recent doping scandal and fighting for a chance to win his second career major following January’s Australian Open win. His 3 p.m. ET opponent? No. 25 Jack Draper, the first British man to advance to the semis since 2012.
- But prime time promises fireworks because tonight at 7 p.m. ET, two red, white, and blue buddies are facing off in the US Open semis for the first time in 19 years: No. 12 Taylor Fritz vs. No. 20 Frances Tiafoe. Expect a real racket at Arthur Ashe.
No. 6 Jessica Pegula taking on No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka for first major title: Pegula defeated unseeded Karolína Muchová in three sets last night, clinching a spot in tomorrow’s final against Sabalenka. Following a dominant hardcourt year that included her first Grand Slam win at the 2024 Australian Open, Sabalenka is the player to beat, dropping just one set this tourney.
- Pegula has never made it this far in a Grand Slam, but after taking out No. 1 Iga Świątek (pronounced SHVEE-ON-TIK) in the quarters, the American just may leverage the home crowd energy to leave Flushing Meadows on the 7 train with a new piece of hardware.
USWNT superstar Alex Morgan’s retirement
⚽ End of an era
The GIST: USWNT striker Alex Morgan (aka, the bane of CanWNT’s 2012 Olympic dreams) is hanging up her boots, retiring as one of the most dangerous goal scorers in American women’s soccer history and leaving the women’s game in a stronger, more equal place than she found it. Here’s a look at her iconic career by the numbers.
🩷 13: Two things are iconically Morgan: pink pre wrap headbands and the number 13, which she rocked on her jersey from her early days as speedy Baby Horse to her final years as USWNT captain. No wonder she and Taylor Swift are pals.
🇺🇸 224: The number of Morgan’s national team appearances since her 2010 debut. Morgan notched 123 international goals during that time, making her the fifth all-time best USWNT scorer. Making moms proud.
🏆 4: Morgan won four international trophies in her illustrious career, including two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019), an Olympic gold (2012), and one Olympic bronze (2021). *sips tea*
🎉 2013: The year Morgan became an NWSL champ, winning the league’s inaugural title with the Portland Thorns. Nearly a decade later, Morgan won the 2022 NWSL Golden Boot, awarded to the league’s top scorer, with her hometown expansion team, the San Diego Wave, and led the team to their first NWSL Shield (awarded to the team with the best regular season record) the next season.
🫰 $24M: Beyond her numerous accomplishments on the pitch, what best defines Morgan’s legacy is her fight for equality in the women’s game, exemplified by the $24M settlement the USWNT won after a lengthy legal battle against the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal pay. Morgan was among the first players to sign her name to the lawsuit in 2016.
- Morgan also never backed down when it came to supporting her fellow players, becoming a crucial witness in the NWSL workplace abuse reckoning and forever advocating for respect for women’s sports. There will never be another.
🥇 Swimmer Aurélie Rivard (women’s 400m freestyle S10) and wheelchair track racer Brent Lakatos (men’s 800m T53) shined oh so bright in Paris yesterday as both athletes captured gold to each win their 13th career Paralympic medal. Truly red, white, and golden.
🏊 In more pool action, Tess Routliffe swam to bronze in women’s 100m breaststroke SB7, while Nicholas Bennett took home his second gold in men’s 200m IM SM14.
- And Team Canada’s youngest Paralympian, Reid Maxwell, secured silver in men’s 400m S8 and set a new Canadian record in the process. Making a splash.
💪 Kamloops, BC’s Greg Stewart successfully defended his gold medal and threw 16.38 meters to win the men’s shot put F46 class on Wednesday. Turns out Canadians are very good at throwing heavy things.
🥈 After competing in swimming at the 2016 Rio Games, Nathan Clement switched gears to cycling and claimed silver in the men’s T1-2 individual road time trial, earning Canada’s fourth cycling medal in Paris. Trés bien.
🏐 Team Canada’s women’s sitting volleyball squad sadly suffered a straight-set semis loss to the People’s Republic of China yesterday, but they’ll aim to finish the tourney with a bronze medal when they clash with Brazil tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET.
🦽🏀 Pat Anderson and Team Canada men’s wheelchair basketball won’t be playing for gold after falling 80–43 to Team USA in yesterday’s semi. Thankfully, they can still come home with bronze if they beat Germany tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET.
- As for the women, their 71–53 quarter-final win over Germany sends them into today’s 3:30 p.m. ET semifinal against the Netherlands, the red and white’s first trip to the semis since 2004. Hoop to it.
⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves — Tonight at 7:20 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- It’s been a season to forget for the Jays, whose playoff hopes are all but officially quashed. Now looking to play spoiler, pitcher Kevin Gausman and the gang will attempt to douse the scorching Braves in Hotlanta.
🏈 NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles — Tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN
- The NFL’s opening weekend continues with the league’s first-ever game in Brazil. The loaded Birds are hoping to kick off the season on the right foot after last year’s epic collapse, while the youthful Pack’s impressive 2023 has them looking like a title contender.
🎓🏈 NCAA football: No. 3 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 10 Michigan — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET — TSN
- The reigning national champs face their first true test of the season when they host the top-three Longhorns. Will Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ offense take care of business? Or will a Michigan D that secured an 86-yard pick-six in their Week 1 win stifle the burnt orange attack?
⚽ NWSL: Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit — Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. ET — TSN5
- After Spirit rookie phenom Croix Bethune’s devastating season-ending injury, the team will lean even more on Ballon d’Or nominee forward Trinity Rodman in this pivotal matchup against the legendary Christine Sinclair, her protégée Jessie Fleming, and the Thorns.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
🏀 What to watch (and re-watch)
This Laker Girls challenge. These athletes continue to nail their choreography by simply hearing the steps. Beyond impressive.
🎥 What to get ready for
Starting 5. The just-announced Netflix series promising courtside clips of LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and more NBA stars from their 2023–24 season drops October 9th. Bring ya a$$.
🎙️ What to listen to
Unapologetically Angel, the new podcast from WNBA rookie Angel Reese, which promises unfiltered conversations and a star-studded guest list.
Question of the Day
Only one WNBA playoff spot remains with 16 days left in the regular season. Which of the five teams below will secure that final postseason ticket? Cast your vote below and let your voice be heard!
Today's email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, Monica Schrock, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emma Leishman, and Rachel Fuenzalida. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Ellen Hyslop and Alessandra Puccio.