Baby, you’re a firework
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy last day of September!
October — and more importantly, October baseball — is right around the corner (along with our special edition MLB playoffs preview). But first, the NY Mets and Atlanta Braves will round out the season with today’s 1:10 p.m. ET rain-delayed and decisive doubleheader.
- Check out the down-to-the-wire clinching scenarios, then step right up to the plate with the rest of today’s news.
— Legendary Portland Thorns captain and international soccer’s all-time leading goal scorer Christine Sinclair, shouting out Rose City while announcing her plans to retire from the game at the end of this NWSL season. Pass the tissues.
WNBA semifinals
🏀 Future’s so bright, gotta wear shades
The GIST: Lingering off-court news aside, the best-of-five WNBA semis are off to a thrilling, star-studded start, chock-full of buckets, blocks, and Spike Lee trash talk.
Breanna Stewart shines, leads No. 1 NY Liberty to win over No. 4 Las Vegas Aces: The Libs handed the two-time defending champs an all-around “ass-kicking” yesterday, winning 87–77 behind Stewie’s playoff-high 34-point performance and a cool double-double from Jonquel Jones.
- Game 2 tips off from the deafening Barclays Center tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET, where A’ja Wilson’s Aces have one more chance to find their defensive groove before the series moves to Sin City.
No. 3 Connecticut Sun steal Game 1, upset No. 2 Minnesota Lynx on the road: Thanks to lockdown defense, not to mention Marina Mabrey’s six (!!!) threes and double-doubles from DeWanna “playoff record-setter” Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, the Sun snuck away with a tight 73–70 win in the Midwest last night.
- But the lauded Lynx won’t go down without a fight, so expect 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier and Co. to be on the prowl in tomorrow’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 2.
NFL
🏈 Baby, you’re a firework
The GIST: With everything from extra long game-winning field goals to rain-soaked slopfests, Week 4 continued the chaos that’s defined the NFL season thus far. Here’s what you need to know after another wild weekend.
Two teams improve to a perfect 4-0: The Minnesota Vikings, aided by some of wide receiver (WR) Justin Jefferson’s magic, topped the Green Bay Packers 31–29 yesterday despite a strong comeback from the Cheeseheads.
- Also 4-0? The Kansas City Chiefs, who survived the LA Chargers but likely lost WR Rashee Rice for the season.
- Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback (QB) Joe Burrow tossed two touchdowns (TDs) as his team finally picked up their first win of the season, a 34–24 dub over the Carolina Panthers. Better late than never.
Baltimore Ravens hand Buffalo Bills their first loss of the season: When in doubt, give the ball to Ravens superstar running back (RB) Derrick Henry. The king of the backfield scored an 87-yard TD on his first touch of the game (before adding another first-half score) as the Ravens ran all over the Bills in their 35–10 Sunday Night Football victory.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield dismantles Philadelphia Eagles: Forget the Birds, it was Mayfield who was soarin’, flyin’ yesterday, throwing for 344 yards and posting three TDs (two passing, one running) in the Bucs’ 33–16 shellacking of the Eagles. Plus, the entire Tampa offense was rolling as WR Mike Evans and rookie RB Bucky Irving also tallied a TD apiece.
Rookie QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders dominate in the desert: Daniels has been virtually unstoppable this season, lifting the Commanders to a lopsided 42–14 win over the Arizona Cardinals with yesterday’s stellar 233-yard, two-TD performance. Nothing like a little dust-covered redemption.
Up next — another Monday Night Football doubleheader: For the second consecutive week, there are two games on deck tonight, but one is certainly more intriguing. The injury-hampered Miami Dolphins face the winless Tennessee Titans at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the undefeated Seattle Seahawks take on the plucky Detroit Lions at 8:15 p.m. ET. Choose wisely.
⚽ Orlando Pride remain unbeaten as NWSL playoff picture takes shape
With their 3–1 Saturday win over the Houston Dash, the first-place Pride continued their historic year and stayed unbeaten through the first 23 games of the season. Orlando already punched their ticket to the postseason earlier this month and can secure the NWSL Shield (best regular-season record) with a win later this week.
- As for the broader playoff picture, the Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and the KC Current have also clinched playoff berths, but the final four spots are still up for grabs.
🏀 The NY Knicks send Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) in blockbuster trade
Ahead of this week’s NBA preseason tip-off, the Knicks and Timberwolves swapped All-Stars Randle and Towns on Friday night. KAT was Minnesota’s No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and a key player on their rising squad, while Randle is working his way back from a season-ending shoulder injury. Stunning doesn’t even begin to cover it.
🎓🏈 Alabama takes over No. 1 spot after surviving thriller against No. 5 Georgia
Following a lopsided first half, the September SEC heavyweight battle lived up to its billing, with the Crimson Tide staving off the Bulldogs’ 19-point fourth quarter effort to win 41–34 and claim the top spot in the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time since October 2022. Rollin’, indeed.
- Other Week 5 highlights included Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter buoying his Heisman Trophy resume in a blowout win over UCF and No. 2 Texas QB Arch Manning tossing two TDs in a rout of Mississippi State.
⛳ Team USA wins 10th straight Presidents Cup
After exchanging sweeps through the first two days of play, two-time 2024 major champ Xander Schauffele and Team USA prevailed over the International Team 18.5–11.5, with 2025 Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley earning the clinching points for the Americans.
Question of the Day
Time to wake up —September is ending today, meaning it’s time to look ahead to a jam-packed sports month of October. Which event are you most excited for?
The GIST's Bracket Challenge
⚾ Get ready for the playoffs with The GIST's Major League Baseball Bracket Challenge!
Lace up your cleats and join fellow GISTers in predicting the outcome of this year's World Series. What's on the line? Amazing prizes and ultimate bragging rights.
Prizes: First place wins a $300 airline gift card, second place gets a $200 airline gift card, and third place scores a $100 airline gift card. So fly.
How to play: Sign up for free, and we’ll remind you to lock in your picks before the playoffs begin. It's a home run!
Together With Canadian Women & Sport
As a GISTer, you understand the power of women athletes. And now, Canadian Women & Sport, the country’s leading voice on gender equity in sport, has the data to show why they’re a great investment.
- With the support of Canadian Tire Corporation, Women and Gender Equality Canada, and IMI Consulting, Canadian Women & Sport surveyed thousands of pro women’s sports fans across the country to learn about their fandom — and the results are undeniable.
As part of Canadian Women & Sport’s ongoing “It’s Time” campaign, they just released brand-new, comprehensive, evidence-based reports that make the case for investing in women’s sports and share strategies for how to do it effectively. Dive deep into the latest data today, then strap in — this ride’s going up, up, up.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
🛍 How to travel
In style with the Béis Commuter Collection. The sleek, water-repellent bags are designed to keep your life organized on the go.
🏀 Where to shop
Round 21, where sports and art collide. Offering products like the WNBPA Legends Basketball, this independent artist–led shop is a must-visit.
📲 Who to follow
Michael Valenzano, aka “1 Minute of Sports.” From weekly highlights to touchdown celebrations, Valenzano keeps sports updates short, sweet, and packed with energy.
Today's email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Molly Potter, Emily Ohman, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Marga Sison and Lisa Minutillo. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.