Long live all the magic we made
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Missed you!
Mere days into the action, and the Australian Open is already serving up upsets — fan favorites world No. 17 Frances Tiafoe and No. 6 Ons Jabeur were eliminated in the second round. Wipe your tears and then game, set, make your way through today’s sports news.
— Four-time Grand Slam champ Naomi Osaka, affording herself well-deserved grace after losing in the first round of the Australian Open. Osaka gave birth to her daughter, Shai, only six months ago, making her return to major competition worth celebrating, no matter the final outcome.
NWSL free agency
⚽ Ballin’ out
The GIST: Less than one year after a knee injury sidelined her for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson inked the largest and highest-paying contract in NWSL history yesterday, a $2M, five-year deal. Money talks.
The context: The NWSL landscape is evolving, and quickly. Following years of surging interest in the women’s game, the league secured the largest media rights deal in women’s sports in November. Since then, two players have signed record-breaking, multi-million dollar agreements: Houston Dash forward María Sánchez and Swanson.
- Furthermore, 2024 is an expansion season, one that, beginning March 16th, will see 14 (!!!) clubs competing under a $2.75M salary cap — a 40% increase from 2023. In response, NJ/NY Gotham FC got their superteam on, while the Dash and Red Stars (among others), are making major investments in individual stars.
Zooming out: Beyond the increased cash flow, what’s also helped make blockbuster signings like Swanson’s possible is the NWSL’s second-ever free agency period, authorizing eligible players to choose where they’ll play and put down roots.
- And with two months to go before free agency ends, veteran players, including Portland Thorns defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Meghan Klingenberg, are still on the market. The fun has just begun.
🍁 Centre Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers skated to a 4–2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, the Oilers’ 11th consecutive win. See if Draisaitl and Co. can make it 12 straight when the Seattle Kraken come to town tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.
🎾 No. 32 Leylah Annie Fernandez was ousted in the second round of the Australian Open by American Alycia Parks last night, while No. 30 Félix Auger-Aliassime takes on France’s Hugo Grenier in second round action today after 10:30 p.m. ET.
🏒 PWHL Montréal captain Marie Philip-Poulin brought Place Bell to their feet in last night’s 3–2 win over New York, a good bounce back from their overtime weekend loss to Boston. Allez!
⭐ Speaking of Montréal, Poulin is one of 12 Canadian gold medalists who will represent the PWHL at next month’s NHL All-Star festivities in Toronto. All that glitters is gold.
🦅 With his Philadelphia Eagles among those eliminated from the NFL playoffs, All-Pro center Jason Kelce reportedly told his teammates that he plans to retire. Long live all the magic we made.
🥅 Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-André Fleury moved into second on the NHL’s all-time wins list after Monday’s shutout win over the NY Islanders, surpassing his childhood hero, Montreal Canadien great Patrick Roy.
🎓🏀 Behind a 33-point gem from Canadian big man Zach Edey, No. 2 Purdue men’s basketball took care of Indiana 87–66 last night, improving to 16-2 on the season. A swish come true.
Together With RBC
🏆 Who wants to be an Olympian?
Ever wondered if your athleticism could take you to the Olympics? RBC Training Ground wants to match undiscovered athletes with sports they’d be good at — even if they’ve never tried them before — and offer a road map to Olympic stardom. Like a Spotify Fresh Finds playlist, but for sport prodigies.
RBC Training Ground connects tomorrow’s superstars with training resources and funding to help pursue their dreams, including representing Team Canada. They’ve sent 13 athletes to the Olympics and you could one day join their ranks too.
The TL;DR? RBC Training Ground breaks down barriers so that athletes without access to training programs or talent scouts can still realize their potential.
- Free qualifying events for athletes aged 14 to 25 will take place across Canada throughout the spring — check out the schedule and register here. Get'cha game on, go play.
🏒 PWHL: Minnesota vs. Ottawa — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — TSN+
- First-place Minnesota suffered their first loss of the season over the weekend, while fourth-place Ottawa is fresh off a win. Expect both teams to come out firing in this mid-week puck off.
🏒 PWHL: Boston vs. Toronto — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — TSN4
- In a battle of the bottom of the standings, there’ll be no love lost between these hockey-loving cities as they begin their rivalry from the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
🏀 NBA: Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet One
- With four straight losses behind them, RJ Barrett and the Raptors can (hopefully) only go up from here when Jimmy Butler and the reigning Eastern Conference champs visit The Six.
⛳ LPGA: HGV Tournament of Champions — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel
- The 2024 LPGA Tour begins tomorrow in the Sunshine State, where Canadian Brooke Henderson will look to defend her title and earn a piece of the $1.5M purse. Time to par-tee.
Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
🏈 Who to follow
Mona Stevens. The German football player is making a name for herself in Europe as an ambassador for flag football on behalf of the NFL. Hut, hut, hell yeah.
🍵 What to drink
President’s Choice. The Chocolatey Peppermint Herbal Tea is perfect for a cozy and cuddly night in.
📽️ What to watch
The Iron Claw. Starring Calvin Klein’s latest star, Jeremy Allen White, and Zac Efron, the wrestling-focused film has generated tons of buzz.
Take Your Pick
Boston
Toronto
The first chapter in the Boston-Toronto PWHL rivalry will be written when the squads take the ice tonight. Who’s your pick to win this sure-to-be-spicy mid-week clash?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Janine Kiefer, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Parul Kanwar. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alexis Allison, and Dee Lab. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.