When it rains, it pours
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Welcome to a new week!
ICYMI: It’s Election Day eve in the United States — take inspo from the players of the WNBA and NBA (among many other athletes) and check in on your pals south of the border to firm up their voting plans. Send those texts, then scroll on through today’s sports news.
— Portland Thorns captain (and CanWNT legend) Christine Sinclair, who scored in her final NWSL regular-season game, a 3–0 Friday rout of Angel City FC that clinched Rose City a playoff spot. The end is near, but Sincy’s not done yet.
NFL
🏈 Trading places
The GIST: From the trickiest of plays to tonight’s 8:15 p.m. ET Monday Night Football showdown between the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and the high-flying Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Week 9 NFL slate has been a true treat.
- But with tomorrow’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline looming and injuries continuing to mount across the league, the on-field action’s taking a backseat on this Monday morning.
Injury report: The Dallas Cowboys took the biggest injury hit this week — quarterback (QB) Dak Prescott left the squad’s 27–21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter with a hamstring injury (not a hand injury) while superstar wide receiver (WR) CeeDee Lamb suffered a fourth-quarter shoulder injury that left him visibly wincing for the rest of the loss.
- Elsewhere, Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London sustained a hip injury, Philadelphia Eagle A.J. Brown tweaked his knee, and New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave left the field on a backboard after suffering his second concussion of the season. So scary.
The trade deadline: The NFL trade deadline offers a midseason opportunity for contending squads to add talent before a playoff push (perhaps to fill an injury void) or for weaker teams to trade stronger players in exchange for future draft picks — like how the floundering Tennessee Titans recently traded WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2025 pick.
- And the rumor mill is already swirling ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Watch for the WR market to stay hot with New England Patriot K.J. Osborn, Carolina Panther Adam Thielen, and NY Giant Darius Slayton garnering attention.
Formula 1
🏎️ Rain, rain, go away
The GIST: Yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix (GP) brought the drama as multiple weather delays, red flags, and investigations characterized a race weekend that also saw a career-best drive from World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) leader Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. When it rains, it pours.
Verstappen thrives in rain-soaked race: The Dutchman began the race in 17th after a disappointing qualifying yesterday morning and an engine penalty, but the chaotic GP was the perfect recipe for Verstappen’s roaring comeback and first race win since June.
- McLaren’s Lando Norris, Verstappen’s WDC rival, finished sixth despite starting the race in pole position (aka first), meaning the Brit couldn’t translate a grid-front start to a win…again.
Alpine earns unexpected pair of podiums: Teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly surprisingly rounded out the podium, finishing second and third, respectively. Prior to this weekend, Alpine had accrued a measly 16 points on the season, but the surprise two-three finish bumped the team up to sixth in the World Constructors’ Championship. Any given Sunday, right?
Looking ahead: Driving for a fourth consecutive WDC, Verstappen boasts a commanding 62-point lead over Norris heading into the final three races of the season. And the McLaren racer is lucky the gap is that small after escaping Brazil with only a fine following the chaos of a potential penalty-worthy infraction. Spicy.
Question of the Day
As you read, there are only three races left on the calendar, and 62 points separating Verstappen from Norris. Like Brazil, Qatar also boasts a sprint race, meaning the maximum number of points a driver can add to their total before the end of the season is 86.
It’s certainly a tall task, but do you think Norris will surpass Verstappen for the WDC? Let us know below.
👟 Upset wins reign supreme at the 2024 New York City (NYC) Marathon
The women’s, men’s, and men’s wheelchair races saw first-time winners yesterday. Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui and the Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye outkicked their fellow competitors in the final seconds of the women’s and men’s races, respectively, while Daniel Romanchuk took down three-time defending champ Marcel Hug in the wheelchair competition. Exhausted just thinking about it.
⚽ NWSL Playoffs picture is set, Bay FC to make historic postseason debut
Expansion team Bay FC are this season’s Cinderella story, earning the seventh seed in the playoffs after Saturday’s thrilling 3–2 regular-season finale win over the Houston Dash. Not too shabby for their first year in the league.
- Meanwhile, four teams have clinched an MLS Cup Playoffs semis berth, but Lionel Messi’s No. 1 seed Inter Miami CF is not among them, as No. 8 Atlanta United forced a Round One winner-take-all Game 3 with Saturday’s 2–1 win.
🏀 Two WNBA franchises hire new head coaches (HCs)
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark officially have new coaches for their sophomore WNBA seasons after Reese’s Chicago Sky hired former Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh on a multi-year deal over the weekend, while former Connecticut Sun HC Stephanie White is returning to her roots to lead Clark and the Indiana Fever. Two spots filled, five to go.
🏈 Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders advance to CFL playoffs Division Finals
The Argos left the Ottawa Redblacks in the dust on Saturday, beating their provincial foes 58–38 (with the combined 96 points setting a league record for highest-scoring postseason tilt) to advance to next week’s East Division Final vs. the Montréal Alouettes.
- Over in the West, led by two touchdowns from star running back A.J. Ouellette, the Riders topped the B.C. Lions 28–19, setting up a West Finals date with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Only the strong survive.
Peep our squad’s MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
🦕 Whose jersey is in the rafters
The iconic Vince Carter, who became the first Raptor to have his jersey retired during Saturday’s emotional ceremony. Half man, half amazing, indeed.
🏀 What to check out
JuJu Watkins’ cover of Boardroom. The USC women’s basketball star spills on her pre-game rituals, her love for rom-coms, and how WNBA icon Candace Parker inspires her game.
🎾 What to listen to
“Thought I Was Dead,” the latest single from Tyler, The Creator, which references 2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff’s killer serve.
🎤 Who to know
Pepper Persley, the 13-year-old sports reporter who’s been making waves as the youngest person to ever call games for the NBA, WNBA, and MLB. Not to mention, her podcast Dish with Pepper features interviews with sports’ biggest stars. Impressive.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Megan Murray, Monica Schrock, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emily Ohman, Emma Leishman, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lindsay Jost. Fact-checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Lisa Minutillo and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.