Lightning strikes every time she moves
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hello hello!
Take inspo from Stephen “Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik on last night’s Dancing with the Stars premiere and jive right into today’s sports news.
— Olympic bronze medalist, rugby superstar, and Dancing with the Stars Mirrorball Trophy contender Ilona Maher, on her advice to young women athletes. Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
WNBA
🏀 Lightning strikes every time she moves
The GIST: Merry WNBA regular-season finale eve! With eight of the league’s 12 teams moving on to the upcoming postseason (and the top four earning home-court advantage), yesterday’s results helped clear up the playoff picture, but there’s still plenty riding on tomorrow’s six-game slate. Hoop yeah.
NY Liberty clinch No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015, Minnesota Lynx secure No. 2: The Libs cruised to the top postseason spot by beating the Washington Mystics 87–71 last night. No surprise here: seafoam superstar Breanna Stewart stuffed the stat sheet, notching her 16th double-double of the season.
- With NY’s dub, the highest seed the red-hot Lynx could snag was No. 2 — and they did just that, handling the Connecticut Sun in last night’s nail-biting 78–76 win. With 14 victories over their last 15 games, the Lynx might just be the hottest team heading into the postseason.
Atlanta Dream, Mystics, Chicago Sky vie for final postseason spot: There’s only one postseason spot left to be claimed, and it all comes down to tomorrow’s matchups. Prep three screens because the Mystics play the Indiana Fever, the Dream match up against the Liberty, and the Sky battle the Sun, all at 7 p.m. ET.
- And as if that wasn’t enough drama, there are five different playoff-clinching scenarios in play with the Dream as the only squad who control their own destiny. Let the scoreboard watching begin.
What else is on the line: The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, NBD. Both the Sun and Las Vegas Aces (featuring new single-season rebound queen A’ja Wilson) booked their postseason tickets ages ago, but their final seeding is yet to be decided. Notably, the Aces hold the tiebreaker courtesy of a season sweep of Connecticut.
- As you read, the Sun host the Sky while the Aces welcome in the nothing-to-lose (or gain) Dallas Wings at 10 p.m. ET. It’s about to be electric.
🤸 American gymnast Jordan Chiles appeals to Swiss Court in Olympic bronze medal battle
Chiles, who was stripped of her first individual Olympic medal over a timing technicality back in August, is appealing to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, where the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is based.
- ICYMI, Chiles was originally awarded the bronze after her coach had Chiles’ floor score reviewed following her routine. But the CAS later reversed course, saying the coach’s appeal came four seconds after the one-minute limit.
- Footage from Simone Biles’ Netflix documentary shows the inquiry comes within the 60-second mark and could be the proof Chiles needs to keep her bronze. Watch this space.
🏀 Man charged with stalking and harassing UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers
After months of harassment dating back to February, 40-year-old Oregon man Robert Parmalee was charged with stalking the UConn women’s hoops star on Monday. Parmalee had been posting disturbing messages about Bueckers to his social media accounts and was arrested by Connecticut State Police on August 27th, just 35 miles away from UConn’s campus. Terrifying.
🏈 NFL updates heading into Week 3
Miami Dolphins quarterback (QB) Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve yesterday, meaning he’ll be out until at least Week 8 after suffering his third diagnosed concussion in two years during last week’s Thursday Night Football matchup.
- And the Dolphins signal caller isn’t the only big-name NFLer missing time — San Francisco 49ers wide receiver (WR) Deebo Samuel, LA Rams WR Cooper Kupp, and Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco have also joined the ever-growing injury list.
- Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers will reportedly bench their 2023 No. 1 draft pick, QB Bryce Young and replace him with backup QB Andy Dalton in Week 3. Young posted a dismal 2-16 record across his first two NFL seasons and is the first QB selected No. 1 overall to be benched for non-injury reasons. Oof.
🏒 Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby signs two-year contract extension
Ahead of his franchise-record 20th season, the club announced on Monday that the three-time Stanley Cup champion has re-signed through the 2026–27 season, inking a contract with an average annual value of $8.7M, as is tradition. Loyalty at its finest.
⚾ MLB: Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians — Tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET — MLB.TV
- The first pitch of the postseason is less than two weeks away and these two squads are part of a heated three-way battle to claim the American League Central crown. Whether you’re team rally sausage or supporting the Super Mario bros, this race for October is must-see.
⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers — Tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- Yes, the Jays are all but eliminated from postseason contention, but they’re still swinging for the fences, even after last night’s 13–8 loss to the defending champs. The series rolls on from Texas — giddy up.
⛳ LPGA: Kroger Queen City Championship — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel
- Fresh off her stellar Solheim Cup appearance, see if last year’s tournament runner-up Charley Hull can smoke the competition and fend off Americans Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang. Fore!
🏈 NFL: New England Patriots vs. NY Jets — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN
- Week 3 kicks off with a battle between bitter AFC East rivals, but both are looking quite different this season as QB Aaron Rodgers and the Jets aim to improve to 2-1 while the head coach Jerod Mayo–led Pats compete to do the same. Hut, hut, hike.
Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
🛍 What to shop
The Vogue x HEAD Collection. Elevate your tennis fashion game with this exclusive collaboration featuring clothing, bags, and rackets in a sleek, classic palette.
⚽ What to support
The “End Abuse in Women’s Football” campaign. Proceeds from this shirt support Common Goal, an org working toward a safer, more equitable world of sport.
🎤 What to look forward to
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. The Grammy winner will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show…now we just need to know who’ll be playing.
Question of the Day
We don’t have to tell you women’s sports viewership is on the rise, but we want to know: how often do you watch women’s sports on TV?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, 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 and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.