“Everyone — everyone watches women’s sports”
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hi!
The hump day mood? Hyped, because we have a very special announcement dropping within the hour. Keep an eye on your inbox and, in the meantime, enjoy today’s sports news. Let’s get this party started.
— President Joe Biden, giving the 2023 NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC major props during the team’s Monday visit, which made the Bats the first NWSL team ever celebrated at the White House. Truly the start of something new.
WNBA Playoffs
🏀 It’s getting hot in here
The GIST: Front office shake ups aside, all is going as expected in the WNBA, with two higher seeded-squads clinching their semis spots last night and the remaining two berths on the line tonight — pass the milk, it’s going to be spicy.
No. 1 NY Liberty launch comeback against No. 8 Atlanta Dream, sweep series: Atlanta’s Allisha Gray made things interesting, but NY’s Sabrina Ionescu (36 points, a playoff career high) and double-double queen Jonquel Jones entertained the star-studded Brooklyn crowd, leading NY’s second-half surge in a 91–82 win over the Dream.
Two-time defending champ No. 4 Las Vegas Aces clinch sixth straight semis appearance: Despite a strong night from the No. 5 Seattle Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike (pronounced NEH-kah Oh-GWOO-mih-kay), the Aces’ Kelsey Plum netted 29 points and superstar A’ja Wilson did gilded M’VP things, dropping a double-double of her own, in Vegas’ 83–76 win.
- That sets up an Aces vs. Liberty semi beginning this weekend, a rematch of last year’s super-squad WNBA Finals, which Vegas won in four games. Clash of the titans, reloading.
No. 3 Connecticut Sun one win away from knocking out No. 6 Indiana Fever: Fever star Caitlin Clark’s rookie season may end the same way it started: with a loss to the Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, so long as Alyssa Thomas’ experienced Connecticut squad can keep the dynamic rook at bay again tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. One thing’s for sure: millions will be watching.
No. 7 Phoenix Mercury (down 1-0) fighting to extend Diana Taurasi’s career: Though the GOAT’s remained tight-lipped about her possible retirement, tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 2 vs. Napheesa Collier and the No. 2 Minnesota Lynx could be the last time the 20-year vet takes the floor. Pop that corn and pass the tissues.
Question of the Day
With two first-round matchups done and dusted, which team(s) — if any — do you think will join the Liberty and Aces in sweeping?
On Monday, we asked you which team(s) would sweep by today’s newsletter. 40% guessed correctly and voted both the NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, 37% voted NY Liberty only, 16% voted Las Vegas Aces only, and 7% voted neither.Presidents Cup
🏌️ Better than revenge
The GIST: Fresh off Team USA’s Solheim Cup victory earlier this month, the best in the men’s game take over Canada’s beautiful Royal Montreal Golf Club for the 15th edition of the Presidents Cup, a biennial team event pitting 12 Americans against 12 non-European golfers. Here’s what to know before the fun begins tomorrow — it’s ball or nothing.
How it works: Unlike the three-day Ryder Cup (featuring the men’s Team USA vs. Team Europe), this four-day match play event includes four-ball (best ball) and foursome (alternate shot) competitions through the first three days, culminating with 12 singles matches on Sunday.
- The team that earns the most points wins the Cup, an honor Team USA has had all but two times, boasting a nine-tourney win streak that dates back to 2005. Talk about dominant.
Golfers to know: Canadian champion and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir faces the tall task of ending the Americans’ aforementioned win streak, with hopes of bringing the Presidents Cup back to the international side for the first time in 25 years.
- Leading the pack is Australian Adam Scott, who’s making a record-breaking 11th International Team appearance. He’ll rely on his fellow Aussie, Jason Day, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, but expect the Canadian crowd to be the 13th man as they root for hometown boys Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, and Taylor Pendrith.
Zooming out: Given the success of the Solheim Cup, it begs the question why there isn’t a women’s event equivalent to the Presidents. Seven of the top 10 women’s players in the world hail from countries other than the U.S., including New Zealand’s 2024 Olympic gold medalist and World No. 3 Lydia Ko.
- Creating another opportunity for golf's best to shine in a team event would be a significant move in growing the game. Now that would be tee-riffic.
Together With Canadian Women & Sport
🤝 Looking to increase your brand’s impact and reach with young, cool consumers? You subscribe to The GIST, so you know women’s sports are a great investment — but you need cold, hard data before you pitch the idea to your boss.
📊 Enter: The “It’s Time” insight reports from Canadian Women & Sport — Canada’s leading voice on gender equity in sport. Together with Canadian Tire Corporation, Women and Gender Equality Canada, and IMI Consulting, Canadian Women & Sport surveyed thousands of pro women’s sports fans to learn more about what makes them tick — and how brands can best reach them.
- Download It’s Time: Unlocking the Power of Pro Women’s Sports Fans to learn how to engage the 17M+ fans across Canada. It’s time to invest in women’s pro sports — are you in?
⚾ MLB: LA Angels vs. Chicago White Sox — Tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET — MLB.TV
- After narrowly avoiding making the wrong kind of history last night, the White Sox will once again look to fend off setting the MLB modern era record for most losses in a season. Here goes nothing.
⛳ LPGA: NW Arkansas Championship — Tomorrow through Sunday — Golf Channel
- The grass looks greener at the Pinnacle Country Club, where South Korean LPGA sophomore Haeran Ryu tees off to defend her title and claim the biggest slice of the $3M purse.
🏒 NHL preseason: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- Not that we’re counting, but there are less than two weeks before the NHL regular season begins — scratch that hockey itch with this preseason showdown between Canadian Original Six opponents.
🏈 NFL: Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Giants — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN
- This topsy-turvy NFL season enters Week 4, beginning with an NFC East matchup that should help to separate the contenders from the pretenders.
- The home team Giants are on the upswing after nabbing their first win last week while the ’Boys are sputtering following two straight head-shaking losses. Anything could happen.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🚚 Who’s delivering dreams
DoorDash. A longtime WNBA partner, DoorDash is always cooking up new ways to support the league. They even have special game day deals — head to their website to check them out. Hold up, let ’em cook.*
🏀 Who’s heading to the rafters
Toronto Raptors icon Vince “Air Canada” Carter, who’ll be the first Dino in the franchise’s 30-year history to have his jersey retired. The first true superstar in the Six, Carter is credited with providing a spark that ignited Canadian kids’ passion for hoops.
🎮 What to play
NBA 2K25. Las Vegas Ace A’ja Wilson graces the cover along with Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum, a huge moment for WNBA representation.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Delish.Today’s email was brought to you by Lauren Tuiskula, Alessandra Puccio, Marga Sison, Lisa Minutillo, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore, Emily Ohman, 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.