Say my name and everything just stop
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Weekend, loading!
We’re racing right into it just like American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who won the World Athletics Championships 400m title with a championship record 47.78-second finish yesterday, the second-fastest time ever. Zoom zoom.
— Legendary ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, chatting all things female fandom on the latest episode of The GIST of It. From covering the WNBA to College GameDay (and often both in the same weekend), Rowe truly does it all.
WNBA Playoffs
🏀 Everything everywhere all at once
The GIST: One WNBA playoffs semifinal is locked in, the other depends on tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3, and just when you thought things couldn’t get spicier, the league MVP will be crowned on Sunday. The hoops drama is about to hit a crescendo — turn it up.
🃏 No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces and 🥵 No. 6 Indiana Fever to clash in semifinal: Indy stunned the No. 3 Atlanta Dream 87–85 last night, while it was business as usual for the Aces, who outmuscled the No. 7 Seattle Storm 74–73. There’s no rest for the winners though: Game 1 of the best-of-five set tips off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, featuring two squads with vastly different playoff experience.
- The semis are unfamiliar territory for the resilient Fever, who are in the second round for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, the perennial powerhouse Aces booked their seventh straight semis ticket with yesterday’s win. And that’s on consistency.
💪 Phoenix Mercury vs. NY Liberty Game 3 could come down to defense: The No. 4 Mercury stifled the No. 5 Liberty in Wednesday’s 86–60 Game 2 win, forcing 15 turnovers and holding the sharpshooting Libs to their lowest shooting percentage of the season…in their own gym. Phoenix’s game plan for tonight’s 9 p.m. ET tilt is simple: rinse and repeat.
- As for the reigning champs, their success isn’t so straightforward, largely due to Breanna Stewart’s knee injury. The hobbled superstar didn’t look like herself in Game 2, managing just six points, a far cry from her 18 points-per-game average.
- Waiting on the other side of this decisive Game 3? The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, who became just the second team in W playoff history to overcome a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit in Wednesday’s 75–74 Game 2 win over Golden State Valkyries. Consider the court swept.
Women’s Rugby World Cup
🏉 Ruck and roll
The GIST: After nearly a month full of tackles and dazzling offloads, the Women’s Rugby World Cup has reached the semifinals. Four unbeaten powerhouses, two epic clashes, and tickets to a history-making championship are on the line? Ruck yeah.
🇨🇦 No. 2 Canada vs. 🇳🇿 No. 3 New Zealand — Today at 2 p.m. ET: The self-sufficient Canucks are hoping to return to the World Cup final for the first time since 2014, when they ultimately lost to England. A second-ever championship appearance just might be in the cards considering this is the best team Canada has ever assembled, led by Jill-of-all-trades lock Sophie de Goede.
- Standing in their way are the six-time champion Black Ferns. Known for peaking at the perfect time, New Zealand haven’t lost a World Cup game since 2014, and legendary left wing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will do her darndest to keep it that way.
🏴 No. 1 England vs. 🇫🇷 No. 4 France — Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. ET: Forget the Hundred Years’ War, this is about to be the ultimate battle between the nations. England’s on a mind-boggling 31-match win streak, an unprecedented feat in both women’s and men’s rugby, and will be boosted by the return of World Player of the Year and full back Ellie Kildunne.
- That said, one team has come exceptionally close to snapping the Red Roses’ run: France, who lost to England by one point in April. Led by scrum half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Les Bleues showcased their grit in a comeback quarter-final win. Now, they’re dressing for revenge.
⛵ SailGP is making sustainability competitive
Yes, the Rolex SailGP Championship is a high-stakes battle on the water — but did you know that in SailGP, sustainability is also a competition?
Introducing the Impact League, a season-long intra-league initiative that rewards its 12 international teams for protecting the Earth and making sailing more inclusive.
- Already in its fourth season, the Impact League is pioneering change in the sports industry, inspiring fans to make environmentally conscious choices. Eager to learn more? Check out our editorial on SailGP’s Impact League today.
⚾ MLB: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals — Tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- After suffering two straight losses to the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto’s postseason magic number is stuck at three heading into this three-game road series with the struggling Royals. Some local barbecue sure would be the perfect way to celebrate clinching a playoff spot.
🏃 World Athletics Championship: Men’s 800m final — Tomorrow at 9:22 a.m. ET — CBC
- Reigning world champion, Olympic silver medalist, and soon-to-be birthday boy Marco Arop is in great shape to defend his title after winning his semi with a 1:45.09-second finish in wet conditions yesterday. Cake at the ready.
🏎️ F1: Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sunday at 7 a.m. ET — TSN
- Twelve race wins, seven 1-2 finishes, and a 337-point lead mean McLaren can tie a bow on the World Constructors’ Championship this weekend. The recipe for success? Outscoring second-place Ferrari by nine.
🏈 NFL: Denver Broncos vs. LA Chargers — Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET — TSN
- Early signs point to a changing of the guard in the AFC West. Quarterback Justin Herbert and the undefeated Chargers look like the cream of the crop, but the Broncos’ fierce defense is a force to be reckoned with — and they’re hungry for redemption.
Sports and sustainability don’t always go hand in hand — unless you’re the Rolex SailGP Championship. Here’s how the SailGP Impact League made a difference last season.
- Emirates Great Britain generated 5,636wH of renewable energy, not only powering their team on site, but creating enough energy to fuel their competitors.
- Team USA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshops introduced sailing to 2,000 young people.
- And Spain minimized their carbon footprint. Booyah.
Ready to support the sporting competition that’s protecting our planet? Then tune in to SailGP’s next competition, the two-day spectacle at the Rolex Switzerland Grand Prix, this weekend in Geneva. You can catch all the action on TSN or in the SailGP app.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
🎬 What to watch
A House of Dynamite. WNBA star Angel Reese just made her feature film debut with a surprise cameo in Kathryn Bigelow’s Netflix thriller, sharing the screen with Idris Elba.
✅ Who’s winning SailGP’s Impact League
NorthStar (representing Canada!), but it’s a tight race. Tune in to the Rolex Switzerland Grand Prix today and tomorrow on TSN or on the SailGP app to see who makes the biggest positive environmental impact in Geneva.
📝 What to read
This The Players' Tribune piece by Courtney Williams. The Minnesota Lynx guard writes about her journey to get to where she is today, telling her authentic story without holding back.
Question of the Day
With just four squads remaining in the hunt for the Women’s Rugby World Cup championship, which team do you think will be hoisting the trophy after the September 27th final?
On Wednesday, we asked you your preferred pre-game NFL ritual. 32% voted for donning your lucky jersey, 28% voted for preparing a snack spread, 20% voted for heading to a tailgate, and 20% voted for stretching to get the blood moving.Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, Grace DePaull, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Katie Kehoe Foster. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.