Coffee with a side of serotonin
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
And we’re back!
Yes, it’s the start of another work week, but at least you don’t have to do the paperwork for yesterday’s first-ever seven-team NBA trade, a historic deal that officially sends Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Feeling grateful as we scroll through today’s news.
— Kenyan runner Beatrice Chebet, who drew inspiration from her countrywoman, Faith Kipyegon, becoming the first woman to race the 5000m in under 14 minutes during this weekend’s esteemed Prefontaine Classic.
- Oh, and Kipyegon? She did what she does best: break records, erasing her previous 1500m world record with a blazing fast 3:48.68 finish. Blink and you’ll miss ’em.
Women’s Euro
⚽ It’s getting hot in here
The GIST: Wondering just how warm a European summer is? Safe to say it’s the hottest ticket in town after a record-breaking 34,063 fans took in last week’s Women’s Euro opening day (the host nation’s opener) in Switzerland. Here’s to even more golazos as the group stage rolls on.
💪 No. 16 Norway stands alone atop Group A: The Norwegians have a pair of wins under their belt, beating No. 23 Switzerland 2–1 on Wednesday before toppling their nordic neighbor, No. 26 Finland, by the same score yesterday. That’s right, that means Norway’s already punched their quarter-final ticket with one group-stage game to go. Chalk it up to Scandinavian efficiency.
📜 Group B and C sticking to the script: The top two seeds in Group B, No. 2 Spain and No. 13 Italy, secured wins in their opening tilts last Thursday — La Roja cruised past No. 22 Portugal 5–0 while Le Azzurre one-upped No. 20 Belgium 1–0.
- There also weren’t any surprises in Group C, where the 2022 runners-up, No. 3 Germany, topped No. 27 Poland 2–0 and No. 6 Sweden beat forever foe No. 12 Denmark 1–0. Will that same formula be followed today and tomorrow?
☠️ The Group of (D)eath lives up to its name: One match in and Group D, featuring No. 5 England, No. 10 France, No. 11 Netherlands, and No. 30 Wales, is already causing a raucous. The Lionesses became the first reigning champ to lose a Euros opener, falling 2–1 to the French on Saturday. And the chaos has only just begun.
WNBA
🏀 Well that ain’t it
The GIST: With the WNBA All-Star reserves announced, the stage is set for the league’s first-ever All-Star draft tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — but as some stars align, other W news isn’t nearly as shiny. Let’s dig in.
❌ Players’ Association rejects league’s initial CBA proposal: The league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations with the Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association (WNBPA) are off to a rough start — at least according to the players.
- WNBPA president and Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike laid out the players’ union’s goals ahead of the season start, including things like revenue sharing and increased roster sizes, but players felt the initial proposal from the league wasn’t “entirely responsive.”
- Thanks to the women’s hoops boom, players have unprecedented leverage, and they’re pulling out all the stops to secure their piece of the ever-growing pie. It’s only the first round of negotiations, but with a lockout on the table at season’s end, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
🗽 NY Liberty continue to struggle: Back on the court, the defending champs are really missing Jonquel Jones after losing five of their last seven games since the reigning Finals MVP was sidelined with an ankle injury. Their most recent L? Yesterday’s 79–70 loss to the Seattle Storm, which was due in large part to an abysmal third quarter where the Libs managed just six points.
- Things couldn’t be more different for last year’s runners-up, the Minnesota Lynx, who earned two dubs over the weekend, bringing their home record to a perfect 11-0. The last five teams to start 10-0 at home? They finished the season as league champs. Add it to the list.
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays win eight in a row, soar to top of American League (AL) East standings
Two sweeps (including one over a divisional foe, the NY Yankees), lights-out pitching, and some timely hitting later, the Jays find themselves alone at the top of the AL East. And while their All-Stars have certainly played a role, this hot streak has been a true team effort.
- Can they keep making the dream work? Sure seems like it as the blue birds hit the road to face the lowly Chicago White Sox for three games starting tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET.
🎾 Round of 16 action continues at Wimbledon
As upsets abound, quarter-final tickets are on the line in today’s stacked slate. Highlights include No. 6 Novak Djokovic’s continued quest for history against No. 11 Alex de Minaur at 8:30 a.m. ET before American No. 10 Ben Shelton, who already logged a brotherly win this week, serves for another against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego later today.
- As for the gals: No. 10 Emma Navarro will take on No. 7 Mirra Andreeva while No. 8 Iga Świątek faces No. 23 Clara Tauson today. All tennis, all the time.
🏎️ McLaren’s Lando Norris tops the podium at British Grand Prix
Chaos reigned supreme at Silverstone yesterday, but when the dust settled, Norris came away with his first win at his home circuit and fourth race win of the season. It didn’t come easy though: He capitalized on a 10-second penalty handed to teammate Oscar Piastri, beating the World Drivers’ Championship leader by six seconds on a rain-soaked Sunday.
- The best story of the day, though, was Kick Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, who finished third for his first career podium finish, a prize 15 years and an F1-record 239 races in the making. Consider the onions cut.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
⛵ What’s leveling the playing field
The Rolex SailGP Championship, the world’s leading sailing series featuring 12 co-ed (!!!) national teams competing on unpredictable international waters. All aboard.*
🏀 Who to know
Queer Van Hoops, Vancouver’s first queer basketball league — they're all about equity, vibes, and fun for every baller.
👖 Where to shop
UPRS, the genderless drop made from booth scraps. The LA brand’s new upcycled line is bold, sustainable, and already worn courtside by the Indiana Fever's Sydney Colson.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Sail away.Question of the Day
As the summer rolls on, what’s been your favorite thing to do this sunny season? Take your pick from the list below or reply to this email and let us know what’s been keeping you busy.
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