Ain’t afraid of no ghost
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Halloween!
Today’s not just the pinnacle of spooky season — it’s also the start of a jam-packed sports weekend, including the TGC New York City Marathon. Keep an eye out for our associate managing editor, Lauren, on the course — and for a running-themed Group Chat in your inbox on Sunday. But first, it’s (almost) trophy time…
— WNBA legend Elena Delle Donne, celebrating her fellow inductees to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, three-time champ Candace Parker and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.
👀 By the way, today was the first official deadline for a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement, but the league and players association agreed to a 30-day extension to continue negotiations. Not done yet.
World Series
⚾ Ain’t afraid of no ghost
The GIST: Just like that, the Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from their first World Series pennant since 1993, opening up a 3-2 series lead over the juggernaut LA Dodgers with Wednesday’s convincing 6–1 Game 5 win.
- Let’s separate the tricks from the treats: Can the Jays clinch the title at home tonight at 8 p.m. ET, or will the Dodgers force a championship-deciding Game 7 tomorrow at the same time? Trade your candy for Cracker Jacks, let’s dig into each team’s keys to victory.
🐦 Blue Jays’ bats have been red-hot: This group of uncommon men is powered by more than friendship — their offense has been lights-out this postseason. The Jays have outscored LA by 11 runs in the World Series, fueled by ALCS MVP Vladdy Guerrero Jr., who’s crushed a franchise-record eight postseason homers. Worth every penny.
- But they weren’t able to figure out Dodgers hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who limited the blue birds to just one run in Game 2 while pitching a complete game — his second of the postseason. Notably, the Japanese superstar is back on the mound in Game 6.
💙 Dodgers need a wake-up call: Speaking of silenced bats, LA’s offense is struggling. One of MLB’s most intimidating (and expensive) rosters has managed just 37 hits in five games compared to the Jays’ 53, and they’ll be up against one of Toronto’s best pitchers, Kevin Gausman, in Game 6. On the brink of elimination, Yamamoto’s arm won’t be enough — run support is non-negotiable.
☝️ One more thing: What Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage has done this postseason is simply spectacular, from his record-breaking 12 strikeouts in Game 5 to the fact that the sport’s most elite hitters — Dodger Shohei Ohtani, Seattle Mariner Cal Raleigh, and NY Yankee Aaron Judge — are a combined 0-for-10 against the 22-year-old.
- Yesavage’s journey this year is even more mind-boggling: He started the season in the minor leagues’ lowest level. Called up to the majors last month, he's made more big-league starts in the playoffs (five) than in the regular season (three). And that’s how legends are made.
🇨🇦 No. 9 CanWNT suffers third straight friendly loss
The red and white’s European tour did not go as planned — the gals fell 1–0 to No. 11 Netherlands on Tuesday, a frustrating result given that CanWNT’s two second-half goals were both ruled offside. Head coach Casey Stoney did not mince words after the L, imploring her team to step up before facing No. 8 Japan twice next month.
🏆 The quest for the Northern Super League (NSL) Diana B. Matheson Cup begins
History will be made tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET, when the No. 4 seed Montréal Roses host top-seed AFC Toronto in the first-ever NSL playoff game. This is the first leg of the two-match semifinal series — these squads will play a second semi game next week, with the aggregate winner advancing to the November 15th NSL Final.
- Our prediction? It’s going to be close. Montréal’s outstanding defense, anchored by Stéphanie Hill, has thwarted Toronto twice this season, but Toronto’s well-orchestrated attack is tough to beat, thanks to Midfielder of the Year Emma Regan.
🌪️ MLS Cup playoffs in a frenzy, with seven Round One games on deck
The extra-long MLS postseason is underway, with 16 teams in contention across the Eastern and Western Conferences. If you only watch one match, make it the No. 2 seed Vancouver Whitecaps vs. No. 7 FC Dallas, the second battle in the best-of-three series, tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET — a Vancouver win clinches their Round 2 berth.
😱 NWSL Decision Day promises chaos with all 14 teams in action
Sunday is Decision Day, the NWSL regular-season finale where almost every team plays at the exact same time, making it near-impossible for squads to know where they stand in the playoff field while competing. Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- Seven clubs have clinched a playoff spot, so only one ticket to the eight-team postseason remains. It will either go to Racing Louisville or the North Carolina Courage — Louisville is in with an outright win, while NC needs a dub and some help to advance.
- But while seven spots have been decided, seeding is still up in the air for every team except the top-dog Kansas City Current and the No. 2 seed Washington Spirit. So much to play for.
Together With CIBC
⭐ Championing the ambitions of changemakers: Fitriya Mohamed
If you can see it, you can be it. That’s why Fitriya Mohamed founded the Muslim Women’s Summer Basketball League (MWSBL), a nonprofit in Toronto committed to challenging stereotypes and uniting Muslim women and allies through sport — one game, skills session, and youth leadership program at a time.
✨ The support: CIBC and The GIST are all about making sports more inclusive and accessible for all, so choosing Mohamed was a no-brainer as she continues to champion unity through hoops.
🤝 The game plan: Based in the GTA, Mohamed’s ambition is rooted in amplification with hopes of turning this grassroots movement into a national force that redefines representation for Canadians from coast to coast.
🏀 NBA Cup: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — TSN
- Men in women-dominated fields? We love to see it — and that includes the NBA Cup, modeled after the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup. With the group stage tipping off tonight and over $500K on the line for each player, early season hoops has never been so thrilling.
🇨🇦🏈 CFL: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montréal Alouettes — Tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET — TSN
- While the league’s top two seeds wait in the wings, the postseason kicks off with a spicy doubleheader. This is the first game on the docket, and history is on the Alouettes’ side: Quarterback (QB) Davis Alexander is 11-0 in his CFL career. All he does is win…literally.
🏈 NFL: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs — Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET — DAZN
- Do you believe in magic? You should, because this game features two of the most entertaining QBs to ever hit the gridiron: the Bills’ Josh Allen and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. Unlike last night, this tilt has late-game drama written all over it.
Together With Canadian Women & Sport
🚀 The Canadian pro women’s sports market hit the turbo button. According to Canadian Women & Sport’s latest It’s Time report, the market’s now valued at nearly $400M and climbing towards $570M by 2030 — and with every fan, athlete, and headline, that momentum only multiplies.
🗺️ It’s not background noise: It’s a full‑throttle cultural shift that’s redrawing the map of Canadian sports.
- Want the blueprint? Download the It’s Time report to see the data, insights, and projections fueling the women’s sports revolution in Canada.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
🍁 How to sit between the benches at Scotiabank Arena
By entering PROLINE’s Most Interesting Seats in the House contest. You literally cannot buy seats this close to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Drop the puck on your exclusive era by shooting for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.*
👗 Who to know
Kalani Bagsby. Dating Dallas Cowboys player Tyler Booker, Bagsby received online hate for her appearance. Now, she is using her custom gameday fashion to promote a more body-positive approach and dreams of starting her own plus-size NFL fashion brand.
🏎️ What to read
0.00, George Russell’s piece in The Player’s Tribune. The Mercedes Formula One driver writes an emotional reflection on his father's sacrifices, revealing that his dad spent over a million pounds and sold his business to fund his racing career, crediting his father's toughness for setting him up for life in F1.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Puck yeah.Question of the Day
Now that you’re primed for tonight’s high-stakes World Series clash between the Toronto Blue Jays and LA Dodgers, what do you think will happen in the game?
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