When you know, you know
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Happy hump day!
It’s certainly a joyous one for Vancouver Rise FC, who topped Ottawa Rapid FC 2–1 in the first leg of their Northern Super League (NSL) semifinal last night. Let the chase for the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup continue as we kick around more of today’s news.
— Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, during yesterday’s appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. From her spirit tunnel walk to her sentiments, the Las Vegas Aces star remains undefeated.
Rivalry Series
🏆 No love lost
The GIST: Buckle up, because the Team Canada vs. Team USA Rivalry Series is so back, with the sixth edition of the annual exhibition matchup beginning tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — it’s a thrilling dose of women’s hockey before the PWHL season starts on November 21st.
- What’s more, the series marks the final time the two powerhouses will meet before the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, adding extra spice to this already-heated showdown.
⚙️ How it works: This year’s Rivalry Series is an Olympic tuneup edition, shortened to four games (down from five in 2024-25 and seven in 2023-24) due in part to scheduling conflicts with the upcoming Games.
- The U.S. will host the first two meetings of this “friendly” competition: Game 1 tomorrow in Cleveland, Ohio, and Game 2 on Saturday in Buffalo, New York. The series then resumes in Canada next month, with games in Edmonton on December 10th and 13th.
- As the only two women’s hockey teams to ever win Olympic gold, it’s always feisty when these fierce foes compete. And the stakes are only higher this time around with players hoping to earn a place on their respective 23-member Olympic rosters. *gulp*
🇨🇦 Team Canada features both veterans and newcomers in chemistry test: There are plenty of familiar names on the red and white’s roster, including Captain Clutch Marie-Philip Poulin and forward Sarah Nurse. One rookie to watch? Eighteen-year-old defender Chloe Primerano, who could be the youngest player to make the Canadian Olympic squad since Poulin in 2010.
🇺🇸 Team USA boasts 13 Olympic vets, plus eight NCAA players: The Americans are in similar territory, pairing the legendary Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield with newbies. Among them: defender Laila Edwards, who’d be the first Black woman to play hockey for Team USA at an Olympics if she makes the 2026 roster. Drop — and we cannot stress this enough — that puck.
🏈 NY Jets deal two superstars at yesterday’s NFL trade deadline
The trade deadline is an annual reminder of the league’s haves and have-nots: Contenders add players to bolster championship runs, while bottom-feeders look to swap big names for draft picks. And the 1-7 Jets are certainly the latter, dealing All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys and two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts.
- On the flipside, a few players surprisingly weren’t moved at the 4 p.m. ET cutoff, including one of the Jets’ biggest assets, running back Breece Hall, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who’s still with his 3-6 Cincinnati Bengals. Interesting.
🏀 Sandy Brondello officially announced as Toronto Tempo head coach (HC)
A two-time WNBA champion, Brondello garnered plenty of interest across the league. The former NY Liberty HC, who was instrumental in bringing the city its first title in 2024, reportedly received offers from both the Seattle Storm and Dallas Wings, one of which was for more than the deal she inked with Toronto.
- So why the 2026 expansion squad Tempo? In yesterday’s press conference, Brondello shared her excitement about “[building] a team from the ground up,” especially after hitting it off with Toronto general manager Monica Wright Rogers. When you know, you know.
- Brondello’s hiring started a domino effect: The Storm and Wings signed Sonia Raman and Jose Fernanadez, respectively, shortly after. The only W team still without a bench boss? Brondello’s former squad, the Liberty.
🎓🏈 Ohio State tops first College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings release
The CFP selection committee dropped the first of five weekly vibe checks last night, giving fans insight as to who would make the convoluted 12-team national championship bracket…if the regular season ended today.
- While these rankings (which are notably different from the primary weekly ranking system, the AP Poll) don’t have any real impact until the December 7th CFP selection show, they do indicate which teams have must-watch status in the regular season’s final month.
- Surprising no one, the undefeated No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes lead the pack. On the bubble? Memphis, who didn’t land in the CFP committee’s top 25 but hopes to be the token champ from a non–Power Four conference. Time to lock in.
The GIST's NFL Pick'em Challenge
🚨 Double the prizes. Same two minutes to play. To honor the second half of the NFL season, we’re going double or nothing for our free-to-play NFL Pick’em Challenge.
- Starting this week, we’re doubling up our weekly prize, rewarding each week’s winner with $200 in swag from The GIST for the remainder of the regular season.
- ICYMI, this isn’t your brother’s fantasy football league. Forget the spreadsheets and the stress — all you have to do is pick who will win each of Week 10’s 14 matchups. Just like Gary, who topped the leaderboard last week.
⏰ The clock’s ticking. Picks close tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET, right before kickoff between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos. Don’t just sit on the couch this NFL season…win from it.
🏒 NHL: St. Louis Blues vs. Washington Capitals — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has been putting the O-V in overachiever since he took the league by storm back in 2005. Now, he’s on the cusp of yet another historic moment, just one goal away from becoming the first player in NHL history to score 900 career goals.
🏀 NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. LA Lakers — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — TSN
- Both LA’s Luka Dončić and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama are appointment viewing, so when they’re on the hardwood together, consider it a two birds-one stone situation. Yes, it’s a late tipoff, but splurge on an afternoon java — trust us.
🏈 NFL: Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN
- Raiders superstar tight end Brock Bowers is back like he never left, returning from injury and racking up 127 receiving yards and three touchdowns last week. See if the All-Pro can replicate it against a short-handed Broncos defense.
Take Your Pick
Las Vegas Raiders
Denver Broncos
As you read, an AFC West showdown opens up the Week 10 NFL slate. Will the division-leading Broncos cruise to a dub, or will the last-place Raiders shock the Mile High City on Thursday Night Football?
Sierra Madre Terry Cloth dress
Women are hitting the golf course more than ever before — and now, they can do it in style.
“Check on your teammates” shirt
Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown collaborated with Peace Collective for this lovely drop, with a percentage of each sale going towards mental health research.
Hot Girls Date Girls hat
This one needs no explainer — plus, it was created by The GIST’s very own senior growth marketer, McKenzie Bolden.
Off Season rugby t-shirt
NFL WAG Kristin Juszczyk’s sporty fashion brand offers the perfect blend of fandom and feminine style.
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