The phone case seen ’round the world
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)

Hi there!
After a tense and troubling weekend — both in and outside of the sports world — we hope today’s newsletter can help start your day off with a few minutes of joy. Thanks for scrolling with us.


— Azzi Fudd’s phone case, serving up a Pride Month tease as internet rumors continue to swirl about her and her former UConn women’s basketball teammate. Breaking the internet, one mirror selfie at a time.
NBA
🏆 Best is best

The GIST: For the seventh straight season, there wasn’t a repeat NBA champ — and this year, the confetti fell on the Oklahoma City Thunder, who pummeled the Indiana Pacers 103–91 in last night’s Game 7, capping off a storybook postseason. Clear proof that it pays to be prepared.
⛈️ Thunder cement legacy after historic season: The league’s most dominant team won the franchise’s second title (and first in OKC) in convincing fashion, using a 19–2 second-half run to pull away from the resilient Pacers. The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up a 29-point, 12-assist masterclass, earning him Finals MVP honors and putting him in elite company.
- With four seven-game sets these playoffs (one shy of the NBA record), hoops fans were treated to countless heart-stopping moments, but Indy’s Tyrese Haliburton, who left the game with an Achilles injury in the first quarter, authored many of them. Wishing him the best.
🤪 An offseason of chaos has already begun: Nothing could overshadow OKC’s championship win — but the newest Houston Rocket sure tried. A blockbuster deal went down hours before tipoff, with 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant swapping his Phoenix Suns threads for Rocket red in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a plethora of draft picks.
- And there’s more pandemonium on the docket: Longtime Milwaukee Buck Giannis Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh) is reportedly on the hunt for a new team alongside an absolutely stacked free agent class.
- In addition to the impending free agent frenzy, there’s also Wednesday’s entry draft, where generational talent Cooper Flagg is expected to go first overall to the Dallas Mavericks. The season may be over, but the high-stakes hoopla is only just beginning…
LPGA
⛳ Cool as a cucumber

The GIST: Putters were broken, and patience was tested at this weekend’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the third major of five on the LPGA calendar — but none of that fazed World No. 24 Minjee Lee: The Australian cruised through the competition to win her third career major.
🏌️♀️ Lee’s third-round excellence was the difference maker: The entire weekend proved grueling for the world’s best, but Saturday was particularly challenging as wind gusts, rising temps, and diabolical hole locations wreaked havoc on the leaderboard. In fact, rounds took a mind-boggling six hours that day, far surpassing the LPGA season average of 4 hours and 40 minutes.
- But that was when Lee made her money: She posted a 69, aka three under par, in the third round, beating the day’s average score by an incredible seven strokes to open a massive lead she wouldn’t relinquish. Pressure? What pressure?
⚖️ Did somebody say parity?: While 2024 was the (world No. 1 American) Nelly Korda show, 2025 has been all about the ensemble. Each of the 16 events so far this season has featured a different winner, a stark contrast to last year, when Korda hoisted six of her seven trophies before June, and another six players took home multiple event titles before season’s end.
- It’s the first time the LPGA’s gone this far into a season without a repeat winner — and Korda hasn’t even won an event yet. With 17 tournaments still to play, will this parity par-tee continue? Watch this space.
Together With McLaren and Mastercard

Have you tried explaining a race weekend to your bestie, only to get a blank stare? That checks out because everyone has different passions — and Mastercard’s all about bringing you closer to yours, whether it’s on the race track, in the kitchen, or around the world.
🧡 But if you are a racing enthusiast, you’ll love how Mastercard opened the door for lucky fans to experience the firsthand thrills of motorsport at an exclusive Mastercard Ultimate McLaren Formula 1 Team Fan Experience in Montréal on June 11th.
👀 That’s right, Mastercard provides cardholders with unique access to extraordinary experiences, including exclusive events at Canada’s race weekend in Montréal.
🌎 Check out Priceless.com for more exclusive events around the world for Mastercard cardholders. Priceless, indeed.
PWHL
🏒 Bloom where you’re planted drafted

The GIST: The PWHL stays busy, with the entry draft set for tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET in Ottawa. Not to be confused with the expansion draft, where PWHL Vancouver and Seattle started filling out their rosters with current PWHL players earlier this month, the entry draft is a chance for all eight teams to add to their roster. Here’s what you need to know before the first pick is in.
⚙️ How it works: The league released its draft eligibility list in May, featuring 199 players from 15 countries. However, only 48 hopefuls will be selected tomorrow, with six rounds on deck and each team choosing one player per round.
- As determined by the league’s “Gold Plan,” the order is as follows: The NY Sirens will choose first, followed by the Boston Fleet, Toronto Sceptres, Montréal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, reigning champion Minnesota Frost, PWHL Vancouver, and PWHL Seattle.
👀 Players to know: The majority of incoming PWHL players come through the NCAA pipeline, like Colgate’s Kristýna Kaltounková, an elite goal scorer whose game has been compared to the legendary Marie-Philip Poulin’s.
- And then there’s Wisconsin forward Casey O’Brien, who just won the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the best college women’s hockey player. Sirens, you’re on the clock.
Together With Truly Hard Seltzer

👋 Allow us to introduce you to Joe Fornasier, a member of Canada’s national blind hockey team and Canada’s Next Great Hockey Creator, sponsored by Truly Hard Seltzer.
- Joe’s barrier-breaking videos prove that hockey truly is for everyone, which is why Truly sent him to the 2025 Stanley Cup® Final to capture content and highlight the game’s underrepresented fans. Yes, please.
- Smash that follow button to catch all of Joe’s adventures with Truly, including his own escapades on the ice. Sip, sip, hooray.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
💪 What to check out
Norba, an activewear brand made to fit into your daily routine. Think dressy but comfortable, feminine but functional.
🖥️ Who to follow
Kate Weinberg. The Bay Area graphic designer’s Olympics-inspired gear went viral and there's even more cool designs where that came from.
🤠 What to shop
LoveShackFancy’s collab with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The America’s Sweetheart Cotton Collection is serving soft cotton, feminine flair, and limited-edition vibes.
Question of the Day
Summer is officially here, meaning it’s the perfect time to hit the fairways for some fun in the sun. We want to know: Will you be playing golf this summer? Fore!
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 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.