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From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Happy Monday!
This weekend was historic, from the pitch to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to the record-tying fourth (!!!) overtime of a WNBA game. Scroll on to watch it unfold before your very eyes.
FIFA men’s World Cup
⚽ Can Canada kick it? Yes, we can
The GIST: The World Cup (WC) knockout rounds began yesterday when Canada kicked off the Round of 32 with a bit of history — and there’s more to be made as the remaining 30 squads fight for a berth to the Round of 16 today through Friday.
- Unlike last week’s group stage, the tournament is win-or-go-home from here on out, meaning one decision can be the difference between WC glory and a shocking crashout. Can’t wait.
🇨🇦 As you read, CanMNT punched their ticket to the Round of 16 thanks to a stoppage time goal from midfielder Stephen Eustáquio for a 1–0 victory over South Africa yesterday. This marks the first knockout round win for the CanMNT in a tournament that already saw their first WC point, first WC win, and the most goals ever scored by a CONCACAF nation in a single game.
- The importance of this Canadian Heritage Minute can’t be understated (see the jubilant cheers still echoing from coast to coast to coast). The shorthanded squad, who saw Alphonso Davies play his first WC minutes yesterday, were dubbed heroes. If the cleat fits…
🥊Twelve teams are vying today and tomorrow to join Canada in the Round of 16. Here are the games to plan your week around:
- 🇧🇷 Brazil vs. 🇯🇵 Japan — Today at 1 p.m. ET: Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior has been dancing through defenses (and AirPod ads) this tourney, but a disciplined Japanese squad will try to disrupt his rhythm and earn their first-ever WC knockout-round win.
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands vs. 🇲🇦 Morocco — Tonight at 9 p.m. ET: Both the Netherlands and Morocco were pre-tournament contenders to become first-time WC winners. The Oranje offense has impressed thus far, but the Atlas Lions know how to counter a high press.
- 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire vs. 🇳🇴 Norway — Tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET: A rested and ready Norway will try to row their way into the Round of 16, but if Côte d’Ivoire can slow down the tempo, they have the talent to exploit a so-so Norwegian defense on set pieces and counter attacks.
WNBA
🏀 All that glitters
The GIST: The sixth annual Commissioner’s Cup final tips off tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET featuring a pair of perennial juggernauts: the NY Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, who topped the standings after conference group play to punch their tickets. Consider your Tuesday night plans made.
- The in-season tourney’s title tilt doesn’t count towards regular-season records, but the $500K prize pool certainly ups the ante — as does this rivalry’s spicy history.
🗽 Why the Liberty will win: Recency bias. The seafoam superstars earned an 11-point win vs. the Aces just last week, stifling Vegas’ offense for much of the game. Even though the Liberty haven’t had a healthy roster for most of the season, two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart’s proven time and again that she’s all the Big Apple needs.
🃏 Why the Aces will win: Adjustments. Head coach Becky Hammon knew NY’s defense would give Vegas trouble in the rivals’ first battle of 2026 — every shot was a struggle for one of the W’s best three-point shooting teams. Expect the Aces to shoot the ball better and for Hammon’s new and improved gameplan to give four-time MVP A’ja Wilson more space to operate.
🏆 The Cup curse: Since the first Commissioner’s Cup in 2021, only one team has won both the in-season tourney and the league championship in the same season: the 2022 Aces. It’s a small sample size, but it sure seems like a curse similar to the one surrounding the NHL’s President’s Trophy. Is it a Cup or a crystal ball?
🎾 Wimbledon begins in London — will a top women’s player meet the moment?
Tennis’ third major has stymied many of the WTA’s top gals: It’s the only Grand Slam final that world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has not made, while No. 7 Coco Gauff lost in the first round twice in the last three years. Perhaps that’s all the more reason to watch seven-time winner Serena Williams vs. Maya Joint tomorrow at 11:20 a.m. ET.
- As for the men, world No. 1 and defending champ Jannik Sinner is eyeing his second Wimbledon title, especially after struggling with the heat and losing in the second round of May’s French Open. Unfortunately for the Italian, London's temps are trending up.
⛳ World No. 12 Haeran Ryu wins KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, her first major title
For the first time this season, someone other than Nelly Korda is an LPGA major champ. Ryu stormed back from a poor first-round performance in Minnesota, conquering serious wind to walk away with a $1.95M share of the biggest purse in women’s golf history. Get that bag.
🏎️ Mercedes’ George Russell takes checkered flag at Austrian Grand Prix
Russell flipped a controversial pole position into his second race win of the season yesterday, holding off a late surge from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to earn the full 25 points. World Drivers’ Championship leader (and Russell’s teammate) Kimi Antonelli finished third, allowing the prodigious 19-year-old to maintain a 40-point lead over Russell in the season-long title chase. Scintillating stuff.
⚽ Gotham FC downs Kansas City Current 2–0 in NWSL Challenge Cup
The Batties added another trophy to their collection on Friday, defeating the Current in the annual match between the reigning league champs (Gotham) and the Shield winner (Current). Veteran Esther González nailed Gotham’s opening goal from the penalty spot, while rookie Jordynn Dudley put the game away with a second-half solo strike. IG jokes, earned.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, and Rachel Fuenzalida. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Katie Kehoe Foster. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.