Hand up if you miss bagged salads
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
It’s the weekend!
And it’s not just any weekend: SHE Weekend, our four-day party in collaboration with Flavor Flav, kicked off with last night’s parade and concert celebrating female Olympians and Paralympians. The festivities continue throughout the weekend — follow along on social for all the fun.
- Oh yeah, and it’s FIFA men’s World Cup championship weekend, with reigning champs Argentina set to take on Spain Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. A special edition preview of the on-field action, a round-up of the top cultural moments, and watch parties? We have you covered.
Formula 1
🏎️ Faster than fast
The GIST: Fasten your seatbelt because it’s nearly time for Sunday’s 9 a.m. ET Belgian Grand Prix (GP), the 10th of 22 races on this year’s Formula 1 calendar. The skies look abnormally clear at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, but the season-long championship is anything but.
🏆 The World Drivers’ Championship race: Motorsports’ most prestigious individual honor is anyone’s for the taking. Though Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have won seven of the season’s nine races, recurring mechanical failures left crucial points on the table — and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc capitalized, winning two of the last three GPs between them.
- That’s just the tip of the parity iceberg: McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and four-time champ Red Bull’s Max Verstappen are hot on their heels. This year’s regulations have been controversial, but it’s also the most competitive season since 2012.
🇧🇪 What to expect in Spa: Belgium’s iconic track has seen some of the most chaotic and dangerous racing in F1 history. At nearly four-and-a-half miles, it’s the season’s longest lap. And while these signature long laps and high-speed corners typically provide thrilling racing, the new regulations (which require drivers to be more strategic about their battery deployment) have many perturbed.
- In the name of sustainability, half the car’s power is now electric. Drivers have historically been rewarded for being brave (like braking late into a corner); now, passing another car depends mostly on when a driver deploys their limited battery power. Decisions, decisions.
Together With Dove
❤️ More joy in sport, always
⚽️ Did you know that one in two girls who quit sports are criticized for their body type? Instead of letting those negative voices impact girls’ experiences in sports, Dove is changing the game by amplifying joy.
- As an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Dove is launching #TheGameIsOurs, a campaign proving that the confidence, sisterhood, and joy girls gain from sports are far more powerful than the naysayers trying to take them down. Who run the world?
WNBA
🏀 Pinkies up
The GIST: T-minus seven days until the WNBA’s All-Star festivities tip off — but there’s never a shortage of storylines to discuss from the hardwood. While we patiently wait for the stars to align in Chicago, here are some must-know headlines from the spiciest league in sports.
⭐ WNBA icons Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted their All-Star rosters on Wednesday, and to the surprise of absolutely no one Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson was the first overall pick after averaging a league-leading 25.5 points per game so far.
- ICYMI, the W didn’t have player captains pick teams this season, instead opting to assign the top-two vote earners — Dallas Wings playmaker Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark — to Team Coop and Team Spoon, respectively.
👏 All the Golden State Valkyries do is win. The Valks haven’t lost a game in nearly a month, recording their franchise-record eighth straight victory with Wednesday’s 88–75 win over the Fever. Six players contributed double-digit points — teamwork is making the dream work in Ballhalla.
- We’d be remiss not to mention the “no call” that’s dominating headlines, the latest in a series of incidents where the aforementioned Clark has taken issue with how she’s officiated.
✈️ Last night’s tilt between the NY Liberty and Wings was postponed to Monday after the Liberty sat on the tarmac for 12 hours (yes, seriously), leaving just one game on the docket, a 75–56 Portland Fire win over the Washington Mystics.
👟 Back at home, the Toronto Tempo will be dressing for revenge when they host the Atlanta Dream tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tempo All-Star Marina Mabrey struggled in the Six’s most recent outing, so expect her to come out firing tonight. Buckets on buckets.
Together With Dove
⚽️ Da real MVP? Your authentic self. As an Official Sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026™, Dove is helping girls feel empowered to show up as themselves in the sports they love.
- ❤️ Through the Dove Body Confident Sport Program, they provide free, research-backed tools designed to help girls build body confidence.
- 💪 And as the world’s largest provider of self-esteem education, Dove knows confidence is key to a young athlete’s future. Talk about girl power.
⚽ Canada Soccer announces new women’s national competition
Say hello to the W Canadian Championship, a new competition where the winner will represent Canada in the 2027 Concacaf W Champions Cup and potentially the 2028 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. Starting in August and running into the new year, the contest features eight clubs, including all six from the NSL. Turns out summer of soccer was just the beginning.
- Speaking of, all eyes were on NYC on Wednesday as the NWSL’s Gotham FC downed the Washington Spirit 1–0 and broke the city’s record for largest crowd at a women’s sporting event. The 42,175 fans were also treated to the return of Australian legend Sam Kerr. Epic.
⚾ Second half of MLB season begins amid CBA negotiation tension
The All-Star break is in the rearview mirror, regular-season action has already resumed, and the march toward October baseball is on. The weekend slate is a good one, highlighted by a three-game set between two postseason mainstays: the reigning World Series champion LA Dodgers and NY Yankees, featuring All-Star Game MVP Cody Bellinger. First pitch is tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET.
- And while there’s plenty to watch in the short term, conversations are already swirling about the future. MLB and the MLBPA remain far apart on key issues with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of the 2026 season. *gulps*
⛳ American Jackson Suber tops leaderboard in first Open appearance
Despite having zero links experience before Monday, 26-year-old world No. 115 Jackson Suber sits alone atop the British Open leaderboard, buoyed by a stunning eagle on the 17th hole yesterday. Defending champ No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is within striking distance of Suber after a solid round, while the heat and tricky conditions got the best of No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who’s tied for 85th.
🏀 Kawhi Leonard trade on hold amid ongoing investigation
Drama abounds this offseason as the league’s investigation into current LA Clipper and soon-to-be Toronto Raptor Kawhi Leonard continues. Commissioner Adam Silver expects the probe to wrap up “this summer.” The league office almost certainly has time to spare since they won’t be expelling energy punishing the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo for punching former teammate Tyler Herro.
- As for the King of drama himself, LeBron James reportedly “won’t hold [us] up too much longer” when it comes to his free agency decision. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is keeping his cards close to his chest — or is he?
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Lauren Tuiskula. Fact-checking by Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.