No sleep, coffee, latte, another coffee
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)

Leveling The Playing Field
Up and at ’em!
No sleeping in on your extra day off — there’s way too much to catch up on after a jam-packed sports weekend. Pour yourself a coffee and buckle up, babe.


— Chicago Stars standout Mallory Swanson, who returned to the pitch on Saturday for the first time since giving birth to her daughter Josie in November. What can’t moms do?

🏒 PWHL: Montréal Victoire vs. Ottawa Charge — Tonight at 6 p.m. ET — TSN
- The Victoire (up 2-0) are just one win away from hoisting the franchise’s first-ever Walter Cup, but sweeping the Charge in this best-of-five set won’t be easy — Ottawa’s undefeated at home this postseason and desperate for a dub.
🏒 NHL: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- The Sabres rallied for an 8–3 Game 6 victory on Saturday to keep their playoff hopes alive and force Game 7 in this conference semifinal, but the youth-powered Habs have seen this film before: They’ve already stolen one series-deciding win on the road this postseason.
🏀 NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder — Tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- OKC superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a two-time MVP, becoming the first Canadian to win back-to-back since a little someone named Steve Nash. Now, SGA’s Thunder host the hooper coming for his crown next year — Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama — in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
🏀 NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. NY Knicks — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — TSN
- There’s no rest for the Cavs after last night’s lopsided Game 7 win because the Eastern Conference Finals begin in earnest tomorrow. On the flip side, the Knicks haven’t played high-stakes hoops in seven days: Will that well-earned break leave them rusty or refreshed?
WNBA
🏀 Hot takes only

The GIST: Nearly two weeks in, this WNBA season is already a parity party. In fact, no undefeated teams remain. There’s still plenty of hoops to be played, but here’s our unofficial power rankings heading into Week 3, plus one lingering question.
- No, the Toronto Tempo didn’t crack our top three (despite being No. 1 in our hearts). That said, they are blossoming this spring, earning a 106–96 bounceback win over the LA Sparks last night behind a career-high 38 points from Brittney Sykes. Keeping, ahem, pace.
🥇 Las Vegas Aces: After an inauspicious season opener, the Aces have returned to form: They’ve rattled off four straight wins, the most impressive coming yesterday when they held off the Atlanta Dream’s fourth-quarter surge for an 85–84 W. And that’s on a good education.
🥈 Atlanta Dream: Yesterday’s nail-biting loss was the Dream’s first, but it reiterated that this team is one of the W’s deepest. Certified bucket Allisha Gray is averaging an impressive 25 points per game, and her supporting cast of Angel Reese, Jordin Canada, and Te-Hina Paopao is top-tier, too.
🥉 Golden State Valkyries: Yes, the Valks’ only loss was ugly. That blip aside, this team has shown it can score. Already a defensive juggernaut with Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams, they’ve put up at least 90 points in two of three games, a feat they managed just six times total in 2025.
☝️ One lingering question — are the Washington Mystics legit?: The youngest team in the league is red-hot after beating the title-contending Indiana Fever Friday and taking the NY Liberty to overtime last Sunday. The ’Stics’ roster averages less than a year of W experience, but that hasn’t fazed them.
- Their early success can be traced to their do-it-all trio — 25-year-old Shakira Austin and second-year stars Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. The next test awaits tonight at 8 p.m. ET vs. another youth-driven offense in the Paige Bueckers–led Dallas Wings. Buckets, loading.
🏒 PWHL Detroit taps trailblazer Manon Rhéaume as general manager (GM)
Legendary tendy Rhéaume, the first woman to ever play in an NHL exhibition game, is taking her talents to Motor City after four years with the LA Kings’ front office. But that’s not all: Industry vet Dominique DiDia will take the reins at fellow expansion squad Las Vegas, which means eight of the league’s 10 filled GM positions are held by women. Score.
⛳ World No. 44 Aaron Rai pulls off stunning PGA Championship win
On a Sunday where a whopping 24 players (!!!) were within four shots of the lead, the Englishman most famous for playing with two black gloves executed a masterful final round of golf, winning his first major and only second PGA Tour victory. Now that’s how you handle Aronimink.
🎾 World No. 1 Jannik Sinner becomes first Italian to win Italian Open in 50 years
Can anyone stop Sinner? Doesn’t seem like it. He dominated on the clay courts in Rome and, with archrival No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by a wrist injury, the Italian looks more likely than ever to complete the career Grand Slam at the upcoming French Open.
- Meanwhile, No. 4 Coco Gauff lost her second straight Italian Open final on Saturday, losing to No. 7 Elina Svitolina in three sets. Hard-fought.
⚾ Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ends home run slump in series-clinching win over Detroit Tigers
For the first time since April 20th, Vladdy knocked it out of the park, nailing his third home run of the season in yesterday’s 4–1 win. As the Jays head east for their four-game road series against their American League East foe, the NY Yankees, injured pitcher José Berríos is prepping for elbow surgery on Wednesday. Ouch.
Together With BrainStation

🧠 While some of Toronto’s best athletes put in work just down the street at Rogers Centre, consider BrainStation your personal training ground. They offer hands-on workshops to build real-world skills across AI, Product, Marketing, Design, and Data.
- 📍 Coming up IRL on May 28th, join Brainstation at their convenient Front Street location for their Tech After Hours event. Pull up for an evening of connecting, sharing ideas, and dreaming up what’s next.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Grace DePaull, Charlotte Mackenzie, and Caroline Price. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.

