Is this the end?
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Wednesday!
And happy NFL schedule release eve. The administrative task has become an event in and of itself as teams get creative with their announcements, pulling in unsuspecting fans, roasting their opponents, and beyond. Can’t wait to see what they have cooking this year — for now, let’s sports.
— Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson, celebrating self-love on the cover of Vanity Fair. Another day, another slay from the four-time MVP.
PWHL
🏒 The winner takes it all
The GIST: The Justin Bieber Hallelujah magic came through last night because there’s an All-Canadian team PWHL final on deck, beginning tomorrow. Hold onto your Timbits — here’s how it happened.
🎉 Montréal Victoire end top-seed curse, eliminate Minnesota Frost in Game 5: The stomach bug was no match for this squad. For the first time in PWHL history, the No. 1 seed will compete for the Walter Cup. Montréal topped two-time defending champ Minnesota 2–1 last night behind stellar goaltending from Ann-Renée Desbiens and a game-winning goal from who else but Captain Clutch herself, Marie-Philip Poulin.
- Their reward? A best-of-five Finals series against the Ottawa Charge, who the Victoire beat three of four times this season. Prepare for a fierce goalie battle between Desbiens and Charge netminder Gwyneth Philips when the puck drops at 7 p.m. ET. The NHL could never.
✌️ Two more things: The PWHL’s 10th team will reportedly be announced this afternoon and Las Vegas seems to be the big winner despite never hosting a Takeover Tour game, one of the league’s methods to test potential expansion locations. Talk about a gamble.
- In news we can confirm, the June 17th PWHL Draft will feature the biggest player pool ever, with 235 players (including 23 Milano Cortina Olympians) declaring, including presumptive No. 1 pick Caroline “KK” Harvey plus 39-year-old retired Olympian Meghan Agosta, Team Canada’s leading scorer at the 2010 Games. Never too late to chase your dreams.
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👀 If we’ve learned anything from a certain heated rivalry, it’s that hockey can actually be…romantic. But not all of us are planning date night days in advance. Sometimes it’s already gameday when an idea strikes.
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🏒 Buffalo Sabres steal pivotal Game 4 win on the road
While the Carolina Hurricanes look on, the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens (tied 2-2) remain locked in a feisty affair that seems destined for seven games. The heated rivals have traded literal and metaphorical blows through the first four games, including in last night’s 3–2 Buffalo win. Expect more of the same in Game 5 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.
- As for last night’s late game, Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev lit the lamp twice — including the game-winning goal in overtime — to seal his squad’s 3–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Vegas (up 3-2) will shoot for the series win tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Elsewhere, Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon sacrificed his face for the cause, leading the Avs to a 5–2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. Colorado now boasts a commanding 3-1 series lead ahead of tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5.
🏀 LA Lakers superstar LeBron James mulls retirement after suffering second-round sweep
The shorthanded Lakers were swept by the defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder after Monday’s 115–110 loss. Now, all eyes are on the 41-year-old’s uncertain future. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James capped off his 23rd season with a 24-point double-double, a testament to his unprecedented longevity. Watching, waiting, recalibrating…
- Speaking of generational talents, San Antonio Spurs (up 3-2) phenom Victor Wembanyama was a man on a mission last night, pouring in 27 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks in the Spurs’ convincing 126–97 Game 5 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- Looking ahead, there’s only one tilt before our next newsletter: Tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5 between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers (tied 2-2). After a history-making Game 4, can Cavs star Donovan Mitchell orchestrate the first road win of this series?
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🏀 WNBA: Seattle Storm vs. Toronto Tempo — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — TSN4 and CTV2
- Perhaps it was nerves, but the buckets just weren’t falling in the Tempo’s highly-anticipated debut: Toronto shot a measly 27% from the field and 20% from the three-point line. Time to settle in and snag the franchise’s first-ever win.
⚾ MLB: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays — Tonight at 7:07 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- The Jays have hit some bumpy air. Toronto’s on a three-game losing streak after last night’s 7–6 extra innings loss to their American League East foes, a struggle-filled stretch underscored by slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s recent hitting slump. See if he can break through in this series finale.
🎾 Italian Open: No. 3 Coco Gauff vs. No. 26 Sorana Cîrstea — Tomorrow at 7 a.m. ET — TSN2
- Clay court season is nearing its French Open peak, but first one must conquer Rome — and Gauff is just two wins away from her first Italian Open title. The reigning French Open champ has had a tense tourney run, but notably dispatched Cîrstea on clay a few weeks ago.
⛳ PGA Championship — Tomorrow through Sunday — TSN
- World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is both the defending champ and the favorite at the second major of the year, not to mention hungry following three straight runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour. Another storyline to watch? No. 51 Jordan Spieth’s chase for his first PGA Championship, which would complete the career Grand Slam. Tee it up.
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🇦🇷🐐 The GOAT: Lionel Messi (forward, Argentina)
Widely regarded as the best player of all time, Messi is an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, a master dribbler with lightning fast feet, and a goal-scoring machine. Messi first captured the world’s attention as a teen phenom with La Liga’s Barcelona, but it took him until 2022 to clinch his first World Cup when he scored two goals in Argentina’s title win over France. Can he run it back?
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.