Soccer

NWSL opening weekend was a downright party — and not just the birthday kind. From the two expansion squads making their heart-pumping debuts to our favorite golazo of the season thus far, here are the headlines to know with Matchweek one in the books.

March 16, 2026

Everything you need to know about the 2026 NWSL season

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The NWSL keeps growing and will feature 16 teams this season, with expansion squads Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC joining the fun. Every club will compete in 30 regular-season matches (up from 26 in 2025), facing every team twice — once at home and once away.

March 13, 2026

World No. 2 USWNT and No. 10 CanWNT headline 11th annual SheBelieves Cup

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The 11th annual SheBelieves Cup — an international four-team friendly tournament hosted by the USWNT — begins in Nashville, TN, on Sunday, featuring the world No. 2 Americans, No. 10 CanWNT, No. 20 Colombia, and No. 30 Argentina. 2025 was a year of experimentation for both the USWNT and CanWNT, but now it’s go time.

February 27, 2026

Gotham FC wins second NWSL Championship in three years

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Saturday brought a fairy tale ending for No. 8 seed Gotham FC, who defeated No. 2 Washington Spirit 1–0 to win the NWSL Championship. Here’s how the Bats clinched their second title in three years, plus a look at what’s to come for the growing league.

November 24, 2025

Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC: Previewing the 2025 NWSL Championship

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Eight of the league’s 14 teams earned a berth to the three-round, single-elimination postseason. There are no byes in the NWSL Playoffs, so the top-seeded teams duked it out with the rest of the field, and let’s just say, some brackets were busted.

November 22, 2025

Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga wins second consecutive NWSL MVP

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The NWSL Championship pitting the Washington Spirit against Gotham FC is set for tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, but the party’s already begun in San Jose. The league honored its best and brightest during Wednesday’s NWSL Awards, and a little history was made along the way. So gilded.

November 21, 2025

Vancouver Rise FC defeat AFC Toronto 2–1 to clinch inaugural NSL title

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No. 3 seed Vancouver Rise FC are your inaugural Northern Super League (NSL) champs, hoisting the Diana B. Matheson Cup on Saturday after launching a weather-delayed 2–1 comeback over top-seeded AFC Toronto. Here’s how the West Coast secured the win, plus how the debut league is shaping the future of Canadian women’s soccer.

November 17, 2025

No. 8 seed Gotham FC to face No. 2 Washington Spirit in 2025 NWSL Championship

Sports News

No. 8 seed Gotham FC to face No. 2 Washington Spirit in 2025 NWSL Championship

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November 17, 2025

In a twist more than a few GISTers saw coming, No. 8 seed Gotham FC will face the No. 2 Washington Spirit in Saturday’s NWSL Championship. Both clubs have won it all recently — Gotham in 2023 and the Spirit in 2021 — but only one can add to their trophy case. Let’s take a look back at the semifinals, and then a quick look ahead to the ’ship.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #540

Are you primed for the Madness?

March 19, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Lace up those dancing shoes. It’s time to boogie.

Men’s March Madness officially begins today, with the 64-team first round tipping off at 12:15 p.m. ET. Before the guys and gals hit the hardwood, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula are going all in with a Big Dance primer, spending this episode of The GIST of It talking about the top storylines in the men’s and women’s tourneys. Gimme gimme, shimmy shimmy.