Spring cleaning inspo inside
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hello!
And happy election day — check out this guide and make a plan to make your voice heard.
- We’d also like to extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to all impacted by the tragic ramming attack at a street festival celebrating Filipino heritage in Vancouver on Saturday.
- Sending strength and support as we get started with today’s sports news.


— LA Sparks star Dearica Hamby, whose daughter is rocking her mom’s No. 5 while tearing it up on the youth flag football field. Now that’s how you start WNBA training camp.
NBA Playoffs
🏀 Shoot your shot

The GIST: Spring cleaning on the to-do list? Take inspo from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who busted out the brooms to sweep the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and became the first team to advance to the second round.
- While the juggernaut Cleveland Cavaliers (up 3-0) ready cleaning supplies of their own for a potential sweep of the Miami Heat tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, every other squad is preparing for a battle of attrition. That’s the postseason, baby.
Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beating dunk lifts Denver Nuggets to 101–99 Game 4 win: Saturday’s improbable play — a perfectly executed airball alley-oop from Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić — evened the series at two heading into tomorrow’s 10 p.m. ET Game 5 back in Denver. It’ll be up to Kawhi Leonard and Co. to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
- On the flip side, a resilient Jalen Brunson and the NY Knicks (controversially) escaped a similar fate yesterday, securing a 94–93 Game 4 win over the Detroit Pistons and setting up a series-clinching Game 5 tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET. Bing meet bong.
LA Lakers on the brink of elimination after Game 4 loss: Despite Luka Dončić and LeBron James combining for 65 points, the Lakers lost 116–113 to the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday, falling behind 3-1 in the series. Between Anthony Edwards’ 43 points and a feisty defense that held LA to just 19 fourth-quarter points, these Wolves are looking like bonafide contenders.
- Another underdog causing a raucous? The shorthanded Golden State Warriors, who leaned on 36 points from the ageless Steph Curry to beat the Houston Rockets 104–93 on Saturday and take a 2-1 series lead. It sure is hot in here ahead of tonight’s 10 p.m. ET Game 4.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Damian Lillard suffers non-contact injury: Yes, the Bucks are down 3-1 to the Indiana Pacers after last night’s 129–103 Game 4 loss — but the bigger concern is Lillard, whose first-quarter injury could be related to his Achilles. The point guard notably returned to the court just two games ago after being sidelined with a blood clot.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
🏒 Happy tears, incoming

The GIST: With every first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series still to be decided, these storylines are the stuff of fairy tales. Grab your tissues and scroll on for the icy and spicy latest.
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog scores first goal since 2022: In just his second game back from a three-year injury recovery, the longtime Avs captain tallied a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4–0 Game 4 blanking of the Dallas Stars. This is what sports are all about.
- The dominant Colorado performance leveled this series 2-2, meaning the winner of tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 5 will be one dub away from advancing to round two. Exhilarating.
Ottawa Senators stay alive, avoid sweep in Battle of Ontario: This first-round showdown between the Sens and the Toronto Maple Leafs went to overtime for the third time in four games — but Ottawa emerged victorious this time around, topping Toronto 4–3 on Saturday.
- But the Maple Leafs (up 3-1) have home-ice advantage and a chance to eliminate their provincial foes in tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET Game 5.
Washington Capitals one win away from advancing: Grab your emotional support frenemy and hold on tight. The Montreal Canadiens made this series interesting by topping Washington 6–3 on Friday, but the Caps roared back last night, winning 5–2 behind an explosive four-goal third period, including two from winger Brandon Duhaime.
- Now boasting a 3-1 series lead, the Caps have momentum on their side as the series shifts back to D.C. for Game 5 Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Together With SharkNinja
🏒 Take in the PWHL playoffs from a suite for free

It’s the final week of the PWHL regular season, and while two postseason spots are still up for grabs, we can confirm this: Three lucky GISTers are going to catch a Toronto Sceptres playoff game from a private suite. Yes, way.
In collaboration with the PWHL and SharkNinja, we’re celebrating our hockey community by giving away:
✨ A private suite for three contest winners (plus three guests) at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
👀 Three SharkNinja prize packs, filled with the brand’s best buys, like their iconic hair FlexStyle.
🚖 Vouchers to get you to and from the game in Toronto. Booyah.
Enter now to shoot your shot at a once-in-a-lifetime playoff hockey experience, courtesy of our pals at the PWHL and SharkNinja. She shoots, she scores.
*This contest is only open to Ontario residents. Terms and conditions apply.🏈 No pranks here — Colorado quarterback (QB) Shedeur Sanders finally came off the board in the fifth round of this weekend’s NFL Draft, taken 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns.
- In other signal-calling news, the San Francisco 49ers picked up Ontario’s own Kurtis Rourke in the seventh round, marking the first time since 2001 that a Canadian QB was drafted.
🏒 With a little help from their friends, the Toronto Sceptres clinched the PWHL’s second postseason berth yesterday after the now-eliminated NY Sirens blanked the Minnesota Frost 2–0.
- A handful of regular-season games remain as three teams — the Frost, Boston Fleet, and Ottawa Charge — vie for the two remaining playoff spots.
🏆 World No. 37 Mao Saigo hoisted the trophy at this weekend’s Chevron Championship, outlasting four golfers in a five-way playoff to snag the LPGA’s first major of the season. Someone grab this gal a towel.
⛳ Americans Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin logged their first-ever PGA Tour wins this weekend, capitalizing on a third-round lead to win the season’s first team event, the Zurich Classic. Turns out teamwork really does make the dream work.
⚖️ A new trial will be held in the 2018 World Juniors sexual assault case after a judge declared a mistrial in the original proceedings, which began last week.
⬆️⚽ The NWSL submitted an application to launch a companion Division II league (like the NBA G League) for eight of their 14 teams starting in 2026. Up and away.
🎓🏀 Former South Carolina women’s basketball standout MiLayshia Fulwiley is transferring to LSU in a spicy SEC shakeup.
👟 Ethiopian distance runner Tigst Assefa broke the women’s only world record at yesterday’s London Marathon, running 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds. Jolly good.
Together With SharkNinja

🙊 Have you heard our big news? The GIST is sending three lucky GISTers, plus three friends, to a Toronto Sceptres playoff game, courtesy of our new partnership with the PWHL and SharkNinja — yes, that SharkNinja bringing innovation to homes everywhere. The contest winners will receive:
✨ A private suite to watch all the action. So fancy.
👀 A SharkNinja prize pack, filled with the brand’s best buys.
🚖 And vouchers to get them to and from the game in Toronto. Booyah.
What are you waiting for? Enter now for a chance to experience all the hockey from the rink where it happens. The PWHL playoffs are coming — will you be there?
*This contest is only open to Ontario residents. Terms and conditions apply.Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
🏒 How to level up your game day
Throw a women’s hockey watch party. We teamed up with Smirnoff to bring you the ultimate party planning guide, aka our best-kept secrets to throwing an unforgettable bash. No gatekeeping here.*
*Please enjoy responsibly.🚀 What to check out
Zendaya going to space…kinda. In a new campaign from On, Zendaya channels retro sci-fi realness in a faux film trailer that’s all about confidence, fashion, and future-looking vibes.
👑 Who’s (still) that girl
A’ja Wilson, of course. Three-time WNBA MVP. Two-time Olympian. NYT bestselling author. And now? The first Black woman with a Nike signature shoe in nearly 30 years.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Cheers.Question of the Day
Happy National Superhero Day! To celebrate, which of these heroic plays was your favorite from the weekend?
🏀 Denver Nugget Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beater dunk
🏒 Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog’s first goal in nearly three years
⚽ Orlando Pride’s comeback win over Angel City
🥅 Ottawa Charge defender Ashton Bell’s game-winning jailbreak goal
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.