Let the moving and shaking begin
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy International Women’s Day Eve!
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— USWNT star Sophia Wilson (née Smith), announcing her pregnancy alongside her Stanford sweetheart and husband, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson. She’s not a regular mom, she’s a soccer mom.
NWSL Challenge Cup
⚽🏆 Just getting started
The GIST: It’s time for the sixth edition of the NWSL Challenge Cup, the ceremonial season start that’s now celebrated with a one-game showdown between the top two teams from the season prior.
- Sit tight — the regular-season NWSL kickoff is one week away, but tonight’s 8 p.m. ET game is the season appetizer you don’t want to miss. Pass the nachos.
Reigning champ Orlando Pride take on Washington Spirit in 2024 title game rematch: It’s gone through a few iterations, but the Challenge Cup is now played between the defending league champ and the most recent NWSL Shield winner (aka the best regular-season squad). However, the unstoppable Pride won both those accolades in 2024, which is why they’ll play the Spirit, last year’s runners-up, instead.
- And this match couldn’t be spicier, with top-notch Orlando strikers Marta and Barbra Banda playing in front of their home crowd for the first time since clinching the club’s first ’ship in November.
- As for the Spirit, it’s unknown if previously injured stars midfielder Croix Bethune and forward Trinity Rodman will play tonight, though both traveled with the team to Orlando.
Zooming out: The outcome of tonight’s match won’t affect the upcoming season’s standings, but there is a little something to play for: prize money, baby. Each player on the winning squad will take home $3.5K, while the losing players will still walk away with $2.2K apiece. Plus, the game’s MVP earns a cool $2K bonus. All in a night’s work.
- The Challenge Cup is just the beginning of what could be the NWSL’s biggest season ever, fresh off last year’s record-setting viewership and attendance, and the mid-season CBA that revolutionized player experience. It’s a new dawn.
🏈 Standout Seattle Seahawks wide receiver (WR) DK Metcalf requested a trade on Wednesday, the same day the franchise released long-time WR Tyler Lockett. Let the moving and shaking begin.
- Elsewhere, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby became the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history: The four-time Pro Bowler agreed to a three-year, $106.5M extension on Wednesday.
🏒 The wildly successful PWHL Takeover Tour continues tonight at 7 p.m. ET, this time from Raleigh, North Carolina, where the defending champ Minnesota Frost will face off against the Ottawa Charge.
🏀 The Cleveland Cavaliers are the first team to clinch an NBA playoff berth, sealing the deal with a 112–107 Wednesday win over the Miami Heat, their 12th straight victory. Early bird gets the worm postseason ticket.
- Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar and Canada’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bolstered his MVP campaign by dropping 41 points in Wednesday’s win over Memphis.
🔥 Even with today’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline looming, Washington Capital Alex Ovechkin is still the one dominating headlines, now just 10 goals away from the league’s all-time goal-scoring record after lighting the lamp in a Wednesday win.
⚽ The U.S. is the heavy favorite to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, possibly alongside Mexico, after FIFA declared on Wednesday that only bids from Concacaf and Africa would be accepted. It’s (almost) footy time.
⚖️ Another junior hockey sexual assault allegation is being investigated by police: Eight former OHL players are included in the claim related to an incident that took place in 2014. Enough is enough.
🥌 With the round-robin gauntlet done and dusted, it’s time for the Brier Cup playoffs, where Brad Gushue will throw for his tournament-record seventh bonspiel title starting today. Oh, sheet.
🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: Conference tournaments — Ongoing — Various channels
- All 31 conference tourneys are well underway, and the top dogs are back on the hardwood after bypassing the opening rounds with byes. Woof, woof.
- Whip out that second screen because the SEC, featuring No. 1 Texas and No. 5 South Carolina, and the Big Ten, which boasts No. 2 USC and No. 4 UCLA, are about to be absolute cinema.
🎾 WTA: Indian Wells Open — Ongoing through March 16th — TSN+
- Tennis’ “fifth Grand Slam” continues today, with world No. 27 Leylah Fernandez set to rep Canada’s favorite activewear as she competes in the Round of 64.
🏒 PWHL: Montréal Victoire vs. Boston Fleet — Tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET — CBC
- For the first time in PWHL history, a game is being played in Boston proper, with the top two teams in the league meeting for a sold-out clash hosted at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Beantown or bust.
🏀 Unrivaled: Mist BC vs. Laces BC — Tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET — TSN+
- Pop that corn because the final weekend of regular-season Unrivaled hoops is jam-packed with drama. Two (of four) postseason tickets are still up for grabs, and three squads, including the Mist and Laces, can write their name in the blank space.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
💪 What to read
“I’m That Girl” by USA and UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles — an unfiltered memoir about breaking barriers in the sport.
🚫 What to stop
Swearing. New rules from F1’s governing body say drivers can face fines, penalties, or even bans for cursing.
🎥 What to watch
Kobe: The Making of a Legend. Explore Kobe Bryant’s personal and professional life with this illuminating CNN series.
Question of the Day
If you made it this far, then you just read about athletes who grind to stay at the top of their game. On that note, do you track your workouts? If you do, let us know which app you use to keep track of your fitness goals.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Marga Sison, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Laura Pastore. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Rachel Fuenzalida. 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.