About damn time
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Hey!
ICYMI, four-time WNBA MVP and Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson picked up three new titles yesterday: TIME Athlete of the Year, truth bomb–dropper, and hopeless romantic. Get you a girl who can do both it all.
- Speaking of doing it all, the sports world is bumping this week. Scroll on for your full scouting report.
— Gotham FC general manager Yael Averbuch West, speaking on She’s Not Next, She’s Now, our limited-edition podcast series on how women’s sports leagues are thriving in today’s crowded sports market. Going global.
Rivalry Series
🏒 Who turned the temperature hotter?
The GIST: The puck drops on the Olympic women’s hockey tournament in 57 days, but there’s a whole lot to sort out before then, including which athletes will earn a coveted spot on the 23-woman rosters.
- That means the spiciest series in sports — the annual Rivalry Series between Team Canada and Team USA — just became even hotter. Let’s discuss.
🔥 It’s the sixth edition of the Rivalry Series: The four-game set, which continues tonight at 9 p.m. ET, might be one game shorter than last year, but the stakes are higher: The “friendly” tilts are part of the Olympic roster selection process. As the only teams to win gold at the Games, it’s no secret that both countries' player pools are deep — but this fierce rivalry runs even deeper.
- Last month, the Americans outscored Canada 10–2 over the series’ first two games with two Team USA mainstays, Seattle Torrent captain Hilary Knight and Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise, combining for nine points. A true beatdown.
- But it’s worth noting that the Canadian roster was missing starting goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens of the Montréal Victoire (among a few other Team Canada regulars) as head coach Troy Ryan opted to experiment with a less experienced lineup.
🇨🇦 Team Canada’s roster should be more representative in Game 3: With Desbiens back between the pipes and the return of the Ottawa Charge trio of Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque, and Emily Clark, tonight’s lineup should be closer to the roster Canada intends to bring to Italy. And with national pride on the line, this is welcome news for Canucks.
🇺🇸 Team USA looks locked in: The American roster is loaded with talent from top to bottom. In addition to Knight and Heise, the Americans have an injection of youth with NCAA superstars Abbey Murphy and Laila Edwards, offering a well-balanced lineup of Olympic rookies and veterans. They’ll look to run it back with the same group tonight. Pop that corn.
⚾ Philadelphia Philles finalizing five-year, $150M deal with slugger Kyle Schwarber
’Tis the season for MLB Winter Meetings updates — and the Phillies aren’t wasting any time. One of the top free agents on the market this offseason, Schwarber fielded offers from the NY Mets and Boston Red Sox, but chose to remain in the City of Brotherly Love. Clutch is clutch.
- Meanwhile, three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz is on the move, leaving the Mets to sign with the LA Dodgers on a record-setting three-year, $69M deal. Sound the trumpets.
🏒 Milano Cortina Olympics scrambling to finish ice hockey venues as NHL considers boycott
In an ironic example of how history repeats itself, construction on the main hockey arena is behind schedule, and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is sounding the warning bells. NHL athletes are set to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, but Daly said on Monday that if the Milan arena is not safe, the league’s players will not take the ice.
- With multiple games scheduled every day for three straight weeks spanning both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the NHL’s main concern is ice quality, which can contribute to player injuries. Tick, tock.
🏀 Orlando Magic and NY Knicks advance to NBA Cup semifinals
What happens in Vegas will definitely involve the Magic and Knicks after last night’s NBA Cup quarter-final showdowns. Desmond Bane exploded for a season-high 37 points to pace the Magic to a 117–108 win over the Miami Heat, while Jalen Brunson knocked down 35 points of his own in the Knicks’ 117–101 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
- Two teams will punch the other semifinal tickets tonight: First, the Phoenix Suns will hoop for an upset of the NBA–best Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the LA Lakers playing host to the San Antonio Spurs at 10 p.m. ET. Buckets on buckets.
🏈 Retired no more: 44-year-old grandfather quarterback (QB) Philip Rivers is joining the Indianapolis Colts’ injury-riddled QB room, inking a deal with his former team yesterday. Coincidentally, the last time the Colts made the playoffs was in 2020 with Rivers under center.
❤️🩹 Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing season-ending core surgery yesterday morning. It’s the latest misfortune in a disappointing season for Cincy.
🫣 The defending champ Philadelphia Eagles suffered their third straight loss on Monday Night Football, falling 22–19 to the LA Chargers — and it wasn’t pretty. QB Jalen Hurts turned the ball over five times, including twice on the same play. Woof.
🎓🏈 College football’s Heisman Trophy finalists were announced on Monday, with Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin in contention for the sport’s most prestigious individual honor.
- 👀 Speaking of college football’s best, put your name in The GIST’s history books by playing our College Football Bracket Challenge. FOMO waits for no fan.
⚽ Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi is now the first MLS player to win back-to-back MVP awards, a fitting end to the MLS Cup champ’s 2025 campaign. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
🏎️ Longtime Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is leaving Red Bull at the end of the year, giving many motorsports fans an existential crisis: Is this team…likeable now?
🇨🇦🏒 Hockey Canada has announced its IIHF World Junior training camp roster, a group that’s reportedly not built to “dazzle” but to win. We shall certainly see.
Together With Explore Edmonton
🏒 Greatness is taking the ice. Team Canada and Team USA, aka the fiercest rivals in women’s hockey, will hit the ice on December 10th and 13th in Edmonton for the final two games of the iconic Rivalry Series.
- Instead of watching from home, why not watch the best of the best in person? Explore Edmonton launched “Her Game, Your Breakaway,” the one-stop shop for Canada’s Hockey City. Tickets? Check. Itinerary? Covered. All that’s left to do is cheer on your faves.
HOLIDAY RECS FROM
It’s officially gifting season. To help you cross everyone off your Nice list, we’re sharing recs from The Group Chat, sourced directly from our team and The GIST Plus community. This week’s theme: health and fitness essentials for that winter arc.
Non-slip resistance bands
Trying to strengthen those glutes, but your band keeps rolling up? This three-pack offers light, medium, and heavy options and won’t budge. Give the gift of overcoming inconvenience.
Cute water bottle
Your pal will think of you and be grateful every time they hydrate. We love this spill-proof option that comes with a pop-up handle perfect for the person who always has their hands full.
Oofos slides
Dawn Staley–approved and offered in countless colors, these slides are the ultimate recovery accessory. Toss ’em on after a run or sport them around the house — your giftee’s feet will thank you.
Flowy workout shorts
This cult-favorite pair offers built-in briefs for coverage and pockets to store whatever you need. Cute and functional? We won’t tell if you add one to cart for yourself, too.
🏅 Picture this: You’re scrolling and sipping a latte…then just like that, you win $200. Our NFL Pick’em Challenge is your fast track to football glory, whether you’re a gridiron guru or simply vibing with your gut feeling (and the halftime snacks).
- And playing is simple: Click here to choose the winners of all 16 NFL games this week, and you could be named our weekly champ — like Abby, who snagged $200 of the coolest merch in the game last week for a few minutes of fun.
⏰ Don’t sleep on it because picks close tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET, right before the primetime showdown between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- You bring the picks. We bring the prizes. Everyone wins…well, almost.
💪 What to flex
Your women’s hockey savvy. Three weeks into the PWHL season, who’s your early pick to hoist the Walter Cup? Put your money where your instincts are with a FanDuel futures bet.*
👀 What to watch
Seven-time Olympic medalist Penny Oleksiak’s recent interview with CBC, in which she discusses the whereabouts violation that led to her two-year suspension. Tea.
🏆 Who’s the best Canadian athlete
Reigning NBA MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named Canada’s Athlete of the Year for the second time yesterday. All he does is win…literally.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Ice, ice, baby.Take Your Pick
Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tonight’s Thursday Night Football NFC South showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons has plot twist written all over it: The playoff-contending Bucs suffered a stunning loss to a fellow division member, the three-win New Orleans Saints, just last week.
- All to say, divisional games are always extra spicy. Are you sailing with the Bucs or flying with the Falcons in the Week 15 opener?
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