The W is so back
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Let’s groove!
Just like Paralympian Ezra Frech during last night’s Dancing with the Stars season premiere, we’re tangoing right into today’s news. That mirrorball trophy isn’t going to win itself.
WNBA
🏀 What dreams are made of
The GIST: With the FIBA Women’s World Cup in the rearview mirror, the WNBA is so back, returning with tomorrow’s five-game slate. The eight playoff contenders are locked in, but each team’s remaining four regular-season games will decide seeding. Here are two potential first-round matchups topping our hoops hope list.
1️⃣ Las Vegas Aces vs. NY Liberty: This era of women’s basketball has been defined by two players: Aces icon A’ja Wilson and seafoam superstar Breanna Stewart. Perennial MVP candidates (this year included), these two highlight an always thrilling rivalry between their teams. And after splitting two series over the last three postseasons, this would be the ultimate rubber match.
- 🔮 Likelihood: Cautiously optimistic. The Aces should land the No. 3 spot (assuming the league-leading Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries take care of business ahead of them), especially with all four of their remaining games against eliminated teams.
- That means NY would need to slot in at No. 6 — and that’s where it gets tricky. The Liberty, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings sport matching 24-16 records, but NY has the most difficult road ahead with three tilts vs. playoff-bound squads.
2️⃣ Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics: Both teams are defensive juggernauts, but it’s their opposite offensive styles that have us intrigued. The Valks shine on the perimeter thanks to playmakers like Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton, while the ’Stics thrive in the paint with Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen.
- 🔮 Likelihood: Realistic. The Valkyries are in the mix for the No. 1 seed, but the Lynx need just two wins to lock in the top spot. That sets the stage for the Mystics, whose schedule is easier than NY’s but harder than Dallas’, to fall perfectly into the No. 7 spot. Excellent.
☝️ One more thing: Rumour has it a group in Vancouver is planning an expansion bid to bring a second WNBA team to Canada. The league hasn’t re-opened their formal expansion process just yet, but watch this space.
🎤 Veteran journalist Holly Rowe accepts Arch Manning’s apology
One day after calling an AI-generated video depicting his head coach Steve Sarkisian slapping veteran ESPN journalist Holly Rowe across the face “hilarious,” Texas quarterback (QB) Manning said he was sorry via his Instagram story. GOATed and classy as ever, Rowe publicly acknowledged and accepted Manning’s apology yesterday.
- ICYMI, the Longhorns pulled off a 20-point fourth-quarter comeback against then–No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, and when Rowe approached Sarkisian for the standard postgame interview, he snubbed her.
- Manning was asked if he’d seen any social media videos about his team’s win, prompting the truly jaw-dropping response. She’s moving forward, and in Holly we forever trust.
💰 All five major men’s sports leagues in the U.S. ask for protection from sports bettors
The NFL, MLB, the NBA, the NHL, and MLS, along with their respective players unions, sent a letter to state gaming commissions and policymakers yesterday asking for regulations that revoke betting privileges from people who threaten or harass players, coaches, team personnel, or their families.
- It’s certainly an issue that warrants attention. For just one example, NY Knicks star Jalen Brunson detailed the near-nightly threats he received in a 2025 piece from The Athletic, yet New York is one of the 35 out of 39 states plus D.C. to have legalized sports betting without guardrails for protection.
🏀 Kawhi Leonard is officially a Toronto Raptor
More than five years after “The Shot” sent shockwaves through the Six, the trade sending Leonard back to the Raps from the LA Clippers has finally been approved. The deal was on hold for months amid the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers’ salary cap circumvention.
- That said, while the league’s concluded its probe and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer ruefully accepted the ruling, this saga isn’t quite done yet: A federal investigation is still ongoing. Stay tuned.
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New here? Perfect timing. A fresh round starts every week, and you can jump right in. Simply make your picks before tomorrow’s 8:15 p.m. ET matchup between the Lions and Bills. Game on.
⚾ MLB: Detroit Tigers vs. Toronto Blue Jays — Today at 3:07 p.m. ET — Sportsnet
- The Wild Card race is heating up, but Toronto’s bats have gone ice cold. The Jays lost 10–1 to the Tigers last night, squandering a prime chance to make up ground in the playoff hunt. The clock is ticking as this series wraps with Max Scherzer on the mound.
🏆 WPBL: LA Queens vs. San Francisco Firebells — Tonight at 7 p.m. ET — YouTube
- These star-studded squads will battle in a five-game series to crown the first-ever WPBL champion — and this one could go the distance.
- Led by two-way phenom Kelsie Whitmore, the Firebells went 3-2 against LA in the regular season. That said, the Queens are riding a wave of momentum, fresh off a monster semis win over the NY Heights that featured homers from three different players.
⚽ NWSL: Seattle Reign vs. Angel City FC — Tonight at 10 p.m. ET — NWSL+
- Sitting in ninth, ACFC is on the outside looking in at the eight-team NWSL playoff picture. Expect them to bring it at home against the eighth-place Reign, especially with just seven regular-season games to go.
🏈 NFL: Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — TSN
- The Bills are hosting a housewarming party for their new digs, $2.2B Highmark Stadium, on Thursday Night Football. And they’ll be taking a page out of the Buffalo Sabres’ book, playing the Canadian national anthem before kickoff to honor their fans in the Great White North. Eh-mazing.
Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Rachel Fuenzalida, 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 Lisa Minutillo. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.