Shimmy shimmy Coco Gauff
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hi there!
Just like last night’s Tony’s performances, athletes sure weren’t throwing away their shots this weekend — here’s the latest from the room courts, fields, and rinks where it happens.
- P.S. We’ll be discussing girl dads in this week’s Father’s Day edition of The Group Chat. If you’d rather not receive that newsletter, click here, and take care. It won’t impact your regular GIST subscription.
— Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) advisor and legend of the game Natasha Watley, who correctly predicted the multiple sellout crowds at the league’s historic opening weekend, with lines literally around the block. If you build it...
French Open
🎾 First is the worst, second is the best
The GIST: For the first time since 1984, the world No. 1 and No. 2 women’s and men’s tennis players reached the Roland-Garros final — and in both cases, the second-ranked athlete prevailed. Here’s how it all went down in Paris.
💪 Coco Gauff defeats Aryna Sabalenka, wins second career major: The TikTok queen pulled off an astounding comeback on Saturday, staying calm, cool, and collected while capitalizing on Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors to win the match in three sets.
- And amid some eyebrow-raising comments, Gauff’s victory only heightens the growing rivalry between two of the game’s stars. Notably, both of the 21-year-old American’s Grand Slam victories have come against Sabalenka.
😱 Reigning champ Carlos Alcaraz rallies, tops Jannik Sinner in longest-ever French Open final: Five hours and 29 minutes of edge-of-your-seat play later, Alcaraz fell to the red clay in triumph after defending his Roland-Garros title yesterday.
- The match was an instant classic, seeing the Spaniard drop the first two sets before rallying to clinch his fifth career Grand Slam. Simply magnifique.
NBA & NHL Playoffs
🏆 Sharing is caring
The GIST: After a four-and-a-half period NHL hockey game on Saturday, men’s playoff sports gave our heart rates a break with yesterday’s lopsided NBA action. It’s all about balance as we discuss the championship details.
🏀 Oklahoma City Thunder even series with dominant dub: There were no miraculous comebacks this time around as the Thunder emphatically shut the door in last night’s 123–107 Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers. As per usual, league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34 points) was a walking bucket, but bench scoring made all the difference: OKC outscored Indy by 14.
- All things considered, the Oklahoma trip should be considered a success for the Pacers, who head back home with the series knotted at one game apiece ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3.
🏒 Brad Marchand plays hero for Florida Panthers in Game 2: Marchand lit the lamp halfway through the second overtime (OT) period, lifting the Cats to a 5–4 series-evening dub over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday — all the more stunning after Oilers forward Corey Perry buried a game-tying goal with 18 seconds left in regulation.
- The margin for error? Razor thin: It’s only the sixth time in NHL history (and the first since 2014) that the first two Final games have gone to OT. May the puck bounces be ever in their favor ahead of tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 3 in Florida.
⛵ Women are leveling the playing field in this high-octane sport
Precision, performance, pressure — the Rolex SailGP Championship has it all, not to mention badass women athletes. As outlined in our recent editorial in partnership with Rolex, SailGP is a thrill-seeker’s dream sport created with gender equality in mind, as women and men work together for ultimate glory. Just imagine…
- Twelve cutting-edge F50 catamarans racing against each other
- Navigating dangerous and ever-changing conditions, like powerful wind and choppy waters
- All while moving at speeds up to 100 km/hour. Sheesh.
Twelve co-ed national teams are competing in 14 Grands Prix this season, and Team Canada, helmed by strategists Annie Haeger and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance, has been an unexpected breakout squad, placing seventh at last weekend’s Mubadala New York SailGP.
- The GIST was on the
groundwater covering it all — check out our recap today.
PWHL
🏒 Keep growing, keep going
The GIST: The PWHL’s first-ever expansion draft is tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET, when the league’s two new squads — Seattle and Vancouver — will continue to fill out their rosters ahead of their upcoming debuts. Spring truly is the season of change.
▶️ ICYMI, expansion rosters are already in progress: The Original Six PWHL teams were only allowed to protect three players each ahead of tonight’s draft. The exclusive signing window opened on June 4th, prompting significant moves, including superstar forward Hilary Knight heading to Seattle and fellow forward Sarah Nurse to Vancouver, as neither player was protected by her former team.
⚙️ Here’s how tonight’s expansion draft works: Seattle and Vancouver will have the chance to select seven players each from the existing talent pool, bringing their rosters to 12 players apiece. The draft order will not be revealed until the fun begins.
- Two names to know: standout forwards Grace Zumwinkle (Minnesota Frost) and Emma Maltais (Toronto Sceptres), who are both available tonight.
- But that’s not all. The annual PWHL Draft, where players are selected from the NCAA or other pro enterprises, is set for June 24th. Booked and busy.
If you think the F50 catamaran pictured above is the wildest-looking boat you’ve ever seen, you’re correct. These carbon-fiber marvels move above the water thanks to their perfectly-engineered hydrofoils (the stick-like structures on the bottom) that slice through the sea.
- The result? Super fast sailing for all 12 teams competing in a Rolex SailGP Championship race, like last weekend’s Mubadala New York SailGP.
- Click here to find out how Team Canada fared and where they stand with just six races left this season.
Here’s what has The GIST team currently hyped:
👀 What to watch
Boats whipping around at breakneck speeds at the Mubadala New York SailGP, captured by The GIST’s social squad. Trust us — it’s pure, unfiltered entertainment.*
🍎 Who’s breaking records
Canada’s Summer McIntosh, of course. The swimming superstar is once again the 400m freestyle world record holder after posting a blistering 3:54.18 at this weekend’s Canadian Swimming Trials.
🏆 What’s getting bigger
The Sports Bra. It all started in Portland, Oregon, with one rule: only women’s sports on screen. Three years later, it’s going national with new locations coming to Boston, Vegas, and more. Game’s on.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Sail away.Question of the Day
With so many championship plays from the weekend, we want to know: Which one was your fave? Vote from the list below or reply to this email with your top pick.
Coco Gauff defeats Aryna Sabalenka for first Roland-Garros title
Carlos Alcaraz stuns Jannik Sinner in five-set French Open final thriller
Florida Panther Brad Marchand’s Stanley Cup Final Game 2 double-overtime game-winner
Texas softball tops Texas Tech to secure program’s first national championship
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