Blaming the supermoon for everything
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
It’s (almost) the weekend!
And this Friday feeling is that much better knowing NWSL postseason action is right around the corner — along with our special edition preview before the quarter-finals kick off tonight. Keep your eyes peeled, make your picks in our NWSL playoff bracket challenge, and LFG.
— Unrivaled No. 1 draft pick and newly-minted Breeze BC hooper Paige Bueckers, after the innovative 3v3 league revealed all eight Season 2 team rosters on Wednesday. Finding a Bueckers replica jersey won’t be easy though: They sold out in mere minutes.
Women’s basketball
🏀 The plot thickens
The GIST: Project B, a new women’s basketball league set to launch in November 2026, announced its first player signing on Wednesday: WNBPA president and 10-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike. There’s a lot to unpack, so lace ’em up and let’s hoop to it.
❓ What is Project B?: The global league will feature traditional 5-on-5 basketball and run from November to April — notably not conflicting with the WNBA schedule. Six 11-player teams will compete in two-week tournaments across Europe, Asia, and Latin America on a traveling circuit.
- Project B’s investment group is stacked with starpower from WNBA icon Candace Parker to legends like tennis’ Novak Djokovic and football’s Steve Young. Former WNBA All-Star Alana Beard will serve as the league’s chief basketball officer.
- But Project B’s biggest draw is the money: The salaries will reportedly dwarf what’s offered by both the WNBA and Unrivaled, while also offering players equity stake in the league. Money talks, after all.
❓ How does Project B fit into the women’s basketball landscape?: Project B isn’t a direct competitor for the WNBA as it will run during the W’s offseason. Instead, it’ll run concurrently with Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, offering a tournament-based 5-on-5 product. This stands in stark contrast to Unrivaled’s unique 3v3 version of basketball and AU’s player-first competition model.
❓ I heard sportswashing is involved?: You’d be right. This new, lucrative sports venture is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) through its entertainment company Sela. And while the PIF claims to stand on a pillar of inclusivity, Saudi Arabia is known for its human rights abuses — aka textbook sportswashing.
- Alongside its infamous men’s sports involvement, the PIF has deepened its impact on the women’s sports space in recent years, from the WTA to the Women’s World Cup — and now women’s basketball.
Together With DoorDash
😋 Celebrate women’s sports with every bite
There’s no time for a halftime snack scramble when the NSL Playoffs are on. Thankfully, DoorDash is taking women’s sports fandom to new heights — and that includes taking up to 30% off your game-day meal during the league’s first-ever postseason.
🤝 Another first for Canadian women’s sports? BRING IT IN, DoorDash’s new platform that’s bringing the WNBA, NSL, and PWHL together to celebrate the powerhouse of professional women’s sports in Canada. Now that’s a talented trifecta.
🏈 Grey Cup appearances on the line in CFL Division Finals
The Eastern Conference–best Hamilton Ticats host the No. 2 seed Montréal Alouettes tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, where the perennial powerhouse Als will be road favorites. Why? Well, the Ticats went a pedestrian 4-6 against playoff teams in the regular season, while Alouettes quarterback (QB) Davis Alexander has yet to lose in a CFL start. A double whammy.
- The Western Conference clash kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, featuring the top-seeded Saskatchewan Roughriders and the resurgent BC Lions led by All-CFL QB Nathan Rourke. Ready for some (Canadian) football, eh?
🇨🇦🏒 Canadian offense stifled in Rivalry Series opener
Forward Sarah Fillier opened the scoring in the first period, but it was all red, white, and blue from there as Team Canada surrendered four unanswered goals to their American rivals in last night’s lopsided 4–1 loss. Now down 0-1 in the four-game set, here’s hoping history repeats itself when the series continues tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET in Buffalo, NY.
🏒 Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin becomes first NHL player to score 900 career goals
The league’s regular-season goal-scoring leader just keeps adding to his Hall of Fame–worthy résumé, lighting the lamp for the 900th time in the Capitals’ lopsided 6–1 Wednesday win over the St. Louis Blues — a sneaky, spinning beauty of a goal. The next record to chase? Wayne Gretzky’s regular-season-plus-playoff goals mark of 1,016.
- In other icy news, the NHL’s Eastern Conference is having a parity party: For the first time since 1974 (when conferences were first introduced), none of the East’s 16 teams have a losing record.
⚾ Pitcher Shane Bieber to stick with Toronto Blue Jays amid other offseason moves
Just over a week removed from their inspiring World Series run, the Jays are gearing up for redemption. Two-time All-Star hurler Bieber opted into his $16M player option earlier this week, forgoing what would’ve likely been a lucrative free agency to run it back in the Six.
- Toronto also extended a qualifying offer to franchise cornerstone Bo Bichette, meaning they’ll receive draft compensation should he leave in free agency while also ensuring the Jays have a chance to bring him back. Fingers crossed.
Together With Sun Life
🦖Slam dunks hit different in November. Why? So glad you asked. All month long, Sun Life and the Toronto Raptors are teaming up to launch Dunk for Diabetes.
- For every Raptors home dunk this November, Sun Life will donate $1K to MLSE Foundation to support programs promoting healthy, active living through sport.
- This adds to the more than $60M that Sun Life has contributed to charitable organizations promoting diabetes awareness and healthy lifestyle habits since 2012.
🏀 But that’s not all: Sun Life was a game-day sponsor for Monday’s Raptors tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks, where they celebrated their over decade-long partnership and provided Canadians with a game plan to manage their diabetes. Talk about walking the walk.
🎾 WTA Finals: No. 5 Jessica Pegula vs. No. 6 Elena Rybakina — Today at 10 a.m. ET — TSN
- Tennis’ season-ending championship rolls on with a spot in tomorrow’s final on the line when Pegula and Rybakina serve into the first semi, followed by a US Open Final rematch between No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 4 Amanda Anisimova. Aces only.
⚽ NSL Playoffs: Vancouver Rise FC vs. Ottawa Rapid FC — Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET — CBC
- The second leg of the NSL’s aggregate first round kicks off this weekend, and Ottawa has some catching up to do: They’re down 2–1 after Tuesday’s game. Then, the quest for the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup continues on Sunday when AFC Toronto takes a two-goal lead into their 2 p.m. ET showdown against Montreal Roses FC.
🏎️ F1: Brazilian Grand Prix — Sunday at 12 p.m. ET — TSN
- There’s four races left on the calendar, three drivers in contention for the World Drivers’ Championship, and just 36 points separating them. With a race win worth 25 points and a sprint weekend on deck, we’re in for an absolutely epic few days of racing. Vroom, vroom.
🏈 NFL: New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET — DAZN
- The Patriots have won six straight and sit atop the AFC East with a 7-2 record, but a team coming off a bye week is a scary sight, especially since Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has a knack for orchestrating game-winning drives.
Peep our squad’s MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
🤝 Who’s teaming up
Sun Life and the Toronto Raptors, on everything from game planning with the team to your life playbook. Check out their new Game Plan Partnership Hub — teamwork always makes the dream work.*
⛷️ What to read
This article about Lindsey Vonn’s unprecedented attempt at an Olympic comeback. The gold medal skier talks about her surprise return to the tour and addresses critics who question her goal of competing in the 2026 Games.
📢 Who’s back in action
Flava Flav. The rapper is joining the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton team as its newest sponsor and official “hype man” ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Go team.Question of the Day
As you read, Unrivaled’s Season 2 rosters are set. Which club will you be rooting for in the new year?
On Monday, we asked what you’re looking forward to watching in November. 27% voted for PWHL season start, 21% voted for NHL, 18% voted for Grey Cup, 13% voted for NFL, 10% voted for NSL Playoffs, 5% voted for NBA, 4% voted for F1, and 3% voted for NCAA hoops.Today’s email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, Grace DePaull, Charlotte Mackenzie, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Molly Potter. 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. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.