How improving amenities are changing the look of the WNBA

Let’s get down to business.
With the 2025 WNBA season fast approaching, this episode of The GIST of It takes a peek behind the curtain, as co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz explore how improving amenities are changing the look of the league from the inside out. From the Unrivaled effect to the importance of facilities during free agency, one thing is clear: The WNBA’s pro hoopers want to be treated as such, and improved facilities are a major way to draw in the league’s top talent.
And in part two, Karina LeBlanc, the Executive Vice President of Strategic Growth Development at RAJ Sports, joins the gals, speaking to the state-of-the-art facilities being built for the WNBA’s new Portland team and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. Don’t miss this.
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Bracketology 101: Wild, weird, and wacky March Madness trends

The odds of making a perfect bracket? 1 in 9.2 quintillion.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t tips, tricks, and tools of the trade when it comes to filling out your Big Dance predictions. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz look at the shocking men’s March Madness trends that have stood the test of time, from the seed that always seems to pull off the upset to the underrated skills that turn unknown teams into contenders. Grab your pencils: Bracketology 101 is in session.
A special shout out to Peloton for sponsoring today’s episode! No matter where you are in your fitness journey, Peloton’s easy-to-use app is here to provide you with the workout, support, and community you need. Download the app today for a free 30-day trial.
**New members only. Terms apply. See onepeloton.com for details.

There’s no time like The Big Dance for a little celebration.
Today’s episode of The GIST of It is extra special because we’re celebrating our five-year anniversary! From teaching themselves how to edit on Garage Band to creating hundreds of episodes with a full production team, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz have seen it all — and now it’s time to shake things up.
Don’t worry — The GIST of It will still be your twice-weekly go-to source for the latest on the top sports headlines, but by focusing on just one story per episode, there’ll be even more room for listener questions, fun debates, and of course, spicy hot takes.
And with that, today’s episode highlights a hero and a villain in women’s college hoops, traveling down memory lane to explore how two gamechangers took such divergent roads to become pillars — good or bad — in women’s sports.
A special shout out to FanDuel for sponsoring today’s episode! The GIST partnered with FanDuel to create our very own March Madness brackets for both the men’s and women’s tourneys. Head to thegistsports.com to make your picks and check out the FanDuel app to bet on college basketball all month long.