Basketball

Before we dig into all the hoopla to come, let’s take a look back at Unrivaled’s stellar 2025 debut. Unrivaled was launched in part to provide hoopers with a domestic playing option during the WNBA offseason, a welcome addition to the (increasingly crowded) women’s basketball landscape.

January 05, 2026

Celebrating the holidays with a heaping helping of basketball and football

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Save one lockout-canceled holiday in 1998, the NBA’s top teams have met on December 25th each year since 1947, just one year after the Basketball Association of America (which later became the NBA) was formed.

December 24, 2025

The four hottest players in NCAA women’s hoops this week

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Four hoopers are heating up the hardwood.

December 12, 2025

Breaking down the WNBA’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement proposal

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ICYMI, the WNBA and its players association agreed to a six-week collective bargaining agreement (CBA) extension on Sunday. One day later, the league dropped its latest proposal…and raised a whole lot of eyebrows. As the WNBPA questions the league’s math amidst plans to reject the offer, we’re breaking down what was included and where things stand now.

December 03, 2025

Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike becomes first player to sign with Saudi-backed Project B

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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.

November 07, 2025

NBA betting scandal sees three prominent figures arrested

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Three people with ties to the NBA were among the 34 arrested yesterday in connection to a multiyear FBI investigation into illegal betting. Here’s “the gist” on the two indictments (one tied to rigged poker games and the other to illegal sports wagers) and what the FBI director deemed the NBA’s “insider trading saga.” Buckle up.

October 24, 2025

Toronto Tempo hire Sandy Brondello as the franchise’s first head coach

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Former NY Liberty head coach (HC) Sandy Brondello is heading north, tapped as HC for the expansion squad Toronto Tempo on Wednesday. Grab a whiteboard and a marker: We’re breaking down the Xs and Os of the league’s coaching moves.

October 24, 2025

Sports News

Breaking down the 2025–26 NBA season

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October 21, 2025

After yet another whirlwind offseason, the NBA is officially back with tonight’s juicy doubleheader. The first game of the season tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder hoist the franchise’s first-ever banner before taking on the Houston Rockets. In classic GIST fashion, today’s newsletter has everything you need to know about the 2025–26 campaign — ball is definitely life.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #520

Banned for accepting tuition money: Diving into the complicated NCAA sports landscape

January 06, 2026

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Banned for accepting tuition money: Diving into the complicated NCAA sports landscape

The college sports landscape is a wonky place.

And that’s an understatement. Between NIL rules, the transfer portal, and constantly changing eligibility requirements, it’s tough to keep up with what is and isn’t allowed.

That’s why we’re taking today’s episode of The GIST of It to directly compare two college athletes: Baylor men’s basketball center James Nnaji and Augsburg University runner Mohammed Bati. Nnaji was drafted to the NBA in 2023 but is now competing as a college athlete, while Bati has been banned from competing after accepting $6K in donations to pay his tuition. Make it make sense.