2016 called
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Friday!
Take a break from that 2016 nostalgia because the present is about to be epic with three days of must-win football on deck. We’ll have an NFL Divisional Round preview in your inbox tomorrow, followed by a College Football Playoff primer on Monday to prep you for the gridiron greatness.
- There’ll be no regular newsletter on that Monday as our team observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but we’ll be back to our usual programming on Wednesday. And with that housekeeping out of the way, hut, hut, here we go…
— High school boys’ basketball player Adrian Stubbs, who broke the Arizona state scoring record on Tuesday when he dropped 100 points in just three quarters. Stubbs has two Division II offers to play college hoops after graduation. One lucky school is about to get a walking bucket.
Australian Open
🎾 First thing’s first
The GIST: The Australian Open, the 100th tennis Grand Slam of the 21st century, begins Down Under on Sunday, aka tomorrow on this side of the world. With the tourney’s largest-ever prize pool (a cool $74.9M) up for grabs, here are the men’s and women’s players to know.
👀 World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Jannik Sinner remain the boys to beat: There are four majors on the tennis calendar, and Alcaraz and Sinner were the only men to win singles at these Slams last year. Many expect the two to meet in yet another final this tourney, but there’s something extra on the line for Alcaraz.
- Having already won Wimbledon, the French Open, and US Open, all the 22-year-old Spaniard needs is a dub Down Under to become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
- That said, there are other guys to watch. All-time Grand Slam leader No. 4 Novak Djokovic reached all four major semis in 2025 (though he’s dealing with injury now), while No. 8 Ben Shelton is seeking redemption after a shoulder injury forced his exit from the US Open.
⭐ Parity apparent in star-studded women’s field: Unlike the men’s side, there were four different women’s Slam winners in 2025: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (US Open), No. 2 Iga Świątek (Wimbledon), No. 3 Coco Gauff (French Open), and No. 9 Madison Keys (Australian Open).
- Sabalenka is a consistent threat on the hard court, while Świątek, like Alcaraz, is chasing a career Grand Slam in Melbourne. Meanwhile, American phenom Gauff is still tinkering with her serve but defeated Świątek in straight sets during United Cup play last week. Crikey!
Unrivaled
🏀 History has its eyes
The GIST: ICYMI, innovative 3v3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled is off and running in Miami, with records falling left and right. We launched Unrivaled Weekly, a Friday newsletter featuring stunning stats and deep analysis, to keep up with all the action — here’s a sneak peek at what you get by subscribing (for free, of course). Buckets on buckets.
🎉 Dearica Hamby sets single-game Unrivaled scoring record: The Vinyl superstar dropped a whopping 40 points in her squad’s lopsided Sunday win over Hive BC, and she did it all without draining a single three-pointer. Hamby and Co’s key to success? The pick-and-roll, which leans into Hamby’s unique skillset and the distinct 3v3 style of play.
- Next up, the Vinyl will put that game plan to the test vs. another hot scorer, Paige Bueckers, and second-in-the-league Breeze BC tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. ET.
👀 Aaliyah Edwards nears consecutive double-doubles record: The Canadian queen has stepped up majorly in her injured Lunar Owls teammate Napheesa Collier’s absence, beginning the season with three straight double-doubles.
- Angel Reese (who is not playing this season) owns the league record with four straight double-doubles, a mark Edwards has a chance to match when the Owls play Mist BC tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET. Hootie hoo, indeed.
PRESENTED BY Amazon Prime
🫂 Making a bad day better
😬 Your alarm didn’t go off because your phone died in the middle of the night. Then you dropped your favorite coffee tumbler, stained your shirt, and just to add injury to insult, stubbed your toe. Some days just stink — thankfully, solutions are available on Prime.
- Prime has everything you need to live smarter, including a reliable alarm clock and your new favorite leak-proof tumbler. Plus, with fast, free delivery, “brighter days ahead” are actually just a few clicks away.
🏈 Super Bowl–winning head coach (HC) John Harbaugh expected to land with NY Giants
Just over a week after being fired by the Baltimore Ravens, where he coached for 18 successful seasons, Harbaugh is reportedly finalizing a deal with the G-Men. Harbaugh went an impressive 180-113 during his Ravens’ tenure, but was let go after missing this year’s playoffs, while New York is desperate for a solid leader after going 4-13 this season.
- That’s one of nine NFL HC vacancies all but filled — the carousel spins on.
🎓🏀 No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball tops No. 4 Texas in SEC showdown
Both squads put on a show in a rematch of November’s all-time great battle, but this time, the Gamecocks came out on top, winning 68–65 at home. This one was a true team effort, with every South Carolina starter posting double-digit points. Teamwork, dream work, right?
⚽ NWSL releases 2026 schedule ahead of first 16-team season
The NWSL dropped its 2026 schedule yesterday with some notable highlights as two expansion teams — Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC — join the fold. The league will broadcast 220 games nationally this season, up from 160 in 2025, and confirmed that Decision Day is here to stay: All 16 teams will compete simultaneously on November 1st, the final day of the regular season.
- The excitement is real, but the NWSL was also dealt two offseason blows earlier this week. First, USWNT and former Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey officially signed with England’s Manchester City on Wednesday, the latest high-profile player to head overseas.
- Hours later, the league’s players association filed a grievance targeting the NWSL’s new “High Impact Player” rule, claiming it violates both their collective bargaining agreement and U.S. labor laws. Welp.
🏒 PWHL Takeover Tour brings first-ever pro women’s hockey game to Washington, D.C.
This season’s 11-city tour stops in the U.S. capital this weekend, when the NY Sirens will take on the Montréal Victoire. It’s an extra special game for Victoire forward Hayley Scamurra, whose father played at the same arena for the NHL’s Washington Capitals from 1975 to 1980. All in the fam.
- Takeover Tour attendance is down year-over-year, but average league attendance outside of the Tour is up 23.3% compared to last season. Who’s to thank? The expansion squad Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent, who are averaging over 11K fans apiece at home.
Presented By Unrivaled
🔥 Welcome back to The Heat Check, our weekly spotlight on Unrivaled’s must-watch showdowns. Prepare to clear your cal because all eight of this weekend’s matchups are appointment viewing — but there’s one topping our list:
👟 Laces BC at 👻 Phantom BC — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — TNT
- These star-studded squads boast matching 2-1 records and two hard-nosed guards ready to go head to head: Laces do-it-all dynamo Jackie Young and Phantom superstar Kelsey Plum, who’s averaging 22.7 points per game. Buckets, incoming.
👀 Where to find the best BBQ
In Texas, of course — that’s why you should enter our Texas Getaway Sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to the Lone Star State. Click here to toss your (cowboy) hat in the ring.*
⚾ Who just got richer
The two-time defending champion LA Dodgers, who signed a coveted free agent, four-time All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, yesterday.
🎾 Who’s making history
Forty-five-year-old Venus Williams, who received a wildcard entry to the Australian Open and will become the oldest woman to compete in the tourney’s main draw when she takes the court tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Giddy on up.Take Your Pick
No. 10 Miami
No. 1 Indiana
As you read, we won’t be back in your inbox recapping sports news until Wednesday, so we have to know: Which team do you think will win Monday’s College Football Playoff title game?
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