The coat felt around the world
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Roll out that red carpet!
While celebs, including hooper Skylar Diggins, wowed at last night’s Golden Globes, the real must-watch content came from the field of play with down-to-the-wire games aplenty. Today’s newsletter has everything you need to know — lights, camera, action.
— The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), blasting the WNBA just before the (already extended) deadline to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expired on Friday night. The league responded with their own statement, recognizing the need to build upon momentum.
- So what now? We’ve officially entered a status quo period, maintaining the conditions of the current CBA while both sides work toward a new one. To be continued.
NFL Playoffs
🏈 Born to be wild
The GIST: NFL Wild Card weekend lived up to the hype as four out of five games came down to a single score. Here’s who advanced to next week’s Divisional Round with one Wild Card game still to go — scroll to the bottom for a preview of tonight’s Monday Night Football throwdown between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. So much football, so little time.
💙 New England Patriots defense powers first playoff win in seven years: The Pats shut down LA Chargers quarterback (QB) Justin Herbert last night, ousting LA 16–3. The low-scoring affair went without a touchdown (TD) until the fourth quarter, when New England QB Drake Maye connected with former Chargers wide receiver Hunter Henry.
⛏️ San Francisco 49ers overcome injury to top Philadelphia Eagles 23–19: The defending champion Eagles were eliminated on their home turf by a resilient Niners squad. SF tight end George Kittle went down with a torn Achilles in the second quarter, but the 49ers powered on, with running back Christian McCaffrey posting two TDs.
🦬 Buffalo Bills advance with epic tush push: An NFL playoff record–tying four fourth-quarter lead changes later, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen ultimately got the job done…with a little help from his friends. Allen was essentially carried into the end zone to score the game-winning TD in Buffalo’s 27–24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whatever it takes.
🐻 Chicago Bears stun rival Green Bay Packers: Speaking of fiery fourth quarters, da Bears were trailing their divisional foe Packers 21–3 at halftime on Saturday, but went on to score a whopping 25 points in the final frame and pull off a 31–27 win — their first playoff victory in 15 years. Look good, play good.
🐏 LA Rams hold on to defeat Carolina Panthers: Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua — aka the league’s best pass catcher — did what he does best on Saturday, recording 10 receptions (including one TD) in the Rams’ closer-than-expected 34–31 win over the Panthers. Plus, X-rays on Rams QB and MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford’s injured finger came back negative after the W. Phew.
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Unrivaled
🏀 Another one in the basket
The GIST: The first week of Unrivaled’s sophomore season is nearly in the books and the high-energy 3v3 league is already grabbing headlines. From record-tying performances to undefeated showdowns, scroll on for the 411 on the basketball league bringing the heat in Miami. Dale.
🔥 Phantom BC’s Kelsey Plum ties league record for single-game points: Plum Dawg brought the bark on Saturday, scoring 38 points in her Phantom’s 94–60 win over the Lunar Owls, tying Napheesa Collier and Chelsea Gray for the league’s single-game point record. But that’s not all: Plum also recorded eight rebounds and 11 assists, nearly notching the league’s first triple-double.
🤝 Chelsea Gray’s Rose BC hands Paige Bueckers’ Breeze BC first loss of the season: Flower power was in full effect last night as the defending champs topped the Breeze 73–69 behind 37 points from Gray, who currently leads the league in scoring. They don’t call her the Point Gawd for nothing.
👀 Star-powered Monday night double-header on deck: Speaking of undefeated squads, Breanna Stewart’s 2-0 Mist BC will face Plum’s short-handed Phantom at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Alyssa Thomas’ middling Laces BC vs. the struggling Lunar Owls at 8:45 p.m. ET. Hoop to it.
P.S. If you enjoyed this story, subscribe to Unrivaled Weekly, our Friday newsletter recapping the hottest stories around the league. Swish swish.Powered By Invisalign
🏈 Following your dreams can come with some bumps. Just ask Diana Flores, a pro flag footballer who was told “no” countless times before becoming a two-time world champion. Flores knows breaking barriers isn’t just about being the best: Changing the world can start with a smile.
- Flores is an Invisalign® Game Changer, committed to growing women’s flag football for the next generation of girls on the gridiron.
- She invested in her own smile using Invisalign clear aligners to help her feel her best and improve her oral health. Because when you lead with confidence, anything is possible.
🎓🏈 No. 1 Indiana, No. 10 Miami will meet in College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship
The Hoosiers lived up to their top seed in Friday’s semifinal, steamrolling No. 5 Oregon 56–22 behind Heisman Trophy–winning QB Fernando Mendoza’s five TDs. The Miami kid will next face his hometown Hurricanes — who, ICYMI, pulled off a thrilling upset over No. 6 Ole Miss in their semi — for the title one week from today.
- Just like Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, we’re as consistent as ever — keep an eye out for a full CFP championship preview closer to kickoff. And until then, see how you’re faring in our college football bracket challenge. Just heating up.
🏅 Lindsey Vonn wins second World Cup downhill in four races with 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon
The 41-year-old’s comeback six years after retirement was already remarkable — now she’s proving the doubters wrong and looking poised to podium in Milano Cortina. The 2010 Olympic downhill champ finished an impressive 0.37 seconds ahead of second place in Austria on Saturday.
- In other Olympic lead-up news, U.S. Figure Skating named its star-studded team yesterday, headlined by first-timers Amber Glenn and world champ Ilia Malinin, comeback kid Alysa Liu, and veteran ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Just 25 days to go!
🏒 Ottawa Charge extend win streak to six in front of sold-out Halifax Takeover Tour crowd
The Charge own the longest win streak in the PWHL this season after beating the league-leading Boston Fleet 2–1 in a shootout yesterday. And a crowd of 10,452 took in the icy action, Halifax’s second sellout on this Takeover Tour after 10,438 watched the Montreal Victoire top the Toronto Sceptres last month.
- Meanwhile, Québec City hosted a Takeover Tour tilt of their own, with the Victoire shutting out the Vancouver Goldeneyes 1–0 before 14,624 cheering fans. Let the expansion team campaigns continue.
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⚾ Who’s on the move
Three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Alex Bregman. After a one-year stint with the Boston Red Sox, the coveted free agent inked a five-year, $175M deal with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Swinging for the fences.
🏅 What to look forward to
Famed singer Andrea Bocelli performing at the Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony, joining a lineup that already included Mariah Carey. Music to our ears.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Yeehaw.Take Your Pick
Houston Texans
Pittsburgh Steelers
As you read, the Wild Card round isn’t over just yet: The Houston Texans and their formidable defense take on the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET in what could be veteran QB Aaron Rodgers’ last NFL game. Which team do you think will win?
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Editing by Katie Kehoe Foster. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Elisha Gunaratnam. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.