Where does the time go?
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Springing forward!
Since yesterday’s International Women’s Day celebrations were an hour shorter, let’s keep the party going into the new week. Every day is a good day to support women in sports, after all.
— Portland Thorns and USWNT star Sophia Wilson (née Smith), who took the pitch in Portland’s 5–1 preseason win against Mexico’s C.F. Monterrey on Friday, her first game minutes since returning from maternity leave. Just four more days until the NWSL regular season kicks off — can’t wait.
WNBA
🏀 Time keeps on slipping
The GIST: The WNBA’s self-imposed March 10th collective bargaining agreement (CBA) deadline is…tomorrow — and despite the exchange of highly-classified counterproposals over the weekend, the two sides have yet to agree on a new deal. Let’s hoop to it.
📌 What’s at stake?: Tomorrow’s deadline marks the date the league says there needs to be a CBA in place to avoid delaying the 2026 season. Notably, the WNBA is already operating on a truncated timeline with free agency, a two-team expansion draft, and the entry draft all still on the to-do list before the season is supposed to tip off on May 8th. *gulps*
- Not to mention, this year’s free agency period is expected to be the most chaotic in league history: In anticipation of a new CBA (and the increases in pay and benefits that come with it), almost every player is a free agent this offseason. That’s a lot of contracts to sign.
⚠️ Revenue sharing remains a sticking point: Though some concessions have been made in areas like housing, charter flights, and salary caps, neither side has budged when it comes to the type of revenue that’s shared. The WNBPA wants a portion of gross revenue, but the league has called that unrealistic, offering a share of net revenue instead.
- Meanwhile, a private letter that appeared to show fragmentation among the WNBPA executive committee leaked last week. The potentially messy turn provided an opportunity for union realignment, and the numbers don’t lie.
- With the clock ticking, some players, including NY Liberty icon Breanna Stewart and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, are pushing for a face-to-face meeting, no matter the length, to “iron it out.” Procure some late-night snacks — we’re banking on a buzzer beater.
🏎️ Mercedes dominate Saturday’s Australian Grand Prix with 1-2 finish
That’s what happens when you build a rocketship. The speedy Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli lived up to the preseason hype, finishing the season opener first and second, respectively. It’s the team’s first one-two finish without Lewis Hamilton in the car since 1955.
- Speaking of the seven-time champ, Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc were hot on Mercedes’ heels…until a blown strategy call cemented Leclerc’s third-place finish, while Hamilton settled for fourth. No ragrets, right?
⚾ Team USA stays undefeated at World Baseball Classic (WBC)
The Americans outscored their opponents 24–6 across their first two Pool Play games, with Kyle “Schwarbomb” Schwarber providing much of the power, including a monster home run in Saturday’s 9–1 win over Great Britain.
- That said, their biggest challenge of Pool B comes tonight at 8 p.m. ET in Team Mexico, the same squad who stunned the U.S. during the 2023 WBC. Good thing reigning National Cy Young winner Paul Skenes will take the mound for this sure-to-be epic showdown.
🎓🏀 No. 3 seed Texas women’s basketball upsets No. 1 South Carolina to win SEC title
Second time’s the charm for the Longhorns, who dressed for revenge in yesterday’s convincing 78–61 conference championship win after falling to the Gamecocks in last year’s SEC title game. The juggernaut SEC is expected to send 10 teams to March Madness, two fewer than the Big Ten, who saw No. 1 UCLA crush No. 2 Iowa 96–45 in their conference final yesterday. Cue the confetti.
- Next up, more of the men’s conference tourneys are starting to tip off — but the weekend’s biggest winner was undoubtedly No. 1 Duke, who earned a 76–61 regular-season win over their archnemesis, No. 17 UNC, on Saturday. Nothing like a little home cooking.
🎓🏒 NCAA women’s hockey national tournament set
Ohio State claimed the No. 1 overall seed in the 11-team field, while Olympic gold medalist Laila Edwards and defending champ Wisconsin nabbed the No. 2 spot following the tourney favorites’ epic WCHA title battle over the weekend. The road to the Frozen Four begins with this Thursday’s regional semifinals — drop that puck.
🇺🇸⚽ Forward Alyssa Thompson scores game-winner, world No. 2 USWNT clinches SheBelieves Cup
Thompson played hero for the Americans, netting this sweet shot in the USWNT’s 1–0 Saturday win over No. 20 Colombia, which earned the red, white, and blue their eighth Emily Sonnett SheBelieves Cup title. The dub also marked the squad’s eighth straight shutout, a great sign as they prepare for three April friendlies against No. 8 Japan.
TOGETHER WITH ION
⚽ Saturdays are for the ballers
📺 Keeping up with your favorite team shouldn't be a full-time job. Even in 2026, spotty coverage often leaves women’s sports fans scrambling to find their squad on TV. Thankfully, ION continues to change the game.
- Your go-to destination for the upcoming NWSL season, ION is dedicating Saturdays to the league. Plus, they’re the only network broadcasting triple headers, so you never have to change the channel. Tune in for all the top matches — including next weekend’s stacked lineup.
⚽ Close the calendar app and grab your remote. ION’s offering dedicated coverage and expert commentary on TV and streaming all season long, allowing you to focus on what matters most: the game. LFG.
🥇 Oksana Masters extended her lead as the most decorated American Winter Paralympian of all-time, clinching her 15th career Winter Games medal and sixth gold by winning the 7.5km sitting biathlon on Saturday. Masters also owns five medals from the Summer Games, where she has competed in para cycling and para rowing. What can’t she do?
- Plus, Masters’ American teammate Kendall Gretsch joined her on the biathlon podium, winning bronze in the same race.
🏒 Team USA para ice hockey’s opening game vs. Italy drew a record crowd on Saturday, as 8,992 fans saw the Americans win 14–1 — but boy did the home crowd roar when Italy scored the first goal.
- The defending champ red, white, and blue are back on the ice today, taking on Germany at 12:05 p.m. ET.
🥈🏂 American snowboarder Noah Elliott led for most of the race, but ultimately took silver in yesterday’s men’s snowboard cross final. That finish gives him a Paralympic medal in every color — we love a complete set.
🥈🏂 Twenty-year-old Kate Delson, the youngest member of the American snowboard team, earned silver in yesterday’s snowboard cross final, her Paralympic debut. Not too shabby.
🥌 The U.S. mixed doubles curling team has a packed day ahead: The squad secured a 7–1 victory against Sweden early this morning, before facing first-place China today at 9:35 a.m. ET and Latvia at 1:35 p.m. ET. Booked and busy.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Elisha Gunaratnam. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.