It’s a femininomenon
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Friday!
And happy one week until the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. This time next week we’ll be sending out the first edition of our daily Olympic newsletters, covering all the latest from Milano Cortina from Monday through Friday. Can hardly wait, but first we need to discuss today’s news…
— Tennis GOAT Serena Williams, keeping it noncommittal when asked if she was planning a comeback to the sport during a Wednesday appearance on the “Today” show. Watching, waiting…
Australian Open
🎾 It’s going Down (Under)
The GIST: With very few surprises along the way, the star-studded Australian Open finals are finally set, with the women’s title match tomorrow at 3:30 a.m. ET and the men’s Sunday at the same time. Stock up on coffee and read on for what to expect at Rod Laver Arena.
👊 World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to face No. 5 Elena Rybakina: Hard-court phenom Sabalenka is through to her fourth consecutive Happy Slam final and rolling with a chance to clinch her third career Aussie Open title.
- She hasn’t dropped a set all tourney — but neither has Rybakina, who lost to Sabalenka in the 2023 Australian Open final, but got the best of her during November’s WTA Finals. This is going to be good.
💪 No. 4 Novak Djokovic going for record-setting 25th Grand Slam against No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz: 38-year-old Djokovic turned back the hands of time to defeat No. 2 Jannik Sinner in a five-set classic to advance to his first Slam final since 2024. The Australian Open has always been the Joker’s stage, and with the win, he’d set the record for most Grand Slam titles in the Open Era.
- The only obstacle? No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who is chasing history as well after surviving a dramatic five-set thriller of his own. The Spaniard could become the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam. Make sure you’re up for this one.
TOGETHER WITH Adobe Express
🎨 Create memories, on and off the field
🏈 The Super Bowl is almost here — it’s time to get in the game. Thanks to Adobe Express, you can be ready for every touchdown celebration and viral moment with their NFL design templates. Here are a few ideas we have cooking:
🧥 Rating and recreating your favorite player’s pregame ’fit
📸 Then and now — a photo of when you first became a fan next to one of you watching your team win it all
🎤 Halftime show reactions because we’re hyped for Bad Bunny
The Big Game is the ultimate cultural moment, so go ahead and create (and share!) some memories. Get Vince Lombardi Trophy ready with Adobe Express.
🇺🇸⚽ USWNT star and NWSL legend Crystal Dunn announces retirement
A World Cup, an Olympic gold medal, an NWSL MVP, and a Golden Boot trophy? It can only be versatile defender Dunn, who’s hanging up her cleats 13 years after making her first appearance for the senior national team. Dunn notched 160 caps for the USWNT, scoring goals and shutting down countless foes along the way. Miss her already.
🏀 Milwaukee Bucks engaging in trade talks for 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Rumor has it the two-time NBA MVP is looking for a new home, but it’s TBD whether that happens before next week’s February 5th trade deadline, especially considering both the Bucks and Antetokounmpo shut down trade talks less than a month ago. Milwaukee’s reportedly not in a rush to deal their superstar as they seek a fair return.
- An Antetokounmpo blockbuster would drop jaws ahead of a suspiciously quiet trade deadline, but there are other big names on the trading block, like NY Knick Karl-Anthony Towns and a little someone named LeBron. Watch this space.
🎓 Michigan, Michigan State headline spicy college sports rivalry weekend
🏀 Tonight’s 8 p.m. ET men’s basketball battle tips off the high-stakes showdowns as the No. 3 Wolverines shoot for revenge after going 0-4 against the No. 7 Spartans over the last two seasons. What’s on the line? Intrastate bragging rights — oh, and sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.
- Then comes Sunday’s 12 p.m. ET women’s game. Ranked No. 9 (Michigan) and No. 13 (Michigan State), both forever foes returned key scorers after splitting two games last year, including sophomore Wolverine Syla Swords and Spartan senior Grace VanSlooten.
- 🤸 Rounding out the Great Lakes State battle is a flipping fantastic finale as the No. 10 Michigan women gymnasts host No. 15 MSU Sunday at 3:45 p.m. ET. Keep an eye on the beam, where Michigan redshirt sophomore Kayli Boozer has earned two 9.950s this season.
Presented By Unrivaled
🔥 Welcome to The Heat Check, our weekly spotlight on Unrivaled’s can’t-miss matchups. Four teams are taking a business trip to Philadelphia, PA, this weekend for the league’s first-ever Tour stop. Order a cheesesteak (extra whiz) as we dig into the first game on the docket:
🌬️ Breeze BC at 👻 Phantom BC — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — TNT
- Will Breeze’s dynamic one-two punch of Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga prevail, or does the well-balanced Ghost Gang — who lead the league in assists — have the edge? TBD, but one thing’s for sure: Philly is Unrivaled.
⛳ LPGA: HGV Tournament of Champions — Today through Sunday — GOLF Channel/NBC
- World No. 17 Nasa Hataoka has a one-stroke lead after round one of the season-opening tourney. Hot on her tail? No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, No. 11 Lottie Woad, and No. 6 Nelly Korda. Just getting started.
🏌️ PGA: Farmers Insurance Open — Today through Sunday — GOLF Channel/CBS
- While ranked No. 255 worldwide and currently tied for 101st after yesterday’s first round, all eyes are on Brooks Koepka this weekend as the former LIV golfer makes his dramatic return to the PGA Tour. A trendsetter, if you will.
🏉 HSBC Rugby Sevens — Today through Sunday — Paramount+
- Last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup was a femininomenon. Now it’s time to literally run it back with Sevens, the small-sided, fast-paced version that captivated fans during the Summer Olympics. With games just 14 minutes long, blink and you’ll miss ’em.
💅 How to stay responsible
Turns out, you can have way more fun when you’re responsible — and FanDuel gets that. Check out how you can manage your gaming activity (deposit limits, spend limits, and time limits) and fully enjoy betting on next weekend’s Big Game.*
⚽ What’s so back
Ted Lasso. The hit TV show will return for season four this summer, with everyone’s favorite coach set to take the helm of a women’s team. Smells like potential to us.
🏈 What to read
This article detailing why one Hall of Fame voter didn’t cast his vote for Bill Belichick amid continued collective shock that the NFL great didn’t make it to Canton in his first year on the ballot. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t because of Spygate.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. All in.Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Jessica Aldos, 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.