Drink water and mind your business
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey there!
Before you tackle your to-do list this Monday, grab your emotional support water bottle and fill your cup with some sports news. Let’s stay hydrated.
— WNBA legend Sue Bird, shouting out her fiancée and former USWNT star, Megan Rapinoe, during Bird’s induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Joining her in the 2025 class are fellow hoops icons Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. Applause, applause, applause.
NFL
🏈 Didn’t know we were starving
The GIST: The first week of NFL action is always full of surprises, like Indianapolis Colts quarterback (QB) Daniel Jones’ stunning redemption arc. Pull out your best celly, because there were plenty of other highlights from a show-stopping start to the season.
🦬 Buffalo Bills use fourth-quarter rally to stun Baltimore Ravens: Much of the talk ahead of last night’s primetime tilt centered on two MVP–caliber QBs: The Bills’ Josh Allen and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, and for good reason. But even the best football analysts couldn’t have predicted the 15-point fourth-quarter comeback reigning MVP Allen authored in the Bills’ thrilling 41–40 win.
- Allen led three touchdown (TD) drives in the fourth quarter alone, ultimately erasing a dominant offensive performance from the Ravens as newly-acquired Bills kicker Matt Prater sealed the deal with a game-winning field goal. Never say die.
⏰ Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers turns back the clock in debut: Well, sort of. Though noticeably less mobile than he was before his 2023 Achilles tear, the 41-year-old Rodgers was as efficient as ever, throwing four TD passes in the Steelers’ 34–32 win over his scorned ex, the NY Jets.
- That’s not to say NY’s on the losing end of this messy breakup though: Their new QB, former Steelers signal caller Justin Fields, was also a force in his Jets debut, throwing a TD and running in two more in the narrow loss.
❤️🩹 Injury list already growing: Week 1 isn’t even over yet, but rosters across the league are already feeling the pain. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy played just three snaps before dislocating his shoulder on Friday, and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle injured his hamstring yesterday. Not great, Bob.
US Open
🎾 Game, set, match
The GIST: In the face of one presidential distraction, this weekend belonged to the US Open stars, with repeat winners crowned in the grand finale at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
🏆 Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner, rises to world No. 1: The 22-year-old became the second-youngest player to capture six Grand Slam titles yesterday, dropping his only set of the tourney as he overpowered Sinner in four sets.
- The Spaniard played with his signature flair and speed, closing the match with a powerful ace. Alcaraz and Sinner evenly split this year’s four major titles, competing against each other in the final three. The Big Two aren’t going anywhere.
🍾 World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defends her title: Sabalenka soundly defeated now–No. 4 American Amanda Anisimova 6–3, 7–6 on Saturday to become the first back-to-back US Open women’s champ since Serena Williams in 2014. The win marks Sabalenka’s fourth career Grand Slam victory, a very worthy cause for champagne celebrations.
- And last but not least, on Friday, No. 3 Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe upset top-seeded Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková in the women’s doubles final, clinching their second US Open title just one year after Canadian Dabrowski battled breast cancer. Incredible.
🏀 Indiana Fever clinch second straight postseason berth
This season has been long and winding for the Fever, but the shorthanded squad used yesterday’s 94–65 win over the Washington Mystics to punch the WNBA’s penultimate playoff ticket. Aliyah Boston continues to do it all for Indy down the stretch, dropping a double-double and five assists in the win.
- As for that eighth and final spot? It’ll go to either the Seattle Storm or LA Sparks, who kept their playoff dreams alive with yesterday’s 91–77 win over the Dallas Wings. But a Storm win over the Golden State Valkyries tomorrow secures their spot, while the Sparks need two dubs and a lucky break.
🏉 Quarter-finals set at the Women’s Rugby World Cup
And sadly, the world No. 8 Americans won’t be one of the eight teams competing, despite finishing group stage play with a respectable 1-1-1 (wins, loss, ties) record. The red, white, and blue’s ultimate undoing? Point differential. Their lopsided 69–7 opening match loss to No. 1 England proved too much to overcome. Still proud.
🏎️ Red Bull’s Max Verstappen logs first race win since May at Italian Grand Prix
An inspired lap during Saturday’s qualifying meant Verstappen started at the front of the grid for yesterday’s race — and the Dutchman never looked back, leading for all but one lap en route to his third win of the season, much to the delight of the Italian crowd.
- As for the championship-leading McLarens, Lando Norris finished second, just ahead of his teammate, Oscar Piastri. But there’s tea: After a slow pit stop, McLaren controversially invoked team orders to let Norris pass Piastri. Gentlemen always keep their pinkies up.
🎓🏈 USF nabs biggest upset of college football Week 2 in intrastate rivalry
A walk-off field goal sealed the Bulls’ stunning 18–16 victory over then–No. 13 Florida at the Swamp on Saturday. USF’s second upset of a top-25 team in as many weeks launched them to No. 18 in the rankings and put Florida coach Billy Napier, who narrowly avoided being fired last year, back in the hot seat with an unbelievably brutal schedule ahead. Yikes.
Together With Upper Deck
✨ Women’s soccer legend Alex Morgan will forever be that girl — and now she has the collectibles to prove it. Morgan is the newest Upper Deck spokesperson, making the sports collectibles company the place to get authentic, exclusive memorabilia celebrating Morgan’s storied career.
- Take a stroll down memory lane and check out our editorial on Morgan’s incomparable legacy before browsing Upper Deck’s Alex Morgan collection — pink pre-wrap headband not included.
Here’s what passed The GIST squad’s vibe check this week:
📰 What to read
Our editorial on women’s soccer legend Alex Morgan’s incredible career, created in collaboration with Upper Deck — a powerhouse in the women’s sports collectibles space and the only place to get authentic Morgan memorabilia.*
🔬 What to follow
Gatorade’s research. The Gatorade Sports Science Institute is launching a new study specifically for female athletes to analyze their sweat and how it differs from their male counterparts. Several WNBA teams, including the NY Liberty, are taking part.
🏀 What's making a difference
This Congo basketball academy. Despite years of war and violence, a youth basketball academy in the city of Goma has provided a lifeline for thousands of children over the past two decades, offering an island of discipline amid the chaos.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. Goals.Question of the Day
After a jam-packed weekend sports slate, we want to know: Which of the options below was your top highlight from the weekend?
🎾 Carlos Alcaraz’s smooth volley shot during his US Open championship win
⛳ Rory McIlroy’s thrilling victory at the Irish Open
🏈 Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins' epic one-handed touchdown catch
⚽ Kansas City Current Temwa Chawinga going coast to coast for the goal
🏀 Naismith Hall of Fame induction for WNBA legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, Grace DePaull, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Katie Kehoe Foster. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.