May the fourth be with you
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
May the 4th be with you!
And the force is especially strong on this first Monday in May. Time to slay the day together.
- P.S. We’ll be sending out a Mother’s Day edition of The Group Chat this Sunday. If you’d rather not receive that newsletter, simply click here. It won’t impact your regular GIST subscription.
— World No. 1 Nelly Korda after winning this weekend’s Riviera Maya Open in Mexico — her third victory just 10 events into the LPGA season. Living it up.
NBA and NHL Playoffs
🏆 The thrill of the fight
The GIST: While the first of the NHL conference semis started with a bang, this weekend was all about the best two words in sports — Game 7 — with three do-or-die NBA playoff games and another in the NHL. That’s a whole lot of heart-pumping action.
🏀💙 Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons beat the odds: Just 4.4% of NBA teams have ever overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series. This weekend, it happened twice.
- Sixers superstar Joel Embiid’s 34 points paced Philly to a 109–100 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday, marking the first time since 1982 the Sixers have beaten their archnemesis in a postseason series. Redemption? Arced. Next opponent: NY Knicks.
- The Pistons were in danger of becoming just the ninth No. 1 seed in league history to lose to a No. 8. Instead, they won their first playoff series since 2008, using 32 points from Cade Cunningham to seal yesterday’s 116–94 win over the Orlando Magic. Next opponent: ⬇️
🏀⚔️ Cleveland Cavaliers dismantle shorthanded Toronto Raptors: Must-win games have not been kind to Cavs star James Harden…until last night. Harden’s streak of three straight Game 7 losses ended with Cleveland’s 114–102 win as six Cavs scored in double-figures to punch the Cavaliers’ second round ticket.
🏒❤️ Montreal Canadiens outlast Tampa Bay Lightning: After a thrilling series that saw all seven games decided by one goal and four require overtime, the youngest team in the playoffs are second-round bound. This series was a lesson in exceptional goaltending, but Montréal’s Jakub Dobeš had the last laugh, making 28 saves in last night’s 2–1 win. Next opponent: Buffalo Sabres.
Kentucky Derby
🐴 Nevertheless, she persisted
The GIST: A horse named Golden Tempo defied the 23-1 odds during the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, surging from last-place to win the Run for the Roses. With the victory, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman horse trainer to ever win the famed race — and her story is a true tale of groundbreaking grit.
❓ What does a horse trainer do?: Much like an athletic trainer, a racehorse trainer is responsible for the animal’s conditioning, including exercise, diet, and race prep, as well as coaching the jockey on how to best lead the horse. Horse racing is a historically male-dominated (and notably ethically dubious) sport.
🏇 From med school to the stables: DeVaux, who grew up around horses in Saratoga Springs, NY, was questioning her path as a pre-med student when she started working in a stable, initially just walking the animals. She worked her way up, eventually pursued her training license, and won her first race in 2019, notching nearly 300 wins (and earning more than $32M) since.
- Saturday was DeVaux’s first start at the Kentucky Derby, adding to the magic of her triumph.
- Afterwards, she said, “It really is an honor to be able to be that person for other women or other little girls to look up to. You can dream big or you can pivot. You can come from one place, and you can make yourself a part of history.” Now that’s trailblazing.
⏩ What’s next: The Kentucky Derby is the first of three races in the vaunted Triple Crown. The Preakness is next on May 16th, but DeVaux isn’t sure if Golden Tempo will compete, saying the decision is “up to the horse” and dependent on his health. Stay tuned.
Together With Major League Volleyball
📢 Let's get loud
🏐 Did you know you can watch the Major League Volleyball finals for free? The semifinal fun starts this Thursday, May 7th at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ION, and you do not want to miss this major moment in women’s sports history:
- 🏆 The Stakes: Four elite teams. Two electrifying matches. One ticket to the finals.
- 🏟️ The Setting: North Texas’s Comerica Center
- 💰 The Spoils: One. Million. Dollars.
Experience some of the world’s best women’s volleyball for free across live television and all streaming platforms nationwide. Talk about an ace.
🏎️ Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli wins action-packed Miami Grand Prix
The 19-year-old extended his World Drivers’ Championship lead, overcoming a chaotic opening lap and safety car to win his third consecutive Grand Prix, finishing just ahead of reigning champ (and sprint race winner) McLaren’s Lando Norris.
- Between updated race regulations and a whole host of car upgrades, the gap between the Silver Arrows and the field has closed some — but it’s still Antonelli’s world.
- The hard-fought victory was historic for the young Italian, who became the first driver in Formula 1 history to flip his first three successive pole positions into three straight race wins. Bellissimo, indeed.
🏒 No. 3 seed Minnesota Frost surge to 1-0 series lead over No. 1 Montréal Victoire
The two-time defending champs reminded folks that they’ve been here before, winning Saturday’s Game 1 5–4 in overtime to take an early lead in the five-game semis series. However, the Frost could be without Britta Curl-Salemme for tomorrow’s 7 p.m. ET Game 2 — the controversial, high-scoring forward could face disciplinary action following a check to the head against the Victoire.
- On the other side of the bracket, the No. 4 Ottawa Charge bounced back with Saturday’s 3–1 win over the No. 2 Boston Fleet, leveling the series at 1-1.
🎓🥎 Second annual AUSL college draft set for tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Seventeen Golden Tickets and many happy tears later, a new class of players will join the newly expanded Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) tonight ahead of June’s season start. Two pitchers are expected to top draft boards: Tennessee flame thrower Karlyn Pickens and Texas Tech superstar NiJaree Canady. Batter up.
⚽ NWSL’s Boston Legacy secure first-ever win in wild women’s soccer weekend
Boston defender Bianca St-Georges sealed the deal in the 94th minute, scoring the game-winner in the expansion squad’s inaugural victory — a thrilling 3–2 dub over fellow 2026 debutante, Denver Summit FC.
- And across the pond, the UEFA Women’s Champions League final is set. Spanish powerhouse Barcelona will take on Michelle Kang’s OL Lyonnes later this month. Tale as old as time.
🏒 This is definitely cause for a celly — we’re giving away a trip for two to the PWHL Finals. Enter now, and you could be the lucky winner.
What’s on the line:
- 🎟 Two tickets to a PWHL Finals game
- 💰$1K in cash for travel accommodations
The race for the Walter Cup is underway. Enter for your chance to experience history being made…on us.
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 Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.