Cue the comeback
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Today's the day!
Hoops fans, rejoice — the WNBA’s 30th season officially tips off today, and some fans are already riding the emotional roller coaster (hugs to the Kate Martin stans). You already know a Special Edition with all the juicy deets about this year’s campaign is headed for your inbox later today.
- P.S. Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, along with our The Group Chat edition on sports and motherhood. If you’d rather not receive that newsletter, click here. It won’t impact your regular GIST subscription.
PWHL
🏒 Skate and slide
The GIST: And just like that, one team is one win away from clinching their spot in the PWHL Finals. Scroll on for all the puck party details.
💪 No. 1 seed Montréal Victoire top No. 3 Minnesota Frost, take 2-1 series lead: Things got physical in St. Paul, but the Victoire held tight to score two second-period goals and top the Frost 2–1, putting them just one dub from their first trip to the Walter Cup Final. Oh, and that win may be mere hours away: Puck drops on Game 4 tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET.
👀 But first, the No. 2 Boston Fleet vs. No. 4 Ottawa Charge series (tied 1-1) resumes: After nearly a week off, the Fleet and Charge return to the ice tonight at 7 p.m. ET for Game 3. Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips was the difference-maker in Game 2, but now that Boston defender Megan Keller’s first playoff goal is behind her, there’s likely more to come. She’s pretty clutch.
- What’s more, these gals also have a quick turnaround ahead, with Game 4 slated for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. ’Tis the season to do that hockey.
☝️One more thing: On Wednesday, the league confirmed that PWHL Detroit is the first of up to four franchises that will debut in the 2027 season. Detroit will play their home games at Little Caesars Arena, a 19,515 person venue that they’ll share with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Vroom vroom.
NBA and NHL Playoffs
🏆 The bags under these eyes are Prada
The GIST: Keeping track of all the playoff action in the NHL and NBA is a full-time job. Good thing your sporty bestie is here to help manage the plethora of playoff games. Let’s do this.
🏒 On the ice:
🌀 The Carolina Hurricanes (up 3-0) are on the cusp of a second straight sweep after topping the shorthanded Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 in last night’s Game 3. This storm is surging ahead of tomorrow’s 6 p.m. ET series-clinching Game 4.
🦬 The NHL’s youth movement is alive and well heading into tonight’s 7 p.m. ET Game 2 between the Buffalo Sabres (up 1-0) and the Montreal Canadiens as the postseason’s two youngest teams clash after a high-scoring Game 1. These kids are alright.
🦆 Consider the script flipped: The Anaheim Ducks (tied 1-1) — one of the NHL’s worst defensive teams — limited the Vegas Golden Knights to just 12 high-danger chances in Wednesday’s Game 2 win. Expect them to rinse and repeat tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET.
❄️ Can anyone slow down the Colorado Avalanche (up 2-0)? So far it’s been a resounding no: The Avs have scored 14 goals through two games vs. the Minnesota Wild with Game 3 slated for tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET.
🏀 On the court:
❤️ The Detroit Pistons’ (up 2-0) suffocating defense was the stuff of nightmares in last night’s 107–97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will need more than 10 points from superstar James Harden to snag a win in tomorrow’s 3 p.m. ET Game 3.
⚡ The defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder (up 2-0) earned their sixth straight playoff win with last night’s 125–107 W over the LA Lakers — and a certain Lakeshow reinforcement isn’t expected back any time soon as tomorrow’s 8:30 p.m. ET Game 3 looms.
💙 Expect tonight’s 7 p.m. ET Game 3 between the NY Knicks (up 2-0) and Philadelphia 76ers to be a battle, especially after Wednesday's Game 2 saw 25 lead changes, the most in a playoff game in more than a decade.
🐴 The San Antonio Spurs (tied 1-1) forced 22 turnovers in Wednesday’s dominant 133–95 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who can’t afford any more sloppiness in tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET Game 3.
Together With Toyota
🏀 Time to assemble your roster
🗺️ Planning your next away stretch? There’s a RAV4 that.
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is built for the whole squad. With features designed for all sports fans, your next road trip will be a *ahem* slam dunk.
- 1️⃣ The Playmaker: Shot-caller and firmly in the (eight-way adjustable) driver’s seat.
- 2️⃣The DJ: Trusted playlist curator and Apple CarPlay wiz.
- 3️⃣The Equipment Manager: Packing is easy with over 70 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded down, but they still deserve a shoutout.
Whether you’re a born navigator or a passenger princess, the RAV4 will be your trip’s MVP.
🎓🥎 No. 3 seed UCLA senior Megan Grant hits 36th home run, inches closer to single-season record
Get yourself a girl who can do it all, from the hardwood to the diamond. Grant demolished her 36th homer of the season in last night’s Big Ten Tournament 6–1 quarter-final (QF) win against No. 11 Penn State — that means both she and Oklahoma freshman Kendall Wells are each one home run away from tying the single-season record (37).
- But while Grant has a chance at No. 37 in today’s semi vs. No. 7 Wisconsin, Wells isn’t so lucky — her Sooners lost 10–5 in last night’s SEC Tournament QF.
🏀 NBA Draft Lottery takes center stage on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET
The stakes are sky-high heading into this year’s lottery: Not only is this draft class absolutely stacked — headlined by projected No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Cameron Boozer (Duke) — but it’s also likely the last season the lottery will exist in its current form. Bad teams use the draft to rebuild, but changes to how top picks are awarded are looming, further upping the ante for 2026.
🎓 Women’s and men’s March Madness expands to 76 teams each in 2027
The most chaotic tournament in sports is getting bigger — but is bigger better? Only time will tell after the NCAA announced yesterday that each tourney’s First Four will expand to 12 total games in both the women’s and men’s brackets. Teams who make the new “Opening Round” will vie for a seed in the traditional 64-team bracket.
⚽ Angel City FC takes on San Diego Wave in SoCal rivalry match
ACFC started this season hot, but have now dropped their last three games, while San Diego is on a two-game losing skid of their own. Even worse: Wave head coach Jonas Eidevall is serving a red card suspension in this game. Will this rivalry showdown spark signs of life in the California squads? Tune in tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. ET to find out.
Together With Toyota
✍️ Your day, like this new season, could be full of surprises — is your ride ready? You’re going wherever your schedule takes you, so why not give yourself a leg-up with the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
- 💪 Handle whatever your day throws your way with all-terrain capabilities.
- ↔️ Take the stress out of errands with over 60 cubic feet of cargo room with the second row folded down.
- 🍃 Go further with hybrid efficiency for when one stop turns into five.
All this in an SUV? That’s an easy W.
Together With Toyota
🏆 We love a player who does it all — and the 2026 Toyota RAV4 is that girl. Go from your weekly grocery haul to the trail to the watch party with ease. Safety, freedom, and joy — now that’s what a RAV’s 4.
🥹 Victor Wembanyama isn’t afraid to cry. His teammates say that’s refreshing (The Athletic)
🏀 LeBron James Isn’t a Spaceship. He’s a Time Machine. (The Ringer)
🏠 How the Commanders returned to D.C.: The wild, unlikely saga of a years-long journey home (The Athletic)
👀 'Hidden Figures,' a Rubik's Cube and a champagne toast: How the WNBA CBA got done (ESPN)
⚽ FIFA faces the World Cup’s toughest opponent: New Jersey (Politico)
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Grace DePaull, and Charlotte Mackenzie. Fact-checking by Bonnie Lee and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Kate Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.