In a New York minute
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
Happy hump day!
And happy one week until the NFL season kicks off. We’re celebrating the return to the gridiron with a return of our own: Our city-specific sections covering sports news in Boston, Chicago, DC, Denver, LA, NYC, Philadelphia, and Seattle will be back on September 9th.
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US Open
🎾 Level up, level up
The GIST: Rain or shine, the second round of the US Open begins today, drawing thousands to Disneyland the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for thrilling matches, including last night’s primetime battles. Here’s the latest from Queens:
💪 World No. 4 Coco Gauff serves in opening match: An enormous contrast compared to last year’s serve struggles, Gauff notched five aces (and looked mighty comfortable) in last night’s straight set win over qualifier Zeynep Sönmez. Onto the next one — her second round match is tomorrow.
- And in the late night action, 21-year-old breakout star No. 18 Alex Eala shined bright once more, defeating American Mary Stoiana in straight sets. Making the Philippines proud.
📺 Prepare your second screen for excellent matches all day long. On the men’s side, No. 9 Ben Shelton, No. 12 Frances Tiafoe, and No. 21 Tommy Paul (aka Mr. Paige Lorenze) will compete in the daytime sesh, continuing their quests to become the first American man to win the US Open since 2003. As for primetime, Spanish star No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is back in action tonight.
- Over on the women’s side, No. 3 Jess Pegula takes the court during working hours, with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka competing in the night sesh.
☝️ One more thing: A moment for No. 13 Naomi Osaka’s first-round walkout ’fit. Osaka made Arthur Ashe her runway (again) on Monday, entering the court in a custom Who Decides War hooded robe, arm sleeve, and cornrows — a tribute to Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson.
- Why Iverson? Osaka is a Nike athlete and Nike paid homage to their own basketball roots with this year’s Tennis Slam collection, already seen on other mesh-covered athletes in Queens like Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz.
- Osaka’s playing kit followed that same basketball theme, she just took it one step further by incorporating the approach into her walkout. Can’t wait to see what she rocks today.
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🏀 A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum out for FIBA World Cup
If the U.S. wants to win a fifth straight title, they’ll have to do it without two roster mainstays. Wilson reportedly withdrew due to lingering back issues as the four-time MVP prepares for another playoff run, while Plum will miss the tourney and the rest of the WNBA season with a pesky calf injury. Trying to fill their sneakers? The Washington Mystics duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, who were called in as injury replacements.
- Plum’s sadly not the only one calling it a season: Chicago Sky star Skylar Diggins (who hasn’t played since July 3rd) has been officially ruled out for her team’s final four games. And she didn’t mince words when asked why the Sky lead the league in injuries.
⚾ LA Angels sell for MLB–record $4B
The latest in a flurry of team sales across pro sports, longtime Angels owner Arte Moreno sold the squad to real estate magnate Stan Kroenke yesterday. The Angels acquisition is yet another line in Kroenke’s massive sports portfolio — he also owns the LA Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal.
- A storied franchise, the Angels saw initial success after Moreno bought the team in 2003 but struggled mightily in the latter years of his tenure with their last winning season coming in 2015.
- Kroenke, meanwhile, has been at the helm for a Super Bowl with the Rams, an NBA title with the Nuggets, two Stanley Cups with the Avs, and most recently a Premier League title with Arsenal. Will his winning ways rub off on the Halos? Only time will tell.
🐐⚽ Lionel Messi announces retirement from international soccer
The revered Argentina captain is stepping away from international footy, effective immediately. Messi’s GOATed resume includes six FIFA men’s World Cup (WC) appearances (including three championship matches and one trophy), along with the all-time scoring record of 21 career WC goals.
- Have no fear: Messi’s MLS contract with Inter Miami CF doesn’t expire until 2028. Plus, he’s currently leading the league’s Golden Boot race with 18 goals on the season after scoring four last weekend. Not done yet.
🦇⚽ Gotham FC star Rose Lavelle signs three-year extension with club
It’s NY or nowhere for the creative midfielder, who will stick with Gotham through 2029. A two-time NWSL champ with Gotham, Lavelle was set to become a free agent at the end of the season and reportedly fielded multiple offers from other clubs. Gotham is expected to employ the High Impact Player rule for Lavelle’s new contract — cha-ching.
🔔💚 WPBL: San Francisco Firebells vs. Boston Hunters — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN+
- Today marks one week until the WPBL postseason begins, and this showdown could be a sneak peek of the semifinals to come. All four teams make the playoffs, with the top team (currently the Firebells) facing the No. 4 seed (currently the Hunters) in the first round.
- San Francisco superstar Kelsey Whitmore vs. Boston super slugger Suzuka Yamamoto? Say less.
⚾ MLB: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs — Tonight at 7:40 p.m. ET — MLB.TV
- A battle of National League (NL) Central powerhouses, the Brewers are sitting pretty atop the division, while the Cubs battle for NL Wild Card positioning. Come for the potential playoff preview, stay to see whatever Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong does next.
🏄 World Surf League: Fiji Pro – Ongoing — worldsurfleague.com
- Canada’s Erin Brooks is a woman on a mission: The teen prodigy’s surfing for her second career win on the Women’s Championship Tour, but she’ll have to top wily Australian veteran Isabella Nichols to earn the honor.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, and Lauren Tuiskula. Fact-checking by Elisha Gunaratnam. Ops by Elisha Gunaratnam and Briana Ekanem. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.