Today is where their book begins
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
The Madness continues!
Yes, it’s April, but March Madness still reigns supreme. The women’s and men’s Final Four tip off tonight and tomorrow, respectively, so of course we’ll have special editions previewing all the hoop-tastic action to come. There’s nothing like championship weekend — let’s get this party started.
— Acclaimed and iconic sports journalist Holly Rowe, part of the recently announced, star-studded LOVB SF ownership group. In Holly we trust.
WNBA expansion draft
🏀 Today is where their book begins
The GIST: The coin has spoken, and the Portland Fire own the No. 1 pick in today’s 3:30 p.m. ET WNBA expansion draft. The Fire and Toronto Tempo will alternate picks in the snake-style, two-round draft, building their inaugural rosters by selecting up to 12 players each from the league’s 13 existing teams.
- The draft rules mirror the ones used in the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft in December 2024 (save the number of protected players, which is now five instead of six), but there’s an added wrinkle this time around: an unprecedented number of free agents.
👀 The free agency conundrum: There are two main types of free agents, unrestricted (UFA) and restricted (RFA). UFAs can sign with anyone, while RFAs can negotiate with other franchises but must allow their current team the right of first refusal. Of the league’s 123 current free agents, a whopping 77 are UFAs — and that’ll have massive expansion draft implications. Let’s discuss.
- 1️⃣ The Fire and Tempo can only draft one UFA each, immediately limiting the player pool. What’s more, expansion squads aren’t drafting the players themselves, just their “rights” and the exclusive ability to ink them to a supermax deal. A UFA could still opt to sign elsewhere.
- 2️⃣ This adds another layer of strategy for both expansion and already existing franchises: Teams could opt to make protection decisions based on which UFAs are expected to re-sign in free agency (a risky endeavor) or trade entry draft picks for expansion draft immunity.
- 3️⃣ So how much of their rosters will the Fire and Tempo actually build out in today’s draft? TBD. With so many UFAs available, including many of the biggest names in the sport, they could lean more heavily on free agency instead.
⭐ UFAs on the move: No one yet because free agents technically can’t sign until April 12th. But some players are making their intentions known both subtly and not-so-subtly. UFAs Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu will be staying put with the NY Liberty, while Canadian UFA Bridget Carleton removed the Minnesota Lynx from her Instagram bio, perhaps in favor of a homecoming. Stay tuned.
🇺🇸⚽ Forward Sophia Wilson was named to the No. 2 USWNT’s April friendlies roster, her first national team nod since giving birth to her daughter, Gianna, in September. The Americans will face No. 5 Japan three times this month, starting in San Jose on the 11th.
🏆 No. 1 overall seed UConn’s sophomore superstar Sarah Strong was named Naismith Player of the Year on Wednesday, while Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph earned College Coach of the Year honors. All in the Huskies family.
🎓 Iowa State women’s basketball junior Audi Crooks, the nation’s second-leading scorer, entered the transfer portal yesterday along with nine of her teammates following the Cyclones’ first-round March Madness exit. Watch this space.
🏀 Potential 2026 No. 1 WNBA draft pick Awa Fam joined Project B on Wednesday, giving the new overseas league an international star before it launches later this year.
🏒 The U.S. women’s hockey attendance record is on notice ahead of tomorrow’s sold-out game between the NY Sirens and Seattle Torrent at NY’s famed Madison Square Garden. More than 18K fans are expected to attend, but no one watches women’s sports, right?
- In other PWHL news, the Montréal Victoire became the second team to clinch a playoff spot after shutting out the Vancouver Goldeneyes 3–0 on Wednesday.
🎓🥎 Red-hot hitter alert. Less than two months into the NCAA softball season, and No. 3 Oklahoma freshman Kendall Wells already broke the SEC single-season home run record, blasting her 27th dinger of the year on Tuesday. More where that came from.
🏈 Veteran quarterback (QB) Kirk Cousins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday, and will likely help shepherd Heisman Trophy and National Championship–winning QB Fernando Mendoza, who the Raiders are expected to select No. 1 overall in the upcoming NFL Draft. It’s like bring your son to work day.
⛳ PGA: Valero Texas Open — Ongoing through Sunday — GOLF Channel
- World No. 107 Tony Finau is “Choosin’ Texas,” tied for second after yesterday’s opening round. But he’s playing for more than just the $1.76M check. If he wins, he’ll receive a bid to his ninth straight Masters, which tees off in six days.
⚽ NWSL: Angel City FC vs. Orlando Pride — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET — Prime Video
- Fire meets fire in this primetime match. LA and Orlando both boast players with three goals apiece already this season: Undefeated ACFC midfielder Sveindís Jónsdóttir and Pride forward Barbra Banda. Golazos.
🏒 NHL: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — ESPN
- The Eastern Conference standings are tight as ever, and both Atlantic Division squads are pushing for the playoffs. The Lightning will be skating to claim the top spot, while the Bruins are hoping to retain their Wild Card lead. Expect lamp lights aplenty.
So much content, so little time. Here are the sports articles and interviews that had GIST HQ talking this week.
🏀 Geno Auriemma gave a viral answer about body language. He stands by it 10 years later (The Athletic)
💪 The WNBA Players Didn’t Just Get Paid—They Took Control With a New CBA (The Ringer)
⛳ Golf’s post-Tiger Woods era has officially arrived (Yahoo Sports)
🤑 In NCAA athletics, student-athletes are often choosing deal over degree (Andscape)
👟 Emma Bates, Mom-to-Be (Ali on the Run Show)
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.