Back like she never left
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
It’s World Cup week!
The biggest edition of the tournament ever kicks off right here in North America on Thursday, and you already know we’ll have you covered for all the footy ahead. From watch parties to gametime previews, the fun is just getting started. Can’t wait, but for now let’s scroll.
— Twenty-three time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who, after retiring in fall 2022, officially returns to competitive pro tennis tomorrow, playing doubles with Canadian teen phenom Victoria Mboko at London’s Queen’s Club Championships. Back like she never left.
🏀 NBA: San Antonio Spurs vs. NY Knicks — Today at 8:30 p.m. ET — ABC
- Florals for spring? Famously groundbreaking…kind of like the Knicks (up 2-0) being two wins away from their first NBA title in over half a century. No wonder it’ll cost a pretty penny to see NY attempt to extend the second-longest win streak in NBA playoff history.
- As for the youth-powered Spurs, their lack of playoff experience is showing — and that extends to 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama, whose uncharacteristic crunch-time turnover and missed jumper sealed the Knicks’ Game 2 win. Waiting on divine intervention.
🏒 NHL: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — ABC
- No lead is safe when it comes to the Stanley Cup Final. Despite blowing multi-goal advantages in back-to-back games (and allowing three goals in 39 seconds in Saturday’s Game 3), the Knights still boast a 2-1 series lead behind forward Mitch Marner’s heroics.
- Evidently, this Canes contingent is as resilient as they come, but they have a crucial decision to make in net: go back to Frederik Andersen, the savvy vet who got them here, or stick with Brandon Bussi, who stopped 18 of 19 shots in relief of Andersen in Game 3.
AUSL
🥎 Nothing soft about it
The GIST: Missing softball following last week’s epic Women’s College World Series (WCWS)? You’re in luck. Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) begins its second season tomorrow, boasting more teams, more games, and more ways to watch than ever before. Going, going, gone.
✅ League expands to six teams for first city-based campaign: AUSL operated under a tour-based system last year, meaning this season marks the first with teams playing in their home cities — a more traditional format that will help the league embrace already softball-crazed markets.
- AUSL also added two new squads this season — Oklahoma City Spark and Portland Cascade — bringing the league total to six. Those teams will play 25 regular-season games from tomorrow through mid-July ahead of a historic three-team postseason.
🏆 Defending champ Talons ready to run it back: Now based in Utah, the 2025 champion Talons return much of last year’s title-winning core, including reigning Pitcher of the Year Georgina Corrick and her partner-in-hurling, Montana Fouts. So stacked.
- And if you like offense, may we suggest the Chicago Bandits? They boast 2025 MVP Erin Coffel, along with two of the league’s top three home run hitters last season.
👀 All eyes on softball with improved broadcast deals: After the WCWS put up another year of incredible viewership numbers, fans can rejoice because AUSL is more accessible than ever. The league announced a multi-year distribution deal with ESPN in the offseason and will be in front of all bat and ball enthusiasts worldwide through its strategic partnership with MLB. Knocking it out of the park.
Together With Toyota
☀️ Summer magic happens when your inner child takes the wheel. Meet the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, built for grown-up freedom and youthful exuberance.
- Raw Adrenaline Vehicle 4Fun: RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid models deliver 0–60 mph in as little as 5.4 seconds. Spontaneous plans deserve an instant response time.
- Reverse Aging Vehicle 4Fun: Unlock that big kid energy, the kind that turns errands into adventures and afternoon drives into trips that just keep going.
😏 The 2026 RAV4 is for adulting — but make it fun.
🇺🇸⚽ No. 16 USMNT falls 2–1 to No. 10 Germany in final World Cup tune-up
The score didn’t fall in the Americans’ favor on Saturday, but there’s nothing to flip out over — it was just a friendly and midfielder Antonee Robinson showed the squad’s offensive promise with a banger. Hours later, forward Sophia Wilson scored her first goal since 2024 for the No. 2 USWNT, but the gals fell 2–1 to No. 6 Brazil. Good thing there’s a rematch tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET.
🏆🎾 Two first-time champions crowned at the French Open
After two weeks of player protests, bizarre weather, and historic upsets, world No. 8 Mirra Andreeva (women’s) and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev (men’s) can add Grand Slam champ to their résumés. Nineteen-year-old Andreeva dispatched No. 114 Maja Chwalińska in straight sets on Saturday, while controversial Zverev defeated No. 14 Flavio Cobolli in a marathon five-setter yesterday.
⛳ World No. 1 Nelly Korda clinches back-to-back majors
It’s Korda’s world, and we’re just living in it after the 27-year-old rallied over the back nine yesterday — including sinking a pressure-filled putt on the 18th hole — to clinch the winner’s share of a record-breaking purse at the U.S. Women’s Open. After an uncharacteristically sloppy first round, Korda shone over the final three en route to her fourth career major and second in a row.
🏎️ Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest ever Monaco Grand Prix winner
It was just another day at the office for the 19-year-old phenom, who secured his fifth consecutive race win yesterday. Antonelli’s victory came on the heels of an impressive Saturday qualifying, allowing the World Drivers’ Championship leader to ride his pole position to a 25-point race and extend his championship lead to 66 over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Ka-chow, indeed.
🏒 PWHL Hamilton signs Boston Fleet all-time leading scorer forward Alina Müller
Müller along with Ottawa Charge stars Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark are heading to Hamilton after being left unprotected in the PWHL’s six-phase process to fill out the four new expansion teams. Newcomer Detroit also made moves, signing former Toronto Sceptres forward Daryl Watts to the league’s first four-year contract, as well as polarizing forward Britta Curl-Salemme.
Question of the Day
WNBA Commissioner’s Cup group play continues all week long — and there’s no margin for error: Only the top team from each conference will advance to June 30th’s final, making tomorrow’s 8 p.m. ET game between the undefeated Dallas Wings and Minnesota Lynx all the more interesting.
- The Lynx boast a seven-game win streak (due in large part to rookie Olivia Miles’ inspired play), while the Wings’ most-recent dub was a Paige Bueckers passing masterclass. Which dazzling point guard are you riding with in tomorrow’s tilt?
Together With Outsports
👀 Your next must-follow
🏳️🌈 Courage is contagious. Just ask our friends at Outsports, your must-follow for all things LGBTQ+ sports. Start with one of their latest reads, an interview with the iconic Billie Jean King.
- The tennis legend, trailblazer, and human rights advocate talks coming out, 45 years after she was told not to.
Read the full conversation and follow Outsports for more stories at the intersection of sports, identity, and culture.
Today’s email was brought to you by Alessandra Puccio, Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, and Caroline Price. 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.
