We’re going to need more screens
From The GIST (hi@thegistsports.com)
Finally Friday!
The only thing that could make a spring weekend better? Some stellar sports, of course. Speaking of…
— LA Sparks legend Lisa Leslie, whose historic 12-year WNBA career will officially be honored with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena. Talk about a slam dunk.
🏒 Montréal Victoire take early Walter Cup Finals lead over Ottawa Charge
With just two seconds remaining in regulation (and Montréal star Laura Stacey helped off the ice), the Victoire’s Nicole Gosling leveled the score at 2–2 last night, forcing overtime (OT) in the face of a dominant Charge performance. Then as OT began, Stacey returned and ultimately assisted a quick game-winner off Abbey Roque’s face mask. Buckle up, Game 2 is tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.
- In more pucktastic news, PWHL Hamilton and Las Vegas are officially official, with both cities joining Detroit as 2026-27 expansion squads. Your move, San Jose.
🏒 Colorado Avalanche rally from three-goal deficit to eliminate Minnesota Wild in five games
The last time the Avs won a playoff series on home ice was 2008, back when Flo Rida was all about boots with the fur. But that changed with Wednesday’s 3–2 OT win — just the second time Colorado’s reached the conference finals in the last eight years despite leading the league in wins during that stretch. And that’s on exorcizing demons.
- The Avs’ next opponent — the Vegas Golden Knights — ousted the Anaheim Ducks with last night’s 5–1 win. The Montreal Canadiens (up 3-2) will aim to do the same to the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET after securing a 6–3 victory yesterday.
🏀 NBA conference final tickets on the line ahead of tonight’s Game 6 double-header
The already-advanced NY Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder will both know their conference final foes before the weekend wraps. The Cleveland Cavaliers (up 3-2) used Wednesday’s 117–113 OT win to push the top-seeded Detroit Pistons to the brink of elimination. The Cavs can now secure their first conference final berth since 2018 tonight at 7 p.m. ET on home court.
- Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs (up 3-2) — led by the inimitable 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama — have a chance to tie a bow on their series vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. ET. If needed, both Game 7s would be on Sunday. High-stakes hoopla, loading.
Together With Major League Volleyball
🏐 A true serve
🏐 ICYMI (or if you simply want to relive the magic), Major League Volleyball (MLV) crowned its winner last weekend in a showdown made for prime time.
Here’s your highlight reel of the ace-worthy action:
- 🏆 Dallas Pulse claimed the title, beating Omaha Supernovas in a thrilling five-set victory.
- ⭐️ Match MVP Sofia Maldonado Diaz set the tone with 26 kills while middle blocker Tristin Savage shut down the Supernovas’ offense with seven blocks to claim the W.
- ✅ Capping off an incredible first season in the league, Dallas Pulse walked away with not only the MLV trophy, but also the $1M bonus. Bump, set, slay.
Athletes played for over 400K fans throughout the league, with all of the 116 matches broadcast. Wins all around.
NCAA softball
🎓🥎 Nothing soft about it
The GIST: The 64-team NCAA softball national championship tournament swings into action today with 16 double-elimination Regionals on deck. It’s all part of a massive moment for the sport before the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season begins next month. Batter up, baby.
📈 Parity on the rise in the college game: The natty tournament has historically seen top seeds dominate, with few upsets en route to the eight-team Women’s College World Series (WCWS). But that’s changed in recent years, inspiring the NCAA to adopt a seeding system aligned with the women’s soccer and volleyball tourneys.
- All to say, anything can happen on the road to Oklahoma City, which begins with this weekend’s double-elimination Regionals, continues with next weekend’s best-of-three Super Regionals, and culminates with the reason for the season: the WCWS.
👀 Storylines to watch: The rise in parity can be traced to a deepening talent pool, underscored by this year’s single-season home run record chase. Three players had a chance to eclipse the mark, but No. 2 UCLA’s Megan Grant got the job done, blasting 38 dingers (mere months after snagging an NCAA basketball title). Watch for the long ball to prevail this postseason.
- As for the defense, the circle is stacked with future AUSL talent: Keep an eye on 2026 No. 1 overall pick Karlyn “flamethrower” Pickens to lead No. 2 Tennessee and NIL darling, No. 2 pick NiJaree Canady, who hopes to take No. 3 Texas Tech back to the title game.
TOGETHER WITH Lilly
🌳 You’re never too old to go outside and play with your friends. In fact, it’s really, really good for you, body and soul.
- Caitlin Clark and Lilly are teaming up to help people find the magic of movement this summer. Backed by 150 years of medicine innovation, Lilly is here to prove movement matters for long-term health. Think pickup games, bike rides, pool time — it all counts.
*Reminder: before beginning any exercise program, be sure to talk to your doctor.
⛳ PGA: PGA Championship — Ongoing through Sunday — ESPN and CBS
- Believe it or not, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler has never led after day one of a major…until now. As one star tops the leaderboard, another is in a precarious position: No. 2 Rory McIlroy finished four over and will need a blistering second round to make the cut.
🏀 WNBA: Indiana Fever vs. Washington Mystics — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET — ION/League Pass
- Stop us if you’ve heard this before but women’s basketball is booming, and the future is bright. Case in point? The youthful starpower headlining both these teams, from the Fever’s Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark to the Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron.
🎾 Italian Open: World No. 4 Coco Gauff vs. No. 10 Elina Svitolina — Tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET — Tennis Channel
- Gauff cruised into her second consecutive Italian Open final by defeating Sorana Cîrstea yesterday. The 22-year-old phenom will face Svitolina for the trophy, marking the first time these powerhouses battle on clay — a perfect appetizer ahead of Gauff’s French Open title defense.
⚽ NWSL: Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville — Sunday at 8 p.m. ET — Victory+
- If yesterday’s The GIST of It episode with USWNT legend Kelley O’Hara was any indication, her free-to-watch Victory+ alt-cast is going to be hella fun — especially with the Royals riding a seven-game unbeaten streak and Racing fresh off a win over the Portland Thorns.
Together With Toyota
🚙 You need more than an SUV — cop yourself a Roam Anywhere Vehicle 4FUN. Whether you planned your trip to the smallest detail or you just want to hit the open road, the 2026 Toyota RAV4 is designed for 4FUN (and wherever the road takes you).
🐻 An ode to Bob Ross by the Chicago Bears — cheese grater included, of course
💚 It already smells like football season for the Seattle Seahawks
📺 The Atlanta Falcons’ take on the iconic SportsCenter commercials
🩵 Doppelgängers but the Tennessee Titans made it their schedule release
⚡ As always, the devil is in the details for the LA Chargers
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.
