The GIST - The limit does not exist

Say less ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
The GIST
#420 15.10.2021

TGIF!

We have plenty of playoff news to start your weekend on a winning note. Let’s dig in.

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Quote of the day

It’s just incredible to be in that company. I think it just shows female athletes that we have no limit.

— Allyson Felix, reflecting on becoming the most decorated American in Olympic track & field history during her acceptance speech for the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswomen of the Year award. The limit does not exist.

Allyson Felix finishing race during Rio Olympics
Source: Team USA/Giphy

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🏀 WNBA Finals: Papa-paparazzi

Brittney Griner #42 and Skylar Diggins-Smith #4 of the Phoenix Mercury celebrate after defeating the Chicago Sky in Game Two of the 2021 WNBA Finals
Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The GIST: While we’re still recovering from Wednesday’s Game 2 overtime (OT) thriller, Game 3 of the tied best-of-five WNBA finals tips off tonight. Deep breaths.

Game 2 recap: After the Chicago Sky dominated Game 1, things were much more evenly matched in Game 2. The Phoenix Mercury’s Skylar Diggins-Smith was the difference maker, sealing the 91–86 OT win with this smooth finish in the final seconds of play.

Game 3 preview: Both teams took charter flights to the Windy City for Game 3, which tips off tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Of note, the Sky had four players score double figures in their Game 2 loss, and tonight’s sold-out home crowd could be the extra boost they need to secure the W.

  • As for the Mercury, watch out for forward Sophie Cunningham, who returned from a leg injury in Game 2 but still managed to break opposing ankles. Sheesh.

⚾️ MLB Playoffs: And then there were four

Max Scherzer #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after beating the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in game 5 of the National League Division Series
Source: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The GIST: As if WNBA finals stress wasn’t enough, the MLB playoffs featured a do-or-die Game 5 last night, before the two best-of-seven Championship Series (CS) begin tonight. Inhale, exhale.

National League (NL): Last night’s winner-take-all NL Divisional Series (NLDS) Game 5 featured two teams that won over 100 games this season, a treat for baseball fans but a heartbreaker for San Francisco Giants fans, as the LA Dodgers won 2–1.

  • They’ll face the Atlanta Braves in a rematch of last year’s NLCS, which the Dodgers won in a seven-game thriller. First pitch is tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET.

American League (AL): But first, the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros will duke it out in the ALCS beginning tonight at 8:07 p.m. ET.

  • Along with their cheating scandal connection, these squads have plenty of on-field history, having met in the 2017 and 2018 playoffs before winning their most recent World Series titles (Astros in 2017, Red Sox in 2018). Are you not entertained?

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🏈 Football quick hits: Winner winner, chicken dinner

Linebacker Kevin Minter #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after the defense intercepted the Philadelphia Eagles
Source: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

⭐NFL: Surprise, surprise. Quarterback (QB) Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 28–22 to kick off Week 6 last night. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts put up a tough fight, but Brady’s 297 yards and two touchdowns was too much to overcome.

🎓College football: After last week’s heartbreaking loss to No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 25 Texas faces another test from the Sooner State in No. 12 Oklahoma State tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET. And while Oklahoma State is undefeated, this will be their first real challenge this season. Our prediction? The Longhorns will hook ’em.

  • The other key Week 7 matchup? A battle of two undefeated teams: Kentucky vs. Georgia tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET. No. 11 Kentucky’s 6-0 start is impressive, but Georgia and their defense are No. 1. Sorry cat lovers, this one will be all Dawgs.

📺 Weekend watching

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates a third period goal during a game against the New York Rangers
Source: John McCreary/NHLI via Getty Images

🏒NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Washington Capitals — tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET

  • Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin moved into fifth on the all-time goals list on Wednesday. He’ll look to add to his total against the defending Stanley Cup champs.

🏈NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears — Sunday at 1 p.m. ET

  • Veteran Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will face rookie Bears QB Justin Fields, ushering in a new era of this heated rivalry. Tune in on Fox.

⚽️NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC — Sunday at 2 p.m. ET

  • Six teams make the NWSL playoffs, so there’s just a little bit riding on this matchup between the sixth-place Courage and seventh-place Gotham. Catch this one on Paramount+.

The GIST's Picks

👻 No tricks, just treats:

Halloween is right around the corner, but now’s your chance to be an NFL manager for a day, no costume required. Play in our GISTer-only weekly fantasy football contest for a chance to win over $250 in weekly prizes plus up to $5,000 in our season-long leaderboard contest.

  • Click here to get started and return to fanduel.com/gist to submit your picks before Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It’s a scary good time.*
🏀 What to shop:

NBA-themed makeup? Say less. ColourPop’s new NBA line drops today at 1 p.m. ET and we’re eyeing the glitter gel. *adds to cart*

🍷 How to treat yourself:
Before you start planning your holiday shopping list, give yourself a gift first: a chance to win a luxurious getaway to San Luis Obispo, California. With complimentary meals, bike rentals, spa vouchers, wine tasting experiences and more waiting for you, all you need to do is enter here for your chance to win. Go on, you deserve it!

🎧 What to listen to:

Yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, where we break down the NFL’s most recent coaching scandal and how it goes way beyond (former) Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden being ousted.

  • And if you’re looking for some positive words from an NFL coach, check out this video of LA Chargers coach Brandon Staley. True leadership.

*P.S. This is a sponsored post.

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Special Edition: WNBA Finals Elimination Game Preview

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Who ya got? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sunday Scroll: Highlighting HBCU sports

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Marching bands, cookouts and more! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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