The GIST - Champagne showers

Come up in the spot looking extra fly ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
The GIST
#423 18.10.2021

Hello!

We hope your weekend was as good as the 2021 WNBA champion Chicago Sky’s. Grab some coffee (or champagne) and let’s dive in.

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Quote of the day

I work so f**cking hard, I’ve worked so hard. My teammates and my coaches believed in me, and I just stayed down until it was my turn.

— The Chicago Sky’s Kahleah Copper, after being named the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP yesterday. Get her a KFC sponsorship, stat.

2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper raising her trophy next to ESPN reporter Holly Rowe
Source: WNBA/Giphy

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🏀 WNBA Final: Not a cloud in the Sky

Members of the Chicago Sky celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Wintrust Arena on October 17, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois
Source: Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The GIST: Candace Parker returned home with a goal of winning Chicago’s first-ever WNBA title, and she did just that yesterday. We’re not crying, you’re crying.

Game 4 recap: After Friday’s massive Game 3 win at home, the Chicago Sky entered yesterday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead and a chance to clinch the title. The Phoenix Mercury jumped out to an early lead, but the Sky stormed back to win 80–74 in front of a(nother) soldout hometown crowd.

  • Parker and Courtney Vandersloot both posted double-doubles while Allie Quigley (Vandersloot’s wife, okay power couple) netted 26 points, helping to make Chicago just the third city to win NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS and WNBA titles. Damn, Chi-Town.
  • And, as we mentioned, Kahleah Copper was named finals MVP after averaging over 17 points per game in the postseason. Well deserved.

Of note: In an unprecedented move, the Mercury declined to attend the post-game press conference following yesterday’s loss. It’s an evolving situation with many journalists sharing complicated feelings about it. Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s episode of The GIST of It for more.

What’s next: The WNBA’s 25th anniversary season did not disappoint. The Mercury’s Diana Taurasi was named the GOAT, the league saw surging viewership, and with the first final since 2016 not featuring a No. 1 seed in the books, the competition has never been more balanced.

  • So what comes next? Sky’s the limit.

⚾️ MLB Playoffs: Third time’s a charm

Atlanta Braves players celebrating after a walk-off home run in Game 2 of the NLCS
Source: Atlanta Braves/Twitter

The GIST: Walk-off wins, grand slams and one pair of fur-ociously cute cleats — the seven-game Championship Series (CS) have it all. What will each league’s Game 3 bring?

American League (AL): After the Houston Astros came back to win Friday’s Game 1, the Boston Red Sox made postseason history in Saturday’s Game 2, becoming the first team to hit two grand slams in the same playoff game and helping to solidify their 9–5 win.

  • The 1-1 series now heads to Boston, with Game 3’s first pitch tonight at 8:08 p.m. ET.

National League (NL): In a rematch of last year’s NLCS, the Atlanta Braves walked off to win Saturday’s Game 1, partially thanks to third baseman Austin Riley’s clutch single and LA Dodger Chris Taylor’s baserunning mistake. Yikes.

  • And the Braves kept the party going yesterday, winning 5–4 to take a 2-0 series lead, thanks to yet another walk-off. Lucky for the Dodgers, the series now shifts to LA for tomorrow’s crucial Game 3 at 5:08 p.m. ET. Maybe the third time will be the charm?

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🏈 NFL: Week 6 highlights

Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Trevor Lawrence holding onto the game-winning football in the locker room
Source: Jaguars/Twitter
  • At long last, the Jacksonville Jaguars — led by rookie quarterback (QB) Trevor Lawrence — finally snapped their 20-game losing streak yesterday, defeating the Miami Dolphins 23–20 behind kicker Matthew Wright’s game-winning field goal.
  • How about another last-minute win? Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins connected with wide receiver (WR) K.J. Osborn for the game-winning touchdown (TD) in their 34–28 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. Doing Lizzo proud.
  • Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins used some fancy footwork to score one of his two TDs in the Cardinals 37–14 win over the Cleveland Browns. The unbeaten streak continues.
  • If you’re not ready for Week 6 to end quite yet, you’re in luck. QB Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills face running back Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET. We’ll be waiting all day for Monday night.

⚽️🎓🏈 Quick hits

Washington Spirit defender Emily Sonnett (6, forward Trinity Rodman (2) and forward Ashley Sanchez (10) congratulate midfielder Andi Sullivan (12) on her goal during a game between Racing Louisville FC and Washington Spirit at Audi Field on October 9, 2021 in Washington, DC
Source: Tony Quinn/ISI Photos/Getty Images

⚽️NWSL: With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, the six-team NWSL playoff picture is coming into focus. The Washington Spirit clinched a postseason berth over the weekend, joining the Portland Thorns (who secured the 2021 NWSL Shield yesterday) and OL Reign. Coming for you, November.

🎓🏈College football: Week 7 saw last week’s chaos and said hold my beer, bringing upsets aplenty and big changes to the AP Top 25 poll. Notable surprises include previously unranked Purdue topping previously ranked No. 2 Iowa, and previously unranked Auburn downing previously ranked No. 17 Arkansas.

  • Speaking of shockers, two years removed from winning a national title and one day removed from an upset win over Florida, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron will be out of a job at the end of the season. You can geaux your own way...

#sponsored

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Don’t let your dreams stay dreams — check out the Columbia University Sports Management Program! Located in NYC, you can learn about everything from digital media to sports law from kickass women who have lived their own sports dreams.

  • The priority deadline to apply for Fall 2022 is January 15th and Columbia is hosting an online info session on October 26th. See you there.

The GIST's Picks

🥳 Who to celebrate:
Katie Guay, who became the first woman to officiate an American Hockey League (the NHL’s farm league) game. We said it once and we’ll say it again: representation is so important.

💌 What to read:

ICYMI, yesterday’s Sunday Scroll was all about the history and importance of HBCUs and how athletics are part of their story. If you didn’t yesterday, read it today.

🚴‍♀️ Want to win a Peloton bike?:
We thought you’d say yes. Click here for your chance to win.

😂 WHAT TO APPLAUD:

TBH, we think most commercials are pretty blegh. But this one featuring Gisele Bünchden and Tom Brady? Anything but.

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Older messages

It's the start of something new

Sunday, October 17, 2021

It feels so right to be here with you! Thank you so much for signing up for The GIST newsletter. We're Megan Rapinoe, you're Sue Bird. What you receive as a GISTer 💌 The GIST's 4x-weekly

Good riddance

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Why do men ruin everything? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The limit does not exist

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Say less ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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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