 | Powered by  Edition #1259 May 19, 2025 |
| From The GIST Team |
What a weekend! | ||
| From postseason thrillers to crossover events, it's been a "we need more screens" couple of days in the sports world. Let today's newsletter catch you up on what you missed and set the scene for what's ahead. You're welcome. | ||
| Quote of The Day |
 | The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society. |
 | — The league's statement after fans reportedly directed racist slurs at the Chicago Sky's Angel Reese when the Sky visited the Indiana Fever on Saturday. Simply unacceptable. |
| The Latest |
🏒 Underdogs on top Source: TSN The GIST: The best-of-five PWHL Finals are officially set after the Ottawa Charge eliminated the Montréal Victoire (who notably chose to play Ottawa) with Friday's 2–1 Game 4 win. Revenge, served cold.
💜 Reigning playoff MVP Taylor Heise, Frost in familiar territory: Minny clearly has no problem playing the underdog, reaching the Finals as the No. 4 seed, just like they did during last year's title run. And forward Heise is once again stepping up with the pressure on, boasting a playoff-best seven points with six assists and a goal in four semifinal games against Toronto. So clutch.
❤️ Ottawa Charge advance to Finals in their first postseason appearance: From missing the playoffs entirely last year, to squeaking in on the final day of this year's regular-season, to reaching the title series, Ottawa's been doing their best Paul Rudd impression in the league's sophomore campaign.
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🏒 Not my homeland anymore Source: Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP The GIST: There are only four teams still skating for the honor of hoisting Lord Stanley: the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference and, for the second straight season, the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference.
🐆 Florida Panthers demolish Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7: In a storyline everyone saw coming, it was in fact not the Leafs' year. The Buds, who led this second-round series 2-0 just 12 days ago, are making yet another early postseason exit and heading into an offseason of uncertainty following last night's lopsided 6–1 loss. Death, taxes, and no cup since '67.
⭐ Dallas Stars eliminate Presidents' Trophy–winning Winnipeg Jets in Game 6 thriller: It took overtime, but the Stars shined bright on Saturday, using a game-winner from defender Thomas Harley to sink the Jets 2–1. Up next? A conference finals rematch beginning on Wednesday vs. the Connor McDavid–led Oilers, who eliminated the Stars in six games last year.
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| Together With Ford Maverick 🗺️ Swap stress for the scenic route Source: Ford Need a break from your hectic schedule? Same. Luckily, the new 2025 Ford Maverick® truck helps make every camping trip, weekend escape, and Sunday afternoon drive feel a little easier. And…exhale. ⛺ The FLEXBED® Storage System can help take away packing stress. You have the space, so you might as well bring it. ⛰️ With its off-road tuned suspension and trail-focused tech, the Maverick Tremor model has your back, wherever the open road takes you. 🍃 A standard hybrid engine and available all-wheel drive help you take on stop-and-go traffic, then leave it all behind. The new 2025 Ford Maverick truck was made for weekend adventures. Where will you go? |
🏀 Thunderstruck Source: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The GIST: After a whirlwind two rounds of high-stakes basketball, it's on to the conference finals. The Eastern Conference action, featuring a pair of dragon slayers in the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers, doesn't tip off until Wednesday, so today's all about the West. Let's hoop to it. 👊 Oklahoma City Thunder crush injury-riddled Denver Nuggets: Game 7s are usually down-to-the-wire, but yesterday's 125–93 OKC win was anything but — the Thunder rebounded from a slow start to punch the franchise's first conference finals ticket since 2016. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 35 points, but this was a team dub with five players netting double-digit points.
🐺 Minnesota Timberwolves — rested or rusty? While the Thunder just played a full seven-game set, the Wolves have been waiting in the wings after wrapping up their second-round series against the Golden State Warriors in just five games. Now, they'll head to OKC for tomorrow's 8:30 p.m. ET Game 1, with hopes of knocking off the top-seeded and historically good squad.
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| Quick Hits |
✨ LA Spark Kelsey Plum impresses during jam-packed WNBA opening weekend | ||
| The hoops lover netted 37 points in the Sparks' 84–67 rout of the Golden State Valkyries on Friday, becoming the first player in league history to log at least 35 points, five assists, and five steals in a single game. As for other record-setters, W veteran DeWanna Bonner balled out in her debut for Indiana, moving up to third on the league's all-time scoring list. Buckets.
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🏎️ Red Bull's Max Verstappen tops the podium at Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix | ||
| It's only Verstsappen's second win of the season, but the defending World Drivers' Champion looked virtually uncatchable at Imola, making a stunning move in the race's first corner to take the lead early. And he never looked back, outperforming both McLarens, Lando Norris and standings leader Oscar Piastri, who finished second and third, respectively. | ||
⛳ World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler wins first career PGA Championship | ||
| As if we needed more proof, Scheffler's the best golfer on the planet, holding off a late surge from world No. 82 Jon Rahm to win his first Wanamaker Trophy in decisive fashion. Scheffler's latest major title catapults the American into elite company as one of only three players to capture three majors and 15 PGA Tour wins before turning 29, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Casual. | ||
🎓🥎 NCAA softball championship field whittled from 64 to 16 in historically upset-heavy weekend | ||
| The Regionals are done and dusted on the diamond, and there was nothing soft about opening weekend. Liberty stunned No. 1 Texas A&M twice on the Aggies' home turf, advancing to their first-ever Super Regional while marking the first time the No. 1 seed failed to reach the next round since the NCAA introduced the revamped 64-team format 20 years ago.
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| Together With MILK  Source: Team Milk Dreaming of running a marathon, but don't know where to start? Last year, more than 7K women of all fitness levels signed up to run in the inaugural Every Woman's Marathon, the first race of its size created by women, for women. Okay, motivation.
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| The GIST's Picks |
Here's what passed The GIST squad's vibe check this week:
💛 The affordable statement piece we're scooping upMejuri's Thin Dôme Ring, available for less than $100 as a part of tennis star Emma Navarro's shiny and accessible new collection. Serving on and off the court.* |
🍬 What to snack onShaq-A-Licious gummies. Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal is in the candy game with fruity treats that are as bold as his personality. |
🎙️ What to listen toQuinta Brunson on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, discussing everything from her Philadelphia Eagles fandom to Peyton Manning's secret comedy rep. *P.S. This is a sponsored post. Shimmering beautiful. |
| Fun & Games |
Question of the DayJust like last season, the lower seeds have advanced to the Walter Cup Finals. Will the Frost repeat as champs, or can Ottawa claim their first title? Chime in with your championship pick below. |
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Today's email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo, Lauren Tuiskula, Rachel Fuenzalida, Grace DePaull, and Briana Ekanem. Editing by Katie Kehoe Foster. Fact-checking by Marga Sison and Mikaela Perez. Ops by Briana Ekanem and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Lauren Tuiskula and Katie Kehoe Foster. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.
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