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A PWHL post-mortem. High-stakes sports are happening left, right, and center — and another league is about to join the playoff party: the PWHL. Four teams will vie for the Walter Cup, but equally as intriguing is who won’t be: the league’s two expansion squads. In fact, the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent were the first teams eliminated from playoff contention. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into what the heck happened, from an advantageous expansion draft to elimination. Show notes: More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz  

Ready to smile? Then look no further than today’s episode of The GIST of It. Today, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are sharing the story of Athletes Unlimited softball’s viral Golden Tickets, handed out to college players around the country to let them know their dreams of becoming a pro softball player are about to come true. It’ll melt your heart in the best way.  Show notes: World Series champ Kike Hernandez’ secret to success The Group Chat: MLB stadium food edition More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz 

It’s giving icy and spicy.  It’s once again time to talk about the hardest trophy to win in professional sports, the Stanley Cup. The puck drops on the NHL postseason this Saturday, so today’s episode of The GIST of It is all about the best game you can name, from how the playoffs work to the teams co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are keeping an eye on. Let’s do that hockey. Show notes: More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz  

Aliyah Funschelle got her start impersonating Gossip Girl.  Just make it sporty. The content creator has been in the sports game since she was 14, and now she’s reaching new heights, hosting her very own podcast The Match-Up with Aliyah with iHeart Women’s Sports. Today, Funschelle joins The GIST of It host Steph Rotz for a fun, members-only conversation about being women in sports media. Tune in to hear a snippet of that convo before subscribing to The GIST Plus to hear the whole thing. Enjoy.  Show notes: Join The GIST Plus Check out iHeart Women’s Sports on YouTube More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected] 📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz  ✍️ Outline:

Batter up! LA Dodger Kike Hernández knows how to bring the fun to the baseball diamond, but would you believe this three-time World Series champ was once playing at a serious disadvantage? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, senior editor Lauren Tuiskula sits down with Hernández to discuss how a simple eye exam changed his career forever, as well as how the injured outfielder is adjusting to changes in MLB. A true home run.  Show notes: Eye Deserve More | AOA  More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz  

It’s tee time. The 90th edition of the Masters kicks off at Augusta National today. The Masters isn’t just the first of the PGA’s four major tournaments of the season — it’s also a golf competition steeped in tradition, both good and bad. On today’s episode of the GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive deep on the Masters’ cultural significance, from the lush greens to the tournament’s history of racism and misogyny, before highlighting a few standout players we’re keeping an extra-close eye on this weekend.  Show notes: More on The GIST: ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz  

WNBA free agency is officially underway.  With more than 100 players available to sign new contracts, potentially with new teams, all eyes are on the WNBA leading up to May 8th’s regular-season tipoff. That’s why co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are breaking down all the nuances of free agency on today’s episode of The GIST of It, from the ins and outs of the truncated schedule to the players who could be seeking greener pastures.   Show notes: 123 free agents and their status. More on The GIST:  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @thegistca @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz 

Is it hot in here? Or is it just these takes? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula preview the women’s March Madness Final Four, a repeat of last year’s field featuring all four No. 1 seeds: UConn, South Carolina, Texas, and UCLA. Who will end up on top in this clash of queens? Steph and Lauren have a few ideas — and they might surprise you. Show notes: More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

It’s time to giggle. This is a true sporty spice treat, GISTers. Podcast host and comedian Hannah Berner joins our members-only podcast episode today, chatting with Senior Editor Katie Kehoe Foster about all things March Madness — after all, Berner is a recovering Division 1 athlete herself. Tune in to hear a snippet of this super fun conversation, but to get to the end, you’ll need to subscribe to The GIST Plus using the link in our show notes. Don’t miss this one.  Show notes: Join The GIST Plus More on The GIST: 🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

It’s official. The historic Houston Comets are back in the WNBA — but the news came with a heaping dose of drama. Instead of awarding Houston a 2027 expansion team, the WNBA is relocating the Connecticut Sun to Houston, where they’ll be rebranded as the Comets, an original (and very successful) W franchise. Needless to say, while some folks are thrilled to see a great WNBA team rise from the dead, others (namely fans of the Connecticut Sun) aren’t exactly pleased. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula provide crucial context on the historic sale and share their thoughts on the W’s latest move.  Show notes: More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

Play ball! Happy Opening Day to all who celebrate — with pitches flying, it’s time to preview the 2026 MLB season. Today's episode of The GIST of It covers it all, from the unsurprising team to beat to the new rule that’s shaking things up. And of course, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula will chat about their respective teams: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. Because fandom is better with a friend.  Show notes: More on Sarah Graves More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

No glass slippers here.  For the second straight year, there aren’t any true Cinderella squads in the men’s March Madness Sweet 16, as every team remaining hails from an NCAA power conference. What gives? On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula explore the 2024 rule change that changed March Madness forever — and maybe not for the better.  Show notes: More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

Lace up those dancing shoes. It’s time to boogie. Men’s March Madness officially begins today, with the 64-team first round tipping off at 12:15 p.m. ET. Before the guys and gals hit the hardwood, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula are going all in with a Big Dance primer, spending this episode of The GIST of It talking about the top storylines in the men’s and women’s tourneys. Gimme gimme, shimmy shimmy.  Show notes: Join The GIST’s Men’s College Basketball Bracket Challenge Join The GIST’s Women’s College Basketball Bracket Challenge Annie Costabile, FOS Alexa Philippou, ESPN Jackie Powell Doug Feinberg, AP More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

There’s legends, and then there’s Alex Morgan.  The two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champ is now a certified friend of The GIST after chatting with podcast producer Alessandra Puccio before the start of the biggest-ever NWSL season. Morgan is using her platform to make youth soccer safer across the country and spilling tea along the way, from her future as a youth soccer coach to her favorite players to watch in the NWSL. Pour yourself a cuppa.  Show notes: More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected] 📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa  🐦 X: @thegistpod

A Heise hat trick? Say less. All Team USA and Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise does is win, whether she’s donning a gold medal or hoisting the PWHL’s Walter Cup. And today, she’s on The GIST of It. Heise sat down with co-host Lauren Tuiskula to yap about three of our favorite things: Olympic hockey, the PWHL playoffs, and…March Madness? Talk about the perfect sports trifecta. Show notes: WNBA CBA updates: FOS’ Annie Costabile ESPN’s Alexa Phillipou More on The GIST:  🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod  ✉️ Email: [email protected]  📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa 🐦 X: @thegistpod