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:

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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

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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:

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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

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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 

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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:

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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.

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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:

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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

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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:

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