The GIST of It

The GIST of It

The GIST of It is a twice-weekly podcast on what’s going on in the sports world. Hosts Ellen Hyslop and Stephanie Rotz discuss current sports topics and how they intersect with pop culture and social issues, covering everything from major league season previews to calling out the sexist BS we see in sports daily. Expect a hilarious yet informative conversation with a refreshing female perspective on the world of sports.

Episodes

July 17, 2025 38 mins
Hey now, you’re an All-Star. 

Cue up Smash Mouth because it’s officially WNBA All-Star Weekend — and The GIST of It co-host Ellen Hyslop will be in Indianapolis for all the fun. Tune in to this episode to hear El and Steph Rotz preview the weekend, from the on-court festivities to the off-court negotiations surrounding the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Can you say spicy?

Show notes:
Episode #474: That don’t impress me much...
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It’s the final countdown.

The group stage of the Women’s Euro is done and dusted, leaving eight teams to compete in this week’s knockout round. On this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive deep on two teams, No. 6 Sweden and No. 10 France, that could finally turn their respective country’s luck around and hoist the trophy. Is this the year a bridesmaid finally becomes a bride?

Show notes:
Episode #473: ...
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There’s been a major shakeup in Formula 1.

Yesterday, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was fired after 20 years with the team, sending shockwaves throughout the F1 community. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, F1 girlies and co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into the curious timing of Horner’s sacking, digging into how Red Bull’s lackluster performance — not previous misconduct allegations — sealed Horner’s fate. V...
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Bring it to the boardroom. 

ICYMI, the WNBA players union (WNBPA) is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with their employer, the WNBA. Contract restructuring, increased workplace benefits, codifying charter flights — the players’ goals are focused on revamping the growing league…but initial negotiations are not going well.

In today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss recent c...
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Hot European summer, loading. 

Forget the fondue, it’s all footy, all the time in Switzerland because the Women’s Euro is already underway, pitting the 16 best European national teams against each other for continental glory. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into the tourney’s group of death, where world No. 5 England, No. 10 France, No. 11 Netherlands, and No. 30 Wales will battle for o...
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Keep going, keep growing.

The WNBA announced their long-term expansion plans on Monday, revealing that the league is aiming to reach a whopping 18 teams in the next five years. Today’s episode of The GIST of It takes a closer look at why the WNBA chose Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia as their newest markets, with co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz breaking down the deets, including the record-setting expansion fee each squad ...
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She’s baaack.

Friend of The GIST Breanna Stewart is back on the pod and busier than ever. On this episode of The GIST of It, Stewie sits down with The GIST’s Managing Editor Lauren Tuiskula for an extra-fun, super caffeinated conversation about the NY Liberty's recent injury struggles, finding inner zen on the road, and what the six-time All-Star is most looking forward to at the upcoming All-Star Weekend.

This episode was brought to...
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This episode is truly inspiring. 

It’s no secret that The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are huge hockey fans…but this episode truly takes the cake. After the gals preview tonight’s PWHL draft, El sits down with blind hockey player Joe Fornasier for a wide-ranging, super-interesting conversation that will take you inside the world of blind hockey.

Fornasier is an inspiring hockey content creator whose videos have cap...
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Wait, what’s happening right now?

It’s the FIFA Club World Cup. The first-of-its-kind tournament could have been a smashing success, especially in the lead up to next year’s World Cup hosted in North America — but with empty seats making headlines, it’s been anything but. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz explain what the tournament is before investigating why it’s a flub and what that might ...
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Didn’t see that coming.

Check in on the Boston Red Sox fans in your life because a blockbuster trade is sending shockwaves through MLB: Franchise cornerstone Rafael Devers is heading to the San Francisco Giants. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into the stunning move that’s giving shades of February’s logic-defying Luka Dončić deal in the NBA. Buckle up.

This episode was brought to you by...
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We’re almost at the end of the Hockey Canada trial.

Covering this case hasn’t been easy, but here at The GIST of It, we’re in the business of telling hard stories that shed light on important issues, while calling out bullsh!t along the way. With a verdict expected on July 24th, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share thoughts on the defense’s disturbing closing arguments. Take care with this one, GISTer.

This episode was brought ...
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The winds of change are blowing in college sports.

The $2.8B lawsuit settlement House v. NCAA was approved on Friday, ushering in a new era of college sports where Division I athletes can be paid directly by their schools through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Now that each school has the right to determine how it will distribute revenue, we have lots of questions — and on this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hysl...
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Welcome to Inside the Lines with A.J. Andrews, a six-part series exploring mental health and wellness through game-changing 1:1 conversations with athletes.

Mental health matters — it’s a topic that’s been taboo for far too long, but is thankfully being discussed more and more. Each installment centers around a 1:1 athlete conversation, creating a candid, open dialogue and an opportunity to dive deeper into important topics.

We’ve ta...
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The math isn’t mathing.

Sexism is in the air at Roland-Garros. For the second straight year, no women’s matches have been scheduled at night at the French Open, relegating high-profile matches to morning slots where there are fewer fans in the stands, and crucially, fewer viewers across the pond. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into this prime-time gender gap and all the fun storylines...
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Ep #464: WTF: Protect women athletes from stalkers—Enough is enough.

Over the weekend, there were two incidents of stalking and harassment of women athletes, incidents that targeted NCAA gymnast and content creator Livvy Dunne and track superstar and three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share both stories and place them in the larger landscape of th...
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Welcome to Inside the Lines with A.J. Andrews, a six-part series exploring mental health and wellness through game-changing 1:1 conversations with athletes.

Mental health matters — it’s a topic that’s been taboo for far too long, but is thankfully being discussed more and more. Each installment centers around a 1:1 athlete conversation, creating a candid, open dialogue and an opportunity to dive deeper into important topics.

We’ve ta...
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Step up to the plate.

And start swinging! This episode of The GIST of It is all about the Women’s College World Series, which begins today in Oklahoma City. Co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula dig into No. 2 seed Oklahoma’s dynastic run and pick the softball squads that could play spoiler before zooming out to discuss where the sport is heading in the future. Batter up!

This episode was brought to you by Amazon Business, the ulti...
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It’s time to negotiate.

The WNBA season is in full swing, but there’s an even spicier battle brewing off the court. The WNBPA (aka, the WNBA players union) is currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the league to outline the rules that govern the WNBA. In this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz establish the timeline leading up to this pivotal moment for the WNBA, as well as expl...
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Welcome to Inside the Lines with A.J. Andrews, a six-part series exploring mental health and wellness through game-changing 1:1 conversations with athletes.

Mental health matters — it’s a topic that’s been taboo for far too long, but is thankfully being discussed more and more. Each installment centers around a 1:1 athlete conversation, creating a candid, open dialogue and an opportunity to dive deeper into important topics.

We’ve ta...
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The PWHL Finals are off to a raucous start. 

The defending champ Minnesota Frost fell in overtime to the upstart Ottawa Charge in Tuesday’s Game 1 — but the box score only tells half the story. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share their thoughts on a player that’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons before shifting gears to the latest news about the upcoming expansion draft. Drop th...
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