The GIST

The U.S. and Mexico have officially withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), leaving Brazil and a joint bid from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany in the race. The North American contingent noted it will instead focus on securing rights for 2031, which they believe has potential for bigger ROI.

May 01, 2024

Boston Unity Soccer Partners field community concerns about White Stadium renovation

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Last September, Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSP) announced its successful bid for an NWSL team that would play in Boston’s historic White Stadium. With $100M worth of renovations slated to start this year, the ownership group is fielding community pushback amid concerns about how an NWSL team would change the stadium’s accessibility for the local community.

April 29, 2024

⚽ Keep her runnin’ back and forth, soccer team

The ninth annual SheBelieves Cup kicks off tomorrow

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The ninth annual SheBelieves Cup kicks off tomorrow, with four of the world’s best women’s footy squads competing in a preview of this year’s Paris Olympics. Oui oui.

April 05, 2024

Ally expands its investment in The Soccer Tournament through new partnership

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Women’s sports heavy-hitter Ally announced its latest major partnership yesterday, becoming the official retail banking partner of The Soccer Tournament (TST). Expanding on its previous investment in TST’s inaugural tournament last year, the new sponsorship brings Ally another step closer to reaching its 50/50 Pledge by the end of 2027.

March 29, 2024

NWSL announces new intraleague competition with Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil

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After a successful inaugural W Gold Cup, the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil — Mexico’s top pro women’s soccer league — will compete in the first-ever NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup this year. Similar to Europe’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, it further proves the viability of international women’s soccer tourneys in the Western Hemisphere.

March 22, 2024

Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Group agree to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M

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Private equity (PE) giant Carlyle Group and MLS' Seattle Sounders agreed to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M, up from the NWSL club’s $49M October valuation. After the surprise sale of the San Diego Wave for $120M, this makes Reign FC the second NWSL team sold within a week, with both fetching more than their previous valuations.

March 20, 2024

A record-breaking weekend for the PWHL and NWSL

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Beyond the Madness, it was a truly incredible weekend for women’s sports, with records broken across the PWHL and NWSL.

March 18, 2024

Sports Business

Angel City FC reportedly exploring sale of controlling stake in club

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March 18, 2024

The NWSL is selling like hot cakes — within the last week, two of its highest-valued franchises have put up the ‘for sale’ sign. A day after the San Diego Wave announced its impending $120M sale, Sportico reported that Angel City hopes to sell a controlling stake amid ownership friction.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #363

Women’s soccer roundup & WNBA Canada Game preview

May 02, 2024

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Women’s soccer roundup & WNBA Canada Game preview

Guess what…it’s (already) May!

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is all women’s sports, all the time. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz kick things off with women’s soccer, first diving into Project ACL, a research initiative examining the environmental factors influencing the knee injury epidemic in the women’s game, before discussing allegations that may keep Zambia’s team out of the Paris Olympics.

Then get ready to hoop in part two, as the gals preview the second-ever WNBA Canada game, a preseason battle between the LA Sparks and the Seattle Storm that’s going down this Saturday in Edmonton.

Big shout out to Aflac for supporting today’s episode! Just like The GIST tackles the gap in women’s sports coverage, Aflac closes the gap that health insurance leaves behind. Learn more at aflac.com.