The kids are alright
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
Leveling The Playing Field
It’s almost the weekend!
And you can consider your Friday night plans made as the second part of Simone Biles’ Netflix documentary drops today. Secure your fave showtime snacks (fun-sized chocolate bars, anyone?), then scroll on for more treats from the women’s sports business space. No tricks here.
WNBA
📈 All the way up
The GIST: The WNBA’s in its transformation era after a record-breaking season, but what does all this growth mean specifically for league sponsorship? Data platform Relo Metrics released a report this morning exploring how brands are thriving thanks to their women’s hoops investment. Vindication.
🐣 The 2024 rookie class fueled big numbers. Indiana Fever games accounted for 45% of total broadcast value, and one of the biggest benefactors of the Caitlin Clark effect was Gainbridge. The Fever’s stadium naming rights partner outpaced all other financial institutions in sponsor media value (SMV) despite having less logo exposure than the next closest naming rights sponsor, Barclays.
- What’s more, of the WNBA’s 13.6M mentions across all digital channels (up 571% YoY), 35% included one of seven marquee players in this season’s rookie class — Clark, the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardosa, Washington Mystic Aaliyah Edwards, LA Sparks Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, and Las Vegas Ace Kate Martin. The kids are alright.
💪 It was a record-setting 2024 for the WNBA’s SMV. The league drove $136M in SMV during the regular season, led by Nike’s $31.2M. Though the sneaker giant topped the charts, the average SMV for partners excluding Nike was $4M as AT&T ($12M) and Michelob Ultra ($9.3M) rounded out the W’s sponsorship podium.
🏀 The league matched NBA viewership but surpassed the NBA’s engagement. Over the course of the WNBA’s 2024 season, the league showed comparable viewership to the NBA’s 2023-2024 season through the first 11 weeks of action. Notably, the W outperformed the NBA in Week 6 viewership due in part to the 2.1M viewers who watched the Sky host the Fever in June.
- Plus, WNBA fans engaged with team-owned content more frequently than their NBA counterparts: The W averages 272.24 engagements per 1K followers compared to the NBA’s 17.07, meaning it boasts both quality and quantity in its fandom — any brand’s dream duo.
Together With The GIST
👕 Did somebody say…slay?
Looking for the perfect piece to update your wardrobe? You’ve come to the right place. Our GIST capsule collection has something for everyone.
If you want to make a statement: Try our bold and bright “Leveling the Playing Field” hoodie.
If you're having a bad hair day: Cover it up with one of our baseball hats.
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🔥 Unrivaled releases names, branding for all six teams
With plenty of cash left to dish out despite its already record-breaking contracts, the 3x3 league — founded by WNBA superstars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart — unveiled the names and branding of all six teams yesterday. And unlike in other women’s sports leagues, this reveal hit the nail on the head.
🏀 Spalding, SportsIQ partner to release the next generation of basketballs
The balls, which combine the iconic hoops brand’s signature style and SportIQ’s smart technology, were released on Wednesday alongside a mobile app that allows players to track metrics like shooting percentage, release speed, and arc angle.
- Integrating cutting-edge technology into sports equipment enhances training and gameplay for athletes of all ages, ultimately improving the on-court product at every level. Swish, swish.
🍿 New WNBA economic model could mimic MLS’ and NWSL’s media rights revenue share
As the basketball league mulls how to create the fairest economic model for its players, U.S. pro soccer leagues offer an interesting prospect — but the biggest risk when putting eggs in the media rights revenue-sharing basket is plateaued viewership.
- Luckily for the W, with bonafide superstars already gracing the court and college hoopers with established fan bases like Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins waiting in the wings, the league is in great place to continue to capitalize on its popularity.
🏈 The Women’s National Football Conference raised $1M in its latest funding round, the most money raised by the semi-pro women’s league to date. Hut, hut, hike.
⭐ The NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars franchise is now just the Chicago Stars after unveiling a new name and crest this week in an effort to raise brand awareness.
👏 Free Agent is launching an exclusive athlete career development and networking platform in Canada and the U.S.
🎾 Nike announced a new research-backed coaching guide in Japan as part of its global effort to develop quality coaching resources that create a more inclusive environment for girls in sport.
💰 The UK government re-launched the Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator to drive investment into women’s elite sports and leagues after the successful completion of its 2023 pilot project.
👟 Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese will receive her own signature shoe in 2026 after signing a multiyear extension with Reebok yesterday.
🎉 The NY Liberty’s victory parade included sponsored floats from big name brands like Puma, Nike, and Bumble. Celebrate good times.
Giveaway Alert
Ready to bump up your day? The AU Pro Volleyball season is well underway and we’re gearing up for next month’s championship with the ultimate giveaway.
You can win:
🎟️ Four tickets to the Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball Championship on November 4th
✈️ $2,500 cash for travel and accommodations to Mesa’s Arizona Athletic Grounds
Are you diggin’ it? You and your fellow volleyball super fans can enter to win today. You just have to see these stone-cold killers in-person.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
🌸 How to hydrate
With Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner, the MVP of fresh skin during the dry fall and winter months. Keep it handy all soup season.
⚽ Who to learn more about
France’s richest family. The Arnaults of luxury empire LVMH are shaking up French soccer with plans to purchase Paris FC.
📺 What to watch
Faceoff: Inside the NHL, which offers an unfiltered look at the NHL stars chasing the ultimate goal: the Stanley Cup. It’s Drive to Survive, but for hockey fans and all six episodes are streaming on Prime now.
Today's email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo and Briana Ekanem. Fact checking by Bonnie Lee. Editing by Dee Lab. Operations by Elisha Gunaratnam and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Molly Potter and Ellen Hyslop.