How evergreen
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Holidays!
Welcome to The GIST’s final sports biz newsletter of 2023! There’s been so much to celebrate in women’s sports this year, and we’ll be taking a short break before returning with all the latest 2024 news on January 3rd.
- As we contemplate our resolutions, Ali Krieger, Midge Purce, and Kelley O’Hara will help the ball drop on NYE as official special guests for the iconic Times Square celly. Champagne problems.
NWSL
💥 Secret (free) agents
The GIST: The NWSL is growing in every way imaginable, and at this time of year, that’s most evident in the league’s increasingly competitive offseason moves. This year’s expanded free agency and record-breaking contracts are proving that the league’s rapid growth means a more lucrative — and at times, challenging — field of play for all involved. More money, more problems.
NJ/NY Gotham FC: New York is becoming superteam central: first the WNBA’s Liberty and now Gotham. Rather than powering a championship run with free agent stars, the team is recharging its roster after winning the trophy. Emily Sonnett, Rose Lavelle, and Tierna Davidson are all reportedly in advanced talks with the team, which is also courting mutual interest from Crystal Dunn.
- Salary cap restrictions mean this might sound too good to be true, but without hard numbers, it’s hard to know if big-name players are taking the Tom Brady discount or if Ali Krieger’s retirement freed up enough space. If the cap jumps to the estimated $2.7M, it’d be easier for everyone to get star treatment, but the NWSL still has to address issues with its free agency.
Houston Dash: The Texas-based team made a splash by signing Maria Sánchez to a three-year deal worth around $1.5M this week, the largest in NWSL history. As one of the league’s first restricted free agents, Houston was pressed to match offers for Sánchez from other clubs — which will likely be the norm in the near future.
- Dash general manager Alex Singer predicted more large contracts as teams fight to retain players, which could drive up the price. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see deals of even greater significance get executed here shortly, just given where this league is headed and the growth of the league,” she said Monday after announcing the Sánchez signing.
Zooming out: The NWSL is becoming a force to be reckoned with — its media rights deal made more windfalls possible, along with the league’s restructuring of free agency. With women’s soccer getting an overhaul, including more expansion teams, now’s the time for sponsors to tag along for the ride. New York wouldn’t be a bad place to start…
Together With The GIST
🤓 The buck stops here
The GIST: Hunting for a new job? The GIST’s job board is your one-stop shop for the best open gigs in sports. Submit those apps to GIST-approved opportunities and still have time to enjoy your day-to-day.
The details: If you’ve ever dreamed of working in sports, this is the resource for you. Our job board features roles in every discipline across the industry. There’s truly something for everyone.
The application: Inviting more women and non-binary folks into the industry is a surefire way to help level the playing field. Check out our job board today.
⚽ NWSL goes on a hiring spree
The NWSL isn’t just scooping up big names in free agency — it's poaching some of the best coaching talent from leagues across the world. The Chicago Red Stars hired Lorne Donaldson as its head coach after he led Jamaica’s national team to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup’s Round of 16, while Celtic FC Women’s Fran Alonso will join the Houston Dash as its new gaffer.
- And the Washington Spirit may have convinced Jonatan Giráldez to trade Liga F for the NWSL — Giráldez will leave FC Barcelona at the end of the season for a job “outside of Europe.” Interesante…
📱 Women’s sports engagement growing faster than men’s
Recent research from Rain the Growth Agency revealed women’s sports consumption increased 50% YoY, compared to a 39% jump in men’s sports. The study also found that fans of the women’s game are more likely to buy products connected to women athletes. Follow you deep sea, baby.
💰 WNBA banked major 2023 partnerships with women-led brands
The WNBA saw major attendance and viewership wins this year, while also scoring some big sponsorships with prominent women-led businesses. In 2023, beauty and apparel brands Mielle, Skims, and Glossier entered into or extended partnerships with the W.
- Not only will these brands benefit from the league’s 43% audience growth YoY, but it’s a smart move for women-led brands whose progressive values align with the WNBA’s and as they try to stay relevant with Gen Z.
👀 The 2023 NCAA volleyball championship averaged 1.7M viewers on ABC and peaked at 2.1M, a 115% increase YoY that made it the most-watched college volleyball game in history. Killin’ it.
💸 The CEOs of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global met this week to discuss a potential merger that could bring the NFL back to Turner Sports.
🏑 The University of Maryland unveiled its $11M newly-remodeled women’s field hockey and lacrosse facility. Maxin’ and (re)laxin’.
🏛️ A new survey revealed the WNBA has the most bipartisan fandom, while pro tennis supporters skew more liberal and NCAA women’s basketball fans tend to be more conservative.
🏐 Pro Volleyball Federation announced CBS Sports as the league’s first television partner ahead of its 2024 debut.
💼 The NBA promoted former president of team marketing and business operations and chief innovation officer Amy Brooks to its first-ever president of new business ventures.
🏀 WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will host an alternative broadcast of an NBA game for the first time, calling the Christmas Day matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and NY Knicks on ESPN. And to ball a good night.
Here’s what has GIST HQ buzzing:
🎧 What to listen to
ICYMI. The funny and informative pod catches you up on the latest happenings in pop culture. Plus, they just released an episode featuring the internet’s biggest sports moments of 2023.
🏈 What's going global
Football. The NFL’s global expansion continues, and it could mean more action-packed Sundays on our screens.
🍷 What to sip
Deldon, anyone? Washington Mystics center Elena Delle Donne launched Deldon Wines earlier this month, making her the first WNBA player with a namesake wine.
Today's email was brought to you by Aryanna Prasad. Fact checking by Bonnie Lee. Editing by Lindsay Jost. Operations by Elisha Gunaratnam and Lisa Minutillo. Ads by Lauren Tuiskula, Dee Lab and Alexis Allison. Managing edits by Molly Potter and Ellen Hyslop.