Put it in the Louvre
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
Happy Monday!
We’ll be off on Wednesday as our full-time team jetsets to the Windy City for an offsite, but let’s keep the brightest business wins at the forefront to start the day: SportsPro Media’s list of the world’s most marketable athletes saw the top 10 spots split evenly between men and women.
- Take those immaculate vibes into a new week, and we’ll chat again on Friday.
WNBA Collectibles
🏀 Shine bright, shine far
The GIST: ICYMI, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark’s autographed memorabilia sold out in mere minutes last week — a sign that collectibles are just the latest space where the WNBA is making waves. Hooptastic.
The context: It’s no secret that the WNBA’s popularity is skyrocketing. From record-breaking viewership and attendance to fans engaging on social media (the league generated 37B social impressions this season), the W’s unprecedented growth is evolving the game at every level.
The Caitlin Clark effect: Clark made an immediate impact across all facets of the W in 2024, and the collectibles space was no different. In March, Clark inked an exclusive multiyear partnership with collectibles company Panini America, a deal that includes trading cards and autographed memorabilia, and the partnership is already paying off.
- According to eBay, eight of the top 10 most expensive WNBA cards sold on the site are Clark cards, while an autographed Rookie of the Year card sold at auction for nearly $100K earlier this month. Put it in the Louvre.
The trend: The demand for Clark memorabilia is evident, but she’s not the only player fans are after. Per eBay, global searches for Las Vegas Ace A’ja Wilson increased 190% compared to May 2024 after she was named MVP in September. Sales of cards for players like LA Spark Cameron Brink and the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese also jumped over the first three months of the year.
Zooming out: The global sports trading card market was valued at almost $13M in 2023 and is expected to more than double by 2033, but historically, the collectibles space has been dominated by male consumers — a stark contrast to the WNBA’s more balanced demographic split.
- With the demand for W collectibles growing, brands in the space have taken note with initiatives like Topps’ women-centered innovation and eBay’s WNBA “Gametime Gets.” It begs the question: Is the W driving a new collectibles consumer demographic in women? Watch this space.
🤖 Meta strikes multiyear AI deal with Reuters
In its first AI news deal, Meta has inked an agreement that allows the tech conglomerate that includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to use Reuters’ news content to provide real-time answers to platform users about news and current events.
- Meta began using Reuters’ content last Friday, but the ability to deliver information more efficiently and clearly could impact how the sports world delivers its news too.
📺 Fubo struggles in the streaming services space
Despite being granted a temporary injunction against Venu (a sports-focused “skinny bundle” from powerhouses Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros.) in August, Fubo has struggled to find its footing. Per Front Office Sports, the corporation’s shares are down 50% YoY as the company lost subscribers in Q2 and are down 160K users from its 2023 peak of 1.61M.
🏀 The WNBA coaching carousel continues
Of the league’s 12 current teams, six are in the market for new head coaches after the Indiana Fever fired Christie Sides yesterday. Player salaries fall under a team’s salary cap, but coaches’ salaries don’t, and with an unprecedented number of teams looking to find a bench boss, teams with the most cash will have the best shot at inking their preferred candidate.
- And coaches aren’t the only ones receiving pink slips these days — the Las Vegas Aces opted not to renew the contract of general manager Natalie Williams on Saturday. It’s a doggy-dog world.
👟 Skechers announced record-breaking sales of $2.35B in Q3 on Friday. Of note, the shoe brand dipped its toes into women’s hoops this year, inking LA Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson in July.
👶 Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux is calling for the NWSL to revisit its childcare policies on the heels of her club’s sanctions for exceeding the league’s salary cap.
🟢 Charli XCX announced a deal with Converse over the weekend, calling the Nike-owned brand “iconic.” It’s officially BRAT autumn, and Converse has always been a slam dunk.
⚽ Josh Morrissey of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and his wife Margot are joining the NSL’s Calgary Wild FC ownership group. The best way to honor your hometown? Investing in women’s sports.
Recs from our roster!
📖 What to read about
How Taylor Swift is disrupting the publishing world by self-publishing her Eras Tour Book. Dropping exclusively at Target on Black Friday, it’s the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at her record-breaking tour.
👟 What’s new
This collab between soccer superstar Lionel Messi and musician Bad Bunny. The icons teamed up with Adidas for a limited-edition sneaker drop to celebrate Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey.
💪 Who to know
NY Liberty CEO Keia Clarke, who just led the Libs to their first-ever WNBA championship and is redefining what women’s sports, culture, and community can be.
Today's email was brought to you by Lisa Minutillo and Briana Ekanem. Fact checking by Bonnie Lee. Editing by Lindsay Jost and Dee Lab. Operations by Elisha Gunaratnam and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster and Alessandra Puccio. Managing edits by Ellen Hyslop.