Saturday Scroll: A note from Jacie and Ellen

Ellen and Jacie, here! In case you don’t know us, we’re the co-founders of The GIST. We’re taking over today’s Saturday Scroll to chat about what’s next for this sports business vertical, and why we’re so excited for you to be part of it.

Thanks so much for subscribing to The GIST’s sports business newsletter. When we started writing about the business of women’s sports in 2022, we were one of the only outlets covering the space with the attention and care it deserves. Coverage of the industry has exploded since then, and we’re proud to have been a leader in that growth — we couldn’t have done it without your support. Now, it's time for our next play.

While women’s sports are thriving on the court, field, ice, and beyond, the women working behind the scenes — in front offices, at agencies, behind the lens, in design rooms — haven’t always seen the same boost. In 2025, professional organization Women Leaders in Sports reported that while there’s been significant progress for women working in sports, there’s still a long way to go.

Many women face professional barriers like salary limitations, pay disparities, lack of work-life balance, and sexist stereotypes as they pursue careers in sports. This data shows that the higher they rise in their organizations, the more prevalent these issues become.

That’s a huge problem, because when women aren’t involved in crucial decisions in the sports world, from the on-field product and media coverage to merch design and advertising, it’s more likely women fans and athletes will be excluded or disrespected. If we want the landscape to change, we need women helping to build it.

So The GIST has set a new, audacious goal: Get more women into the sports industry, and help the ones already there reach their full potential. We’ll be absent from your inbox next week as we prepare what’s in store.

We can’t wait to share it with you,

Ellen and Jacie