Scrumming up interest
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)

Leveling The Playing Field
Hi there!
The onslaught of NFL head coach dismissals on “Black Monday” may be months away, but the WNBA world is already reeling from shocking front office moves. With W teams becoming more competitive and an influx of coaching talent, last year saw seven head coaches fired in one month.
- So far, the 2024 championship–winning NY Liberty’s head coach Sandy Brondello and five-year Seattle Storm vet Noelle Quinn have been shown the door following early post-season exits. What…
Rugby
🏉 Scrumming up interest

The GIST: The Red Roses did so much more than trounce France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup semis — they reached a record 3.3M peak audience across domestic broadcaster BBC Sport’s platforms. As the tournament continues in the UK, let’s review the viewership, attendance, and social media wins so far as we consider the women’s rugby opportunity ahead. Keep calm and carry on.
Domestic wins: Widespread broadcast access is key to cultivating fandom, and the BBC is doing a smashing job by reaching 9.8M total TV viewers so far in the tournament. Digital growth is also top-notch: There have been 8.8M total streams, 36M video views across BBC Sport social channels, and 97.8M page views for all rugby union content, including 7.9M for live tourney reporting.
- And women’s rugby isn’t just winning over viewers at home: The tournament has sold over 440K tickets, a far cry from the 140K New Zealand sold in 2021. Marquee matches include the Team USA opener starring Ilona Maher, which drew a record-setting 42.7K fans, and the sold-out final at Twickenham that’s expected to reset the record for a rugby union crowd.
Global fans: A recent World Rugby report underscored the opportunity for the women’s game worldwide — 49% of fans have joined within two years, and overall engagement is up 65% from four years ago. Similar to WNBA and NWSL fans, they skew younger (29% under 35), gender-balanced (43% female), and family-oriented (50% have children).
- It’s worth noting how these fans are encountering the sport: Half credited increased broadcast and digital visibility for getting them into the game, with fans in previous Women’s Rugby World Cup host countries citing tournaments as a driving force for fandom, including 40% in France and 36% in the UK.
The U.S. opportunity: Rugby’s global growth is great, but the dearth of U.S. excitement has been disappointing, especially considering the Eagles’ 1990s dominance. Luckily, the face of today’s game is Maher, who has over 8.8M social followers and noted that the sport’s U.S. fans are primarily young women.
- And these fans are making a difference — 10.5K people shattered the U.S. women’s rugby attendance record at CPKC Stadium in May, which was topped two months later when Team USA took on Fiji in front of over 15K in D.C. It’s no coincidence that pro league Women’s Elite Rugby launched this year, although it’s experiencing hiccups as the sport gains ground.
What’s next: Per World Rugby, 39% of fans say player visibility boosted their engagement, something the Bristol Bears and Red Roses have incorporated into their playbooks. Future rugby tournaments — like LA28 and the 2033 World Cup — should take advantage of this strategy, and so should sponsors.
- Women rugby fans tend to credit brands for supporting the game, find women’s rugby players and stories more compelling than men’s, and spend more than men’s rugby fans on merch. Gotta love conversions.
📈 Canadian Women & Sport launches resource hub to keep Canadian girls in the game
We’ve covered how gaps in girls’ sports participation and coaching is an issue in the U.S. and Canada — by age 17, half of Canadian girls stop playing sports. As a response, Canadian Women & Sport is launching Get Girl Coached, a national campaign that includes KeepGirlsPlaying.ca, a resource hub for coaches, policymakers, sport leaders, and corporate decision makers.
- Similar to Dove and Nike’s Body Confident Sport program, the site offers free tools and resources. As in the U.S., it’s critical to develop these programs and opportunities to uplift athletes and cater to the next generation of women’s sports fans, who are increasingly becoming a force in Canadian sports marketing.
🎙️ Men In Blazers Media Network (MIBMN) launches two new women’s soccer podcasts
MIBMN is leaning into the success of The Women’s Game (TWG), which launched in 2024 under the guidance of former USWNT star Sam Mewis. So far, TWG secured an NWSL media partnership and brand deals with Ally, Allstate, Adobe, Olipop, and Purina, and is now leveling up its content offerings with two new podcasts.
- The pods play into popular formulas: There’s the sibling connection on Verizon-sponsored Mewis Squared, where Sam and sister Kristie will chat about their bond and all things footy. Then there’s the expert take on Teaming Up, where USWNT legend and Good Vibes FC co-host Becky Sauerbrunn will dive further into the game. We’re listening.
🏒 PWHL sees ticket interest surging across all markets, especially in expansion cities
Last week, SBJ highlighted that the Seattle and Vancouver expansion teams are leading the league in season ticket sales, with both surpassing 5K deposits before players even hit the ice. Additionally, every PWHL city has sold more season tickets for the upcoming season than last season.
Together With Boardroom

Want to learn from leaders in sports and entertainment? Check out Members Club, a new initiative from Kevin Durant & Rich Kleiman’s Boardroom.
- Members Club is a professional development community that provides monthly events and panels with speakers like David Blitzer, Michael Strahan, and Mark Ronson, personalized mentorship, an annual conference, access to exclusive Boardroom parties, and so much more. Apply today!
⚕️ University hospital system UW Health is now the University of Wisconsin women’s sports title sponsor in the NCAA’s first such deal. A healthy investment.
🤠 The city of Dallas is teaming up with the Dallas Wings to build the WNBA team’s new practice facility, which will also feature multipurpose spaces for local youth.
🏀 Unrivaled began player announcements for season two, which includes early investor Paige Bueckers, Erica Wheeler, Satou Sabally, Rickea Jackson, and Alyssa Thomas.
🏅 Olympic gold medalist and Duke head coach Kara Lawson was named USA Basketball’s coach in the lead-up to LA28.
🏆 Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí became the first-ever women’s soccer player to win a third consecutive Ballon d’Or, putting her on track to mirror Lionel Messi’s four-award streak from 2009 to 2012. Fantástico.
🏓 David Eisen acquired Pro Padel League (PPL) team LA Beat for about $10M, marking the largest direct investment from a single owner into a PPL club since the league’s 2023 launch.
🃏 Panini America released Instant cards featuring Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson after she became the WNBA’s first four-time league MVP. Of course she has a card.
Hi. It’s us. We’re the recommenders, it’s us.
📖 What to read
This piece about the beloved quarterback. In an article for The Atlantic, Seth Wickersham reports on how truly elite NFL passers have come to hold such a lofty position in our culture, writing that “being a quarterback is not just a job; it’s a way of being.”
⚽ What to watch
"The Football Academy." The BBC series returns for a third season, offering an exclusive look at the next generation of talent at Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy. The 15 episodes follow young hopefuls as they navigate the highs and lows of pursuing a professional career.
🙌 Who to know
Union Berlin Women. The fan-owned German club only went professional in 2023-24, yet had the fourth-highest attendance for a pro women's soccer team in all of Europe while playing in Germany’s second division last year.
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