The future is coming on
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
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Unfortunately, the injury concerns are back after Caitlin Clark was sidelined for last night’s Commissioner’s Cup final between her Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx. While the Fever came away with a convincing 74–59 win and the $500K prize, Clark’s absence could have potentially affected viewership like it did when she missed three weeks earlier this season.
- However, the Fever’s participation in the final likely bodes well for the overall Commissioner’s Cup tournament, which saw 42% YoY attendance growth last season. Their cup runneth over.
WNBA
🏀 All around the world
The GIST: The WNBA tipped off Monday with major news: The league is awarding three new expansion franchises to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Each of the winning bids agreed to pay a record $250M expansion fee — higher than the valuations of half the W — with additional investments committed to team and facility development.
- While the WNBA cited factors such as market viability, fan commitment, and media interest, the most significant unifying factor seems to be influential, committed NBA ownership groups and top-tier facilities. It’s called maintaining possession.
🎸 Cleveland: The Land’s bid belongs to Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. The city, which previously had the W’s Cleveland Rockers from 1997 to 2003, has lamented losing the team after previous ownership didn’t prioritize it. The new franchise will play at the Cavs’ Rocket Arena starting in 2028 and is already deciding between four franchise names, including the Rockers.
⚡ Detroit: Detroit’s team will begin play in 2029, and like Cleveland, the city previously had a W team called the Shock. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores launched a high-profile WNBA bid in January, which was famously backed by legendary rapper Eminem. A warm welcome.
🔔 Philadelphia: Philly hopes to hit the court by 2030. The city won the bid after a compelling campaign from 76ers owner Josh Harris, who co-owns Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
The NBA edge: When the WNBA had 12 teams, about half were independently owned. However, as ownership is becoming more competitive (and expensive), proven NBA owners are clearly having a moment — take the Bay Area, Toronto, and Portland, for example. Engelbert even mentioned Houston (and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta) as potentially next in line.
The marketing opportunity: This upcoming influx of teams gives marketers many new and hyperlocal opportunities. Golden State is a shining example: It’s the newest WNBA team and is already the highest-valued women’s sports team in the world thanks to its sponsorship interest, with brands cashing in on the exposure from impressive ticket sales in a massive NBA stadium.
- NBA sponsors already have existing relationships with these teams, so it’s an easy layup to extend them to W teams. And as Golden State and Indiana have shown, these co-owned W teams (and their sponsors) are able to reach an entirely new, activated fanbase. Double-double up.
⚽ Michele Kang expands soccer empire with Lyon takeover
Michele Kang — who owns three pro women’s soccer teams and recently launched Kynisca Sports to manage her multi-league empire — will now serve as chairwoman and president of football club Lyon. Kang already owns OL Lyonnes, the city’s women’s soccer team, and will kick things off by appealing Lyon’s relegation due to its financial status.
- While we’ve seen executives in men’s sports branch out into the women’s game, it’s rarer to see someone like Kang start in women’s sports and expand into men’s. The future is coming on.
💸 Paige Bueckers led NIL Store sales during championship season
According to NCAA student athlete merch platform The NIL Store, former UConn star Paige Bueckers was the top-selling overall athlete of the 2024-2025 season among more than 25K athletes. Additionally, she was the website’s top-earning woman athlete for the second year in a row and UConn was the top-selling school.
👀 ESPN, Fox lean away from aiding Netflix NFL broadcasts while CBS leans in
According to Front Office Sports, Netflix will no longer be able to borrow broadcasting talent from competing networks for its Christmas Day games. This year, ESPN talent like Mina Kimes and Laura Rutledge won’t rejoin for the Netflix presentation, while Fox broadcasters are also not expected to participate.
- However, CBS — which is producing the Netflix games for the second straight year — is expected to lend broadcasters to the streamer’s lineup. It’s an interesting move as the linear networks that have monopolized professional sports for years find ways to coexist with up-and-coming streamers and their new media rights bids.
🎮 EA Sports is bringing back its NCAA Basketball franchise after almost two decades and plans to include women’s basketball teams this time around. Worth a shot.
✅ Indiana Fever guard and newly-minted WNBA All-Star captain Caitlin Clark received a record 1.2M 2025 WNBA All-Star fan votes, surpassing the record she set last year of 708K.
🚫 The NBA and longtime broadcast partner TNT have “mutually decided to part ways” after 17 years, which will affect the WNBA games aired on NBA TV.
🎾 Billionaire and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is finalizing a deal for an estimated 45% ownership stake of the Miami Open.
🏆 Women athletes are seeing strong representation in this year’s ESPY nominations, with women featured in every non-gendered category aside from racing.
👟 Nike revealed its Caitlin Clark Kobe 5 "Protro PE" sneaker — Clark’s first-ever player-exclusive shoe with the brand — in a new commercial.
🔍 Sponsorship platform Parity hired Risa Isard, a UConn professor of sports management who previously worked with Wasserman’s The Collective, as its director of research and insights.
📈 More than 350 padel courts were built in the U.S. in 2024, up 22% YoY, up 22% YoY, thanks to increased interest in states like Florida, California, and Texas. A serve.
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🏐 What to learn about
How LOVB is changing the game and reimagining how women’s leagues are built. Aces all around.
🎧 What to listen to
NY Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu on "Bird’s Eye View." Hear her chat with Sue Bird about superteams, shooting with Steph Curry, and leveling up her game.
⛳️ What to read
The legacy of trailblazing golfer Jim Dent. From Augusta’s Sand Hills to the PGA, Dent’s story is one of strength, style, and sticking close to your roots. A must-read for any sports history lover.
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