The GIST

Fenty Beauty enters NY Liberty sponsorship as celeb entrepreneurs turn to women’s sports

On Wednesday, the NY Liberty announced a partnership with Rihanna’s billion-dollar Fenty Beauty empire. The collab is the latest example of a popular, celeb-driven brand carefully curating its sports sponsorships, namely by working with teams and athletes that have prestige and influence.

May 09, 2025

StubHub shares latest ticket data as WNBA interest surges in 2025

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WNBA ticket demand is at an all-time high: This year’s All-Star Game sold out within a day, and according to ticket sales platform StubHub, the W is much more popular this season. At a time when the industry needs to know where W fans are showing up, here’s more insight from StubHub’s data as we approach May 16th’s season tipoff.

May 02, 2025

The WNBA announces historic preseason expansion as fan, sponsor interest rises

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Yesterday, the WNBA made history (again) by announcing that all games in its expanded preseason slate will be broadcast or streamed this year. The move comes as the W continues to monetize its product, and with this whole new chunk of games, brands can reach WNBA superfans like never before.

April 30, 2025

Paige Bueckers Effect already impacting Dallas Wings ecosystem, teammates

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It’s only been a few weeks since Paige Bueckers was drafted to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, but the entire ecosystem is already benefiting from the “Bueckers Effect.”

April 28, 2025

Paige Buecker’s draft entry creates various opportunities for new WNBA sponsors

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The hype around projected No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Paige Bueckers is reminiscent of last year’s frenzy around aforementioned Fever star Caitlin Clark. Her entry into the league spurred spending around the Fever, the W, and Clark herself, and it seems the same is expected for Bueckers and her potential landing place, the Dallas Wings

April 14, 2025

Paige Bueckers expected to bring similar economic impact to Dallas as Caitlin Clark did with Indianapolis

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On Monday, the Dallas Wings drafted UConn star Paige Bueckers first overall, and she’s expected to bring comparable economic impact as fellow W star Caitlin Clark did when she was drafted by the Indianapolis Fever last year. Let’s review how Clark boosted the local economy and elevated the Fever to one of the league’s most coveted brands.

April 14, 2025

🏀 That’s a wrap: women’s March Madness by the numbers

NCAA enjoys strong viewership for women’s March Madness

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While viewership of this year’s NCAA women’s March Madness did dip in the post–Caitlin Clark era, women’s basketball fandom is certainly here to stay. The tournament wrapped with a dominant UConn win over South Carolina and so much more: A sold-out crowd, historic audiences, and promising growth.

April 07, 2025

Sports Business

WNBA and key sponsors expand Voice In Sport partnership to empower young fans

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March 28, 2025

Yesterday, the WNBA and its Changemaker Collective — a group of community-focused brands — extended a key partnership with women-focused digital platform Voice in Sport (VIS). By collaborating with VIS, the W and its partners are able to reach a passionate Gen Z and Gen Alpha fanbase that’s looking to stay involved in basketball, both as players and fans.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #458

Victim blaming & the Hockey Canada assault trial

May 08, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Victim blaming & the Hockey Canada assault trial

This one’s a toughie.

As we’ve covered extensively at The GIST, hockey culture is in desperate need of a reckoning — and the ongoing Hockey Canada trial is the perfect example of why. Today’s episode of The GIST of It takes listeners through the latest updates from the courtroom, as co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss toxicity in the sport and provide key insight as to why this trial may be different from the rest. Take care.