The GIST

AI prominence in Super Bowl ads ignites conversation about its role in women’s sports

Super Bowl (SB) ads are often a pulse check on trends in the year to come, at least from an advertising perspective — after all, these are the companies betting big on reaching the most Americans possible in a single spot. And this year, many SB ads featured AI companies and some were even created by AI, although a majority of SB viewers didn’t like them.

February 10, 2026

The brands backing a 24-year-old’s push for the Olympics

Annika Malacinski has the kind of Olympic story media outlets and marketers dream of. The 24-year-old daughter of a ski instructor grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado — one of the only areas in the U.S. with the infrastructure to facilitate Nordic combined, a marriage between cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

January 24, 2026

Naomi Osaka walks onto the court in couture at Australian Open

January 23, 2026

Brands turn to emerging women’s sports leagues to reach young digital natives

Softball. Baseball. Lacrosse. What do these sports have in common? In 2025, they all fielded brand-new professional women’s leagues.

January 10, 2026

Wasserman publishes latest report on private equity, asset appreciation in women’s sports

On Monday, Wasserman’s The Collective published the third part of its extensive research on the economy of women’s sports and the influence of women fans. In this edition, The Collective focused on the growth of the women’s sports ecosystem, studying macrotrends exemplified by increased private equity (PE) investment and infrastructure investment.

December 23, 2025

Grand Slam Track announces bankruptcy as Athlos, others illustrate what emerging sports leagues need for success

After months of financial difficulties, track & field league Grand Slam Track (GST) — spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson — officially filed for bankruptcy last week. As popular Olympic sports try to extend their reach beyond the global competition, GST presents a cautionary tale as it endured common issues faced by upstart sports leagues.

December 16, 2025

Partners of pro athletes offer organic, engaging marketing opportunities for brands and untapped potential in women’s sports

WAGs are where it's at

December 12, 2025

Netflix and Paramount Skydance make billion-dollar moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, shaking up sports landscape

Sports Business

Netflix and Paramount Skydance make billion-dollar moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, shaking up sports landscape

December 09, 2025

On Friday, Netflix announced it will acquire the streaming and studio divisions of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), now separated under the Warner Brothers (WB) brand, in a $82.7B deal. But in dramatic fashion, Paramount Skydance threatened to finish what it started as it launched a $108.4B hostile bid for the entire company to compete with what was considered a done deal.

Read Full Story

The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #529

Heated rivalry: It’s time for Canada vs. the U.S. in Olympic women’s hockey

February 10, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Heated rivalry: It’s time for Canada vs. the U.S. in Olympic women’s hockey

The iciest, spiciest rivalry.

Today, we’re doing what we do best at The GIST: discuss perhaps the best rivalry in all of sports — Team Canada vs. Team USA women’s hockey. With the group stage of the Olympic women’s tourney almost wrapped, today’s 2:10 p.m. ET showdown is shaping up to be a gold medal match preview. Let’s skate to it.