The GIST

StubHub partners with Chicago Sky as sports teams recognize value of insights from ticketing platforms

On Monday, ticket resale marketplace StubHub announced a multiyear partnership with the Chicago Sky, marking the first deal of its kind in the WNBA. This isn’t just a win for fans looking for alternative ticket platforms — we’ve seen sports clubs’ ticketing partnerships offer valuable benefits for all parties.

May 21, 2026

The Sports Bra provides new crowdfunding opportunity to scale up business while letting fans invest

Everyone wants to be in the women’s sports bar business these days, so The Sports Bra is making it easy for anyone to own a piece of the action. Yesterday, the Portland-based enterprise built on its expanding franchise business by rolling out a new investment opportunity: A crowdfunding campaign called “Own a Piece of The Bra.”

May 19, 2026

Cherie DeVaux becomes first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby

A horse named Golden Tempo defied the 23-1 odds during the 152nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, surging from last-place to win the Run for the Roses. With the victory, Cherie DeVaux became the first woman horse trainer to ever win the famed race — and her story is a true tale of groundbreaking grit.

May 04, 2026

Brand interest in new fencing, dance leagues illustrate marketing power in “niche” sports

Two new leagues — the World Fencing League (WFL) and International Dance League (IDL) — are gearing up to serve avid fandoms for niche sports. But are they really that niche? Maybe not, and brands are counting on that wide appeal. Let’s boogie.

April 30, 2026

How Edmonton is becoming a Canadian women’s sports haven

Edmonton, Alberta, is a unique place. At roughly 1.2M residents, it’s dwarfed by larger Canadian cities like Toronto and Metro Vancouver — and though it doesn’t have its own professional women’s sports team, it’s become a hot spot for major women’s sporting events. That’s largely thanks to its tourism board, Explore Edmonton, which sees the economic and social value in these events. We spoke with sport and culture events director Cindy Medynski about why this strategy serves Edmonton and what other cities can learn. Small but mighty.

April 25, 2026

Cameron Brink refuses to be sidelined

As the LA Sparks seek a fourth WNBA championship, they’re building a roster around big-name veterans like Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike. But one young superstar is also at the heart of the team and the WNBA at large: third-year forward Cameron Brink. Last week, we caught up with her to learn about how she’s built her illustrious brand portfolio with “intentional” partnerships — and how she turned a difficult injury setback into an opportunity to build her entrepreneurial skills.

April 18, 2026

New data on Gen Z teens underscores the generation’s appreciation for athlete advocacy around social issues

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a national study involving Gen Z teens yesterday, highlighting that sports and athletes heavily influence how teens perceive societal issues.

April 16, 2026

Women’s sports memorabilia is the next big thing, and The Realest is ready

Sports Business

Women’s sports memorabilia is the next big thing, and The Realest is ready

April 11, 2026

In sports, fashion, media, and beyond, we’re seeing a multigenerational interest in nostalgia, one that women’s sports hasn’t always had the resources to meet. But that’s changing fast thanks to companies like The Realest, the authenticated memorabilia platform that raised $12M in funding earlier this year. In February, we spoke with founder and CEO Scott Keeney about how the new verified memorabilia brand has been able to break into the market, address authentication issues, and serve the women’s sports community like no one has before.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #558

Spilling World Cup tea and talking tequila with Tobin Heath & Christen Press

May 21, 2026

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Spilling World Cup tea and talking tequila with Tobin Heath & Christen Press

The men’s FIFA World Cup is just three weeks away — which means it’s time to start studying up on the tournament’s biggest edition ever. Good thing USWNT legends Tobin Heath and Christen Press are today’s guests on The GIST of It, spilling the tea on their World Cup plans, the teams they’re most excited to cheer on, and their World Cup partnership with Don Julio 1942. Cheers to that.