The GIST

Recent Team USA rugby match illustrates sport’s potential leading up to World Cup, Olympics

Last Friday, 10.5K fans showed up at Kansas City’s CPKC Stadium to watch the USA Rugby women’s 15s take on Team Canada. While the bout resulted in a loss for the Americans, the game set a new U.S. attendance record for the sport fueled by its recent surge in popularity.

May 07, 2025

Everything you need to know about Women’s Elite Rugby

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A hot new bombshell has entered the villa women’s sports space: Women’s Elite Rugby (WER). Before the league’s inaugural season (literally) kicks off tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, let’s maul over everything you need to know.

March 21, 2025

Team USA rugby star Ilona Maher takes her talents and following to UK rugby

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Rugby star Ilona Maher has steadily built a social media following, and when her talents — and persona — were on full display at the 2024 Paris Olympics, her rising star turned supernova. Since then, Maher’s golden touch has brought increased attention to Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) and, most recently, U.K. rugby’s Bristol Bears.

December 16, 2024

Women’s Elite Rugby announces launch of first U.S. professional women’s rugby league

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Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) announced plans Wednesday to launch its inaugural season in 2025. WER will be the first pro women’s rugby league in the U.S., replacing the existing semi-pro Women’s Premier League (WPL).

April 12, 2024

Will South Africa or New Zealand become the first four-time champions at the men's Rugby World Cup?

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After seven weeks of grueling scrums, mauls, and tries, the men’s Rugby World Cup final kicks off tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, featuring the most heated rivalry in the sport.

October 27, 2023

World Rugby Sevens Series kicks off in Vancouver

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Today marks the start of the women’s and men’s World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Vancouver, BC, where teams will continue their quest to nab one of four respective automatically qualifying spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

March 03, 2023

Clinique inked a deal with English rugby star Holly Aitchison

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As part of its rugby-centric #GameFace campaign, Clinique beauty brand inked a deal with English star Holly Aitchison yesterday as England prepares to host the next women’s World Cup in 2025.

December 14, 2022

Rugby World Cup sees women's rugby's largest-ever crowd

Sports Business

Rugby World Cup sees women's rugby's largest-ever crowd

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November 14, 2022

New Zealand lifted their sixth rugby world title in front of 42K spectators at Auckland’s Eden Park, capping off a record-shattering tournament with women’s rugby’s largest-ever crowd.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #472

Business is booming: The WNBA’s record-setting expansion

July 01, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Business is booming: The WNBA’s record-setting expansion

Keep going, keep growing.

The WNBA announced their long-term expansion plans on Monday, revealing that the league is aiming to reach a whopping 18 teams in the next five years. Today’s episode of The GIST of It takes a closer look at why the WNBA chose Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia as their newest markets, with co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz breaking down the deets, including the record-setting expansion fee each squad will pay to join women’s basketball’s hottest club.

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