Soccer

Trinity Rodman’s potential NWSL departure signals athlete-centric marketing approach for brands

There’s a storm brewing in the NWSL as Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman’s contract comes to an end in six weeks. While the Spirit are on their way to the NWSL Championship, Rodman is considering what comes next — and she could be the latest NWSL star to defect to Europe for greener pastures.

November 18, 2025

Despite attendance dip, NWSL exhibits overall growth driven by young women fans

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There’s been a dip in YoY NWSL attendance, but that stat doesn’t exactly tell the whole story. Last week, the league shared insightful data on attendance, viewership, and social media records that women’s soccer fans smashed this year, all of which point to who’s winning the most with NWSL growth: Young women fans.

November 14, 2025

Dove amplifies winning marketing message through continued women’s sports campaigns

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Last week, Dove rolled out its latest women’s sports campaign, “#ChangeTheCompliment,” by activating with NSL team AFC Toronto for its October 19th playoff game. The brand, which has spent years building women’s confidence with diverse representations of beauty, is seizing open opportunities in women’s sports — and for good reason.

October 31, 2025

K-pop activation at MLS playoff game signals prime opportunity for women’s sports to play into K-pop fandom

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Korean entertainment company HYBE (which cultivated K-pop sensations BTS and Katseye) is getting into sports, sponsoring MLS club LAFC’s first playoff game later today at BMO Stadium. Inspired by Korean player Son Heung-Min’s impact on the team, HYBE is celebrating Korean culture with popular eats from Koreatown staple Love Hour and a lightshow set to K-pop hits.

October 29, 2025

Black Star shares details amid upcoming player showcase amid data proving power of Black soccer fandom

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Today, Black Star — ForSoccer’s media and events brand cultivating Black soccer culture — announced the player lineup and an exclusive capsule collection for the Allstate Next Wave National Showcase, the first national showcase displaying the skills of the top-ranked Black women soccer players in the U.S.

October 29, 2025

Canada’s NSL debuts its celebration to honor winningest team and fans

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The Northern Super League (NSL) ended its inaugural season yesterday with a Fan Appreciation Match for its popular club, AFC Toronto, which finished with the most regular-season points. Because of that, the NSL used the appreciation night to also award the Supporters’ Shield, a trophy that rewards the winningest team while also acknowledging the value of its fans.

October 20, 2025

Apple inks WSL deal amid white space in European women’s soccer for tech brands, streamers

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Yesterday, tech giant Apple announced an extensive partnership with the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Super League 2 (WSL 2), the top two tiers of women's pro soccer in the U.K. Through the deal, each team will utilize the latest Apple products to capture and analyze game footage in real time.

October 17, 2025

NWSL makes flurry of business-driven moves as playoffs approach

Sports Business

NWSL makes flurry of business-driven moves as playoffs approach

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September 19, 2025

As the NWSL builds toward its future (one commissioner Jessica Berman plans to lead), the league is making key decisions to level up its on-field product, including through its recent digital media partnership with The GIST. Let’s review a few of the NWSL’s moves announced this week, and what they might mean for the league and interested sponsors.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #509

Is the NWSL going to lose Trinity Rodman?

November 18, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Is the NWSL going to lose Trinity Rodman?

The 2025 NWSL Championship is almost here.

Saturday’s match will pit the No. 8 seed Gotham FC against No. 2 Washington Spirit, aka, the only club team Trinity Rodman has ever played for. The Spirit took a major chance on Rodman in 2022, signing her to a four-year, $1.1M contract and making her the then–highest-paid player in the league. But the women’s soccer landscape has changed dramatically since then — and Rodman may be setting her sights overseas.

On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Lauren Tuiskula and Steph Rotz explain who’s courting Rodman and how the NWSL’s salary cap is playing a major part in why American talent is heading to England’s Women’s Super League. The footy stops here.

Thanks to Fan Duel for supporting today’s podcast. From the rink to the court to the pitch, FanDuel is the home for women’s sports betting in Ontario. Download the FanDuel app or click here to get started.