Soccer

Meet three women who have transformed the WSL into an international juggernaut

The Barclays WSL launched in 2011 with eight founding clubs and checks in with a whopping 14 teams for the 2026–27 season. The league has emerged as a worldwide leader in the development and expansion of women’s soccer — so today, we’re highlighting three women who helped turn it into a global powerhouse.

August 08, 2026

NWSL terminates contract with streaming platform Victory+, effective immediately

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The NWSL hasn’t yet confirmed or denied if it’ll be starting the 2027 season a full month earlier due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), but it did surprisingly reveal the immediate termination of its media rights agreement with streaming partner Victory+ last Thursday.

August 04, 2026

FIFA president Gianni Infantino abandons plan to sell World Cup equity after backlash

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino is in the “find out” phase after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity firms united the soccer world against him in record time. The proposal was officially abandoned on Friday but the backlash (and gaslighting) are just getting started.

August 04, 2026

Lack of planning impacts mysteriously postponed 2026 WAFCON

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July 30, 2026

Gotham FC sees months-long marketing push come to fruition for July 15th game in Queens

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Yesterday, Gotham FC hosted the Washington Spirit at Citi Field in Queens, NY, marking the first NWSL game at the venue, which is more accessible for many New Yorkers. The game sold over 40K tickets, beating the club’s single-game attendance record and NYC’s record for a women’s sports event. Let’s look at the marketing that helped this game stand out.

July 16, 2026

Women’s soccer star Julie Ertz chats about the World Cup marketing moment

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Last month, retired women’s soccer stars and lifelong friends Julie Ertz and Kealia Watt launched their Style of Play podcast in what seems like a perfect moment. Not only is this undoubtedly the “summer of soccer” on U.S. soil, but everyone seems to be thinking about how to build momentum ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

July 16, 2026

Gotham FC announces move to Queens’ Etihad Stadium in 2028

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The NWSL’s Gotham FC made a huge announcement this week: In 2028, the team will move from New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium to Etihad Park, the massive, all-electric stadium being built in Flushing, Queens.

July 09, 2026

NWSL shares midseason growth metrics driven by increased attendance and access

Sports Business

NWSL shares midseason growth metrics driven by increased attendance and access

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July 07, 2026

On Friday, the NWSL shared midseason KPIs and milestones that illustrate explosive, multidimensional growth. The league saw gains across every major metric — a positive sign in the lead up to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #580

Why the WNBA is stuck in a right-wing culture war

August 11, 2026

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Why the WNBA is stuck in a right-wing culture war

The WNBA seems to be everywhere these days, but not in a great way. A lot of the oxygen around the league is being taken up by off-court issues, particularly regarding trans women and trans athletes. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share their thoughts on it all, detailing the anti-trans comments that sparked this nationwide debate, the Players Association’s response, commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s leaked internal memo.