⚽ The Cup runneth over
NWSL announces new intraleague competition with Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil
After a successful inaugural W Gold Cup, the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil — Mexico’s top pro women’s soccer league — will compete in the first-ever NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup this year. Similar to Europe’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, it further proves the viability of international women’s soccer tourneys in the Western Hemisphere.
March 22, 2024
💸 Making it Reign
Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Group agree to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M
Private equity (PE) giant Carlyle Group and MLS' Seattle Sounders agreed to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M, up from the NWSL club’s $49M October valuation. After the surprise sale of the San Diego Wave for $120M, this makes Reign FC the second NWSL team sold within a week, with both fetching more than their previous valuations.
March 20, 2024
⚽ For angels to fly
Angel City FC reportedly exploring sale of controlling stake in club
The NWSL is selling like hot cakes — within the last week, two of its highest-valued franchises have put up the ‘for sale’ sign. A day after the San Diego Wave announced its impending $120M sale, Sportico reported that Angel City hopes to sell a controlling stake amid ownership friction.
March 18, 2024
👀 What’s new
Everything you need to know about the 2024 NWSL season
Beyond arming each team with splashy new kits, the league is evolving to stay competitive with Europe’s pro women’s leagues, like England’s Women’s Super League (WSL), Spain’s Liga F, and France’s Division 1 Féminine.
March 15, 2024
⚽ Primed for success
NWSL expands use of Amazon’s suite of services with extensive multiyear partnership
Commerce behemoth Amazon is expanding its recent NWSL media rights deal through a multiyear partnership with the league that involves Amazon Prime and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Additionally, the deal makes Amazon the exclusive retail partner of the NWSL and an official licensee.
March 13, 2024
🏟️ Elevate her pitch
WSL attendance is on the rise as clubs continue to break records
The Women’s Super League (WSL) is enjoying a 43% attendance boost YoY, with Arsenal leading the way in proving that the league deserves a bigger stage. While popularity and crowd sizes do vary among clubs, the overall numbers show upward trends across the board.
March 11, 2024
⚽ 24K magic
24 Hour Fitness becomes founding partner of Angel City FC through multiyear deal
March 08, 2024
24 Hour Fitness is bulking up its existing NWSL ties. After renewing and expanding its year-long sponsorship of San Diego Wave FC last month, the gym brand signed a multiyear deal yesterday to become a founding level partner of Angel City FC.
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What’s going on with Shohei Ohtani & more discrimination in men’s soccer
Ep #352

What’s going on with Shohei Ohtani & more discrimination in men’s soccer

March 26, 2024

Hello there!

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is full of head-scratching WTFs from the sports world. In part one, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive into the topsy-turvy sports betting saga plaguing MLB, specifically the face of the league, LA Dodgers two-way star, Shohei Ohtani. Last week, Ohtani’s longtime interpreter and friend was fired for allegedly committing massive theft from Ohtani.

Then in part two, the gals shift gears to men’s soccer where Sunday’s Concacaf Nations League final between No. 13 USMNT and No. 15 Mexico had to be stopped twice in an attempt to control anti-LGBTQIA+ chants from a subset of the Mexican crowd. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a long history of discriminatory behavior from international soccer fans, but you can count on El and Steph to break it all down.

And a big shout out to Aflac for supporting today’s episode. From their longtime collaboration with South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley to helping folks tackle the gaps in their healthcare coverage, you can count on Aflac to empower women on the hard court and in life’s hardest moments. Learn more at Aflac.com.

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🏆 Fancy a cuppa?
UK expresses interest in hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup in the 2030s
As the UK further invests in expanding its women’s soccer footprint, governmental agency UK Sport shared its ambitions to host the country’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC) in the 2030s.
March 08, 2024
⚽ Let the rain fall down
No. 10 CanWNT crashes out of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup
The inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup championship match is set with the No. 2 USWNT advancing to face No. 11 Brazil on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET, but the road to get there was, in fact, a river.
March 08, 2024
⚽ Let the rain fall down
No. 2 USWNT advances to the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup final
The inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup championship match is set with the No. 2 USWNT advancing to face No. 11 Brazil on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET, but the road to get there was, in fact, a river.
March 08, 2024
⚽ It’s go time
No. 10 CanWNT prepares for the Concacaf W Gold Cup semis
As a refresher, this first-ever tourney pits the continent’s best against each other as a tuneup for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Fan-footy-tastic.
March 06, 2024
⚽ It’s go time
No. 2 USWNT prepares for the Concacaf W Gold Cup semis
The inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup semis kick off tonight with two must-see matches between four regional powers on deck from San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium.
March 06, 2024
⚽ New rules
NWSL issues ownership rules for private equity and sovereign wealth fund investment
NWSL owners rolled out new rules last week about how private equity (PE) funds can invest in multiple teams. The policy also excludes sovereign wealth funds from ownership, meaning Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other state-owned investment funds will be unable to buy NWSL stakes as the league grows.
March 04, 2024