Sports Business | The GIST

USC Annenberg report illustrates how athlete media economy has ample room for women

Yesterday, USC Annenberg published a first-of-its-kind report on the athlete-owned media economy. It identifies movers and shakers in the space, but also notes the gap between men and women athletes — women were featured in only 22% of the athlete-owned podcasts analyzed.

October 10, 2025

New Snapchat data confirms the power and influence of women athletes on social media

Last week, Snapchat teamed up with marketing agency Dentsu and research firm Ipsos to publish insights on the consumption of women’s sports, especially among frequent Snapchat users. The app surveyed over 13K sports fans across seven countries, including India and Australia, and uncovered what daily Snapchat users had to say about women’s sports.

October 10, 2025

Rebel Girls announces new family-friendly sports program with Swerve Sports

Today, girls empowerment platform Rebel Girls (RG) announced a new partnership with Swerve Sports, a FAST channel dedicated to women’s sports that’s available in 80% of U.S. and Canadian households. Together, the partnership will create Rebel Girl Sports Hour, a first-of-its-kind kids and family program for women’s sports that will air under its Rebel Girls Sport vertical.

October 08, 2025

Bad Bunny Super Bowl reactions underscore how Hispanic sports fans remain an overlooked market

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Despite his global appeal and 12 (!!!) Latin Grammy nominations, there’s continued cultural and political controversy over Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime performance, with much of the criticism centering around the singer’s set being entirely in Spanish.

October 06, 2025

WNBA faces turning point as CBA negotiations sour

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It’s officially spooky season in the WNBA as CBA tensions rise ahead of the agreement’s Halloween deadline. With the league generating more revenue than ever — it banked an estimated $226M in 2024 and is expected to haul $500M in 2026 — and players want their rightful slice of the pie.

October 06, 2025

New Booking.com data further illustrates women’s sports fans’ willingness to travel

The WNBA Finals are set, meaning the locations and dates are also finally locked in. New data from the W’s official online travel partner Booking.com illustrates a largely untapped opportunity for the travel sector to cash in on women’s sports fandom.

October 03, 2025

SponsorPulse highlights recent data showing overlap between WNBA, beauty fans

Yesterday, sports data insights platform SponsorPulse (SP) highlighted its recent report that tracks WNBA fan behavior in relation to the beauty industry. This, combined with May data from Sports Innovation Lab (SIL), proves the fascinating overlap between W fans, luxury fashionistas, and makeup lovers.

October 03, 2025

Sports Business

Wasserman’s The Collective shares new data insights into unlocking the power of women sports fans

October 01, 2025

The Collective — Wasserman’s women-focused data insights platform — published a new study on Monday advising the sports industry on how to engage with women as sports superfans and powerhouse consumers. By 2030, women are set to control 75% of global discretionary spending and lead 85% of household purchasing decisions.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #499

Is LeBron James teasing retirement or taco Tuesday?

October 07, 2025

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Is LeBron James teasing retirement or taco Tuesday?

All hoops, all the time.

The WNBA Finals are in full swing, which means The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz were ready to break down what to expect in Game 3, now that the Las Vegas Aces hold a two-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury…but then LeBron James tweeted. Is the King retiring? Or is he trolling with another clever marketing campaign? Hear the gals’ thoughts on all the above today.

A big thank you to our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today’s pod. DoorDash is launching a brand new platform called BRING IT IN that’s dedicated to championing women’s sports. The goal is to showcase more women’s games to fans just like you, while providing local restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors. To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give you up to 30% off during the WNBA Finals. Just head to the link in the shownotes, download the DoorDash app, and start thinking about your next game-day meal.