This week, data insights platform SponsorUnited (SU) shared new intel with The GIST about revenue generation in the WNBA and NWSL. After comparing revenue and existing deals, the findings illustrate the leagues’ immense YoY growth while still underlining the remaining gap when compared to men’s sports.

Yesterday, Portland-based women’s sports bar The Sports Bra named the first four cities for its forthcoming expansion. Since opening in 2022, The Sports Bra has spurred a movement of independent women’s sports bars popping up across the U.S. and is now looking to become a multi-city franchise of its own.

Last week, Disney+ acquired the European rights for the Women’s Champions League through a five-year deal. The news is indicative of a wider trend of streaming interest in women’s sports, which offers both pros and cons for the women’s sports space.

Yesterday, MLB announced a sizable strategic investment in Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), which hits off its inaugural season next week. It’s a major move to see MLB backing AUSL off the bat and represents a shift in how established men’s sports leagues are approaching startup women’s leagues.

Yesterday, social media giant Pinterest announced its entry into the sports space with a groundbreaking, multiyear NY Liberty partnership. Driven by the rising popularity and influence of WNBA athletes, Pinterest has reimagined what sports sponsorship can look like with its multifaceted brand integration.

On Sunday, Front Office Sports detailed how luxury watchmaker Rolex has been putting on a decades-long clinic on how to win over tennis fans and become synonymous with the sport. Rolex offers key insights into how brands new to sports (and new brands, period) can capitalize as early adopters in women’s sports.

This week, WNBA fans are learning about the downsides of the Caitlin Clark Effect as the Indiana Fever superstar is sitting out for at least two weeks with a quadriceps strain. It’s the first time Clark has missed any time during her collegiate or pro career, leaving fans and venues in the lurch.

We’ve seen makeup brands go big in women’s sports lately, including E.l.f.’s support of the PWHL and Overtime Select. But the brand’s decision to rev up its investment in NASCAR, coupled with previous NFL activations, shows that catering to women who follow men’s sports is a unique and effective way to reach a historically overlooked demo.

Sports-focused FAST channel Fubo recently launched its Women's Sports Zone while touting highly-customizable ad campaigns for brands. Inspired by viewers’ interest in women’s sports, Fubo found a way to activate in the space without having any direct media rights for a major league.

This week, The GIST debuted a new report in partnership with NYC agency Barbarian that explores the proven interest and investment potential in women’s sports. The report delineates the paradigm shift in how the category is considered, the intense audience engagement among women’s sports fans, and identifies trends to keep an eye on.

This weekend, the WNBA season tipped off on several networks, and the results are in: Interest in the league is widespread across teams and platforms, illustrating how everyone should harness the WNBA’s popularity however they can.

Last week, broadcast networks and streamers shared a glimpse into current strategies during the 2025 Upfronts in NYC. Companies like NBC, Amazon, Netflix, and Disney all observed the same trend: It’s smart to double down on live sports because of the impressive engagement the industry generates, both from viewers and advertisers.