The GIST

Why Rebel Girls resonates with Gen Alpha sports fans

RG is all about sharing the stories of inspirational women to encourage Gen Alpha girls, and the data shows girls and their families are responding more to sports content. “On Instagram, which is where we talk to families of girls, we're seeing engagement rates rise,” May-Bradley said. “We're getting really good feedback on the stories that we're telling.”

February 28, 2026

World No. 2 USWNT and No. 10 CanWNT headline 11th annual SheBelieves Cup

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The 11th annual SheBelieves Cup — an international four-team friendly tournament hosted by the USWNT — begins in Nashville, TN, on Sunday, featuring the world No. 2 Americans, No. 10 CanWNT, No. 20 Colombia, and No. 30 Argentina. 2025 was a year of experimentation for both the USWNT and CanWNT, but now it’s go time.

February 27, 2026

Playoff seeding on the line during Friday’s Unrivaled regular-season finale

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Unrivaled is rocking straight into today’s regular-season finale with four games hitting the hardwood starting at 1 p.m. ET. And that’s only the beginning of the high-stakes hoopla because the first round of the single-elimination playoffs tips off tomorrow.

February 27, 2026

Flavor Flav encourages brands to close the gender gap in sports after President Trump’s hockey debacle

Things happen fast when you’re rapper Flavor Flav. The ‘90s icon is known for his avid women’s sports fandom after supporting athletes during Paris 2024. Initially a fan of the Team USA women’s water polo team, Flav extended his endorsement to many more athletes, and the same happened at the Winter Olympics.

February 26, 2026

Emma Raducanu leaves Nike for Uniqlo as smaller brands provide unique opportunities for tennis players

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This week, British tennis star Emma Raducanu left Nike to ink a multiyear deal with Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, following in the footsteps of heavy-hitters like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The move illustrates how athletes and smaller brands have more leverage than ever when it comes to sports apparel giants. Let’s dive in.

February 26, 2026

The latest on the WNBA’s CBA negotiations

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According to the WNBA, a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players’ union (the WNBPA) needs to be agreed upon by March 10th, otherwise the 2026 schedule will be affected. That’s *checks notes* less than two weeks away — and there’s lots of work to be done.

February 25, 2026

Fanfare around Team USA women’s hockey win illustrates how far game has grown thanks to PWHL

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We’ve seen Olympic popularity spark the growth of year-round leagues, from track & field to fencing. However, the best example may be women’s hockey: As recently as 2022, there was ongoing debate about whether women’s hockey belonged at the Olympics, but the PWHL is helping rewrite the narrative.

February 24, 2026

Women’s college volleyball gets the college basketball treatment with first-of-its-kind Paradise Invitational

Sports Business

Women’s college volleyball gets the college basketball treatment with first-of-its-kind Paradise Invitational

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February 24, 2026

Yesterday, GS Sports — a sports event company that primarily hosts elite youth basketball competitions — announced its first foray into college sports with the Paradise Invitational. This will be a first-of-its-kind NCAA women’s volleyball showcase featuring four top teams facing off in the Bahamas.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #534

Back to business: What’s happening in Unrivaled and the PWHL?

February 26, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Back to business: What’s happening in Unrivaled and the PWHL?

And exhale.

Still catching your breath post-Milano Cortina Olympics? Us too — that’s why today’s episode of The GIST of It is a sporty catch-up on two of our favorite leagues: Unrivaled and the PWHL. Tune in to see what’s happening in the hottest 3v3 hoops league in the game ahead of the playoffs, before hearing all the storylines you need to know for the second half of the PWHL season.