The GIST

Kim DeCarolis and Terése Whitehead explain the power of women athletes in NIL marketing

With March Madness finally here, we spoke with Terése Whitehead and Kim DeCarolis, who lead NIL and commercial strategy at Michigan and Georgia, respectively. Both are embedded on campus through their work with Altius Sports Partners, which launched in 2020 and has quickly become a leading strategic NIL advisor for college athletic departments.

March 24, 2026

Breaking down the opening weekend of women’s March Madness

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Eight of next weekend’s Sweet 16 teams are already locked in, while today’s jam-packed eight-game slate will determine the other half of the field. That’s right, the Madness is in full swish.

March 23, 2026

The 2026 men’s Sweet 16 is set

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Call up MTV because the men’s (super) Sweet 16 is set following 48 heart-pumping games. Catch up on the second-round drama, then take a moment to regroup before the fun resumes on Thursday.

March 23, 2026

The WNBA’s new CBA raises the league’s ceiling — and its floor

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Over 100 hours of negotiations later, we finally have a new WNBA CBA. The term sheet is still being finalized and the deal needs to be ratified, but reports indicate the league’s sixth CBA is as transformational as hoped. And exhale.

March 20, 2026

Men’s March Madness tips off with signature first-round chaos

TOGETHER WITH

Men’s March Madness tips off with signature first-round chaos

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How’s that bracket doing? March is already off to a heart-pounding start, with the signature Madness in full force during yesterday’s men’s first-round matchups.

March 20, 2026

Men’s March Madness tips off with signature first-round chaos

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How’s that bracket doing? March is already off to a heart-pounding start, with the signature Madness in full force during yesterday’s men’s first-round matchups.

March 20, 2026

How the Bhathal family is running Portland

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The Bhathals are changing how the women’s sports game is played, from building the first-ever dual WNBA and NWSL practice facility to creating the first local channel dedicated to women’s sports. That synergy is helping the teams become a major draw for high-profile brand deals. This week, we spoke with Bhathal Merage in a rare interview ahead of her appearance at the Power Play Sports Sponsorship Accelerator about the benefits of owning both teams, both from an ownership and sponsorship perspective. As she put it, “one plus one equals five.” The math is mathin’.

March 20, 2026

Sports Business

WNBA CBA agreement is a win for league, players, and brand partners

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March 19, 2026

The WNBA and WNPBA reached a verbal agreement on their CBA yesterday, just 51 days before season tip-off. The news is considered a major win for both parties as well as W fans, but there are other players at stake with a lot pinned on the success of this deal: The W’s confirmed and prospective brand partners. Let’s explore what this new CBA means for everyone.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #540

Are you primed for the Madness?

March 19, 2026

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Lace up those dancing shoes. It’s time to boogie.

Men’s March Madness officially begins today, with the 64-team first round tipping off at 12:15 p.m. ET. Before the guys and gals hit the hardwood, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula are going all in with a Big Dance primer, spending this episode of The GIST of It talking about the top storylines in the men’s and women’s tourneys. Gimme gimme, shimmy shimmy.