It’s about time
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
Hey, hey!
Some good news to start your day: San Francisco will become the newest home to a women’s sports bar when Rikki’s opens its doors today, joining a surge in gathering places for women’s sports fans across the country. Cheers to that.
WNBA
🏀 We’re all in this together
The GIST: You already know that women’s basketball is booming — according to a recent report from Global Sports Properties, the WNBA saw a 322% increase in global online searches last year. However, the sport’s impact extends beyond the pro court: The male-dominated spaces long associated with hoops are becoming more women-forward…and it’s about time.
The collectibles space: According to eBay, WNBA searches rose 480% YoY while 2024 jersey sales on the platform increased 170% YoY. And while the collectibles space has long been dominated by male consumers, with an increased demand for WNBA memorabilia, the W’s more balanced demographic split could help create a niche community for women collectors.
- As the W’s popularity skyrockets and new fans enter the fold, women’s basketball icon Sue Bird points to collectibles — like those featured in her Dream Draft with eBay — as a way to bridge the gap between the league’s storied history and its promising future.
- In an exclusive interview with The GIST on Friday, Bird highlighted the community building the collectibles space can offer women: “This is a way to stay up on the sport, but also feel the emotion and the connectedness that it brings.”
The outdoor sport space: One of the easiest ways for fans to access basketball is with public outdoor courts, making one of the W’s newest initiatives all the more important. Line ‘Em Up’s mission is to paint the WNBA three-point line on outdoor courts across America with the intention of creating an explicit space for women in the sport’s most accessible arena.
- Girls high school basketball enrollment has dropped nearly 20% over the last two decades. One key factor in increasing participation? Community, meaning creating these spaces is integral to the growth of the game at the grassroots level.
The takeaway: Backing the WNBA is always a win, but so is investing in the spaces where women and girls can explore and expand their basketball fandom. Creating spaces and a sense of belonging, especially through community and access, is a major driver of women’s participation and general involvement in sport. Hoop, there it is.
📉 Tariffs contribute to reduction in ad revenue growth expectations
Media agency WPP Media expects tariffs to cast a chill in the advertising business, cutting 2025 global ad spend projections to 6% (down from 7.7% just six months ago) as brands grow more cautious amid continued economic uncertainty. As a sponsor-backed industry, many sports execs are bracing for impact — but others are confident in sports as a relatively recession-proof space.
📺 Landmark media deals shake up sports streaming platforms
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it will split into two companies, one for global TV assets like CNN and the other for streaming services, including HBO Max — leaving the future of live sports arm TNT Sports uncertain. This comes in the wake of TNT losing its NBA rights to Amazon Prime last summer.
- Meanwhile, Disney is doubling down on streaming, sealing its control of Hulu yesterday to more deeply integrate its ESPN properties into the platform’s offerings. More chances to watch live sports? Count us in.
👀 Viewership spikes for women’s tennis and softball
Saturday’s French Open final between WTA world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and champion No. 2 Coco Gauff averaged 1.5M viewers, a 94% jump from last year’s final match, making it the most-watched Roland-Garros women’s singles final in nearly a decade. This came a day after Game 3 of the NCAA’s Women’s College World Series reeled in record viewership of its own.
⛷️ Skiing sensation Eileen Gu will become a global ambassador for Shaun White’s The Snow League competition as the sport aims to draw new fans ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Gnarly.
👟 Puma partnered with Meta Quest to create a VR shopping experience for its All Pro Nitro basketball shoe, including its signature colorways for Indiana Pacer Tyrese Haliburton and NY Liberty star Breanna Stewart, building on their 2023 foray into the virtual shopping space.
🏀 Wilson and Indiana Fever juggernaut Caitlin Clark will release a new line of signature basketballs that reflect her personal tastes and interests.
🏈 Late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay’s three daughters will take over team operations, joining the only four other NFL franchises helmed exclusively by women.
⚽ Arsenal’s women’s team will play all 11 WSL home matches at London’s 60K-seater Emirates Stadium next season, a massive step up from the squad’s current 4.5K-seat home.
🏈 The Women’s Football Alliance is recruiting ownership groups to expand into Canada and join its 60+ existing U.S. pro teams. Time to bring their eh-game.
📺 State Farm–sponsored docuseries On the Rise: JuJu Watkins was greenlit for a second season at Peacock.
Peep our squad’s MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
🎧 How to go behind-the-scenes with the WNBA
By listening to WNBA legend Sue Bird’s new podcast, Bird’s Eye View. Insights, analysis, and unparalleled access to the best of women’s basketball? Buckets.
🌈 What to wear
Common Love. This collection is your one-stop shop for subtle and stylish Pride gear. Because love belongs to everyone.
👟 Who to know
American runner Alysia Montaño. Olympian, mom of three, nonprofit founder — Montaño’s simply unstoppable.
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