The GIST

Ion bags WNBA on Friday nights as network touts benefits of appointment viewing

On Friday, Scripps-owned network Ion Television renewed its media rights agreement with the WNBA nearly a year after the league inked a joint multinetwork package alongside the NBA. Despite the WNBA’s attainment of expensive, major network deals, there’s still considerable value in what Ion uniquely brings to the table: A distinct audience and capacity for appointment viewing.

June 16, 2025

Historically male-dominated hoops spaces are becoming more women-forward

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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.

June 11, 2025

WNBA valuations skyrocket in Forbes’ latest evaluation

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According to Forbes, WNBA teams are valued at a league-high average of $272M, a monstrous 183% increase from the estimated average valuation in 2024. It’s all about supply and demand (and a little dash of optimism).

June 09, 2025

Pinterest stakes out space in growing sports lifestyle economy with NY Liberty partnership

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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.

May 30, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s injury underscores potential issues WNBA’s new star-powered era

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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.

May 28, 2025

WNBA’s opening weekend draws impressive viewership and generates bigger brand exposure

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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.

May 21, 2025

WNBA enjoys record numbers of sponsors as new, old brands join the league

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The 29th WNBA season tipped off last Friday with a record 45 official sponsors, including 10 brands that signed on during the past year, according to Sports Business Journal (SBJ). Let’s dive into why these old and new brands are recognizing the potential for brand amplification in the W.

May 19, 2025

Sports Business

WNBA and CarMax benefit from free early-season content offerings

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May 16, 2025

Yesterday, the WNBA announced that partner CarMax activated its Tip-Off Test Drive promotion once again, meaning fans can catch the beginning of the season on WNBA League Pass for free. Sponsoring exclusive, free content is a fantastic way to rev up positive brand association, which is especially key in a space where consumers reward their favorite sponsors.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #465

The French Open’s sexist scheduling

June 05, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

The math isn’t mathing.

Sexism is in the air at Roland-Garros. For the second straight year, no women’s matches have been scheduled at night at the French Open, relegating high-profile matches to morning slots where there are fewer fans in the stands, and crucially, fewer viewers across the pond. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dig into this prime-time gender gap and all the fun storylines you probably missed on the women’s side.

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