Basketball

The Golden State Valkyries can’t stop winning — on and off the court

As you may have heard, the WNBA All-Star Game (ASG) is headed to the Bay in 2027 — a monumental dub for a team that will only have played since 2025. It’s the latest in a long string of achievements for the Golden State Valkyries, who can’t seem to stop winning on and off the court.

August 20, 2026

WNBA leadership set to meet on rising tensions surrounding trans athletes

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In the 30 years since the WNBA was founded, exactly zero transgender women have played in the league. And yet, the conversation surrounding trans athletes is reaching dangerous levels as the attempts to turn this tiny, vulnerable group of people into a supposed threat to women’s sports increase each day.

August 11, 2026

Cleveland’s forthcoming WNBA franchise announces name and branding

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A little over a year ago, Cleveland was announced as the WNBA’s 16th franchise after Rock Entertainment Group (REG) paid a historic $250 million expansion fee. Now, the city finally knows who they’ll be cheering for: the Sirens. The club debuted its name and branding on Tuesday at Rocket Arena, the 19.4K-seater stadium where it will begin play in 2028.

August 06, 2026

2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend reaches new heights thanks to off-court impact

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Any way you slice it, the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend (ASW) in Chicago was a true success, from impressive attendance at the game itself to the many brand activations and presidential pep talks. The event celebrated the power of women’s sports and showcased the profitability of the W. Reaching new heights.

July 28, 2026

Delta’s WNBA deal is winning over Gen Z women travelers

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For 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend (ASW), Delta rolled out a new activation that hits on a few key marketing notes to draw in their target demographic of young women. It involves exclusive membership, loyalty points, and free stuff — all things consumers love. We spoke with Emmakate Young, Delta’s managing director of sponsorships and partnership management, about the airline’s latest campaign and the wins it’s seen since its WNBA partnership has taken flight.

July 25, 2026

Wearable medtech company Forme signs expansive WNBPA partnership as it prioritizes brand alignment and usage among athletes

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Last week, the WNBPA announced a partnership with Forme, a unique sports apparel company with patented wearable tech that improves posture (just ask Taylor Swift). We spoke with WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson, and Forme founder Dr. Stephen Liu about the deal and the opportunities for medtech start-ups in sports.

July 21, 2026

Caitlin Clark’s Xfinity partnership brings men’s sports fans into the WNBA fold

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Every women’s sports fan knows the struggle of not finding the game they want to watch on TV. That’s the driver behind Xfinity’s campaign to highlight its expanding WNBA coverage across platforms — and to underscore its message, the telecomms company brought in one of the faces of the league: former Iowa Hawkeye and current Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark.

June 11, 2026

Jess Smith breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar strategy

Sports Business

Jess Smith breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar strategy

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May 15, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries may as well be in Valhalla (or Ballhalla, as they call it). Shortly after the team shared its season two promotional campaign, CNBC deemed the Valks a billion-dollar franchise — the first in women’s sports history. That’s no accident. Valkyries president Jess Smith and her team have been busy building a juggernaut brand — and in a region full of fervent fans and powerful sponsors, that becomes a billion-dollar pursuit. Last month, we spoke with Smith about the strategies she’s implemented to reach this pinnacle, as well as what’s going to keep the club climbing in year two.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #582

A brilliant money move: Diana Taurasi explores the athlete-to-owner pipeline

August 18, 2026

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A brilliant money move: Diana Taurasi explores the athlete-to-owner pipeline

Over the weekend, WNBA legend Diana Taurasi’s jersey was officially retired by the Phoenix Mercury — but her legacy in the desert is far from over: She told ESPN that she hopes to join the Mercury’s ownership group in the near future. Investing in a sports team is so hot right now. On today’s episode, The GIST of It co-hosts Steph Rotz and Alessandra Puccio explore why it’s all the rage in a rapidly changing world.