📊 A (data) set shot
Relo Metrics shares data insights on the value of WNBA sponsorship
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Ever wonder how much exposure a half-court logo gets? That’s where Relo Metrics — a firm that uses AI to measure sports marketing efficacy — steps in. Last week, Relo spoke with The GIST to share exclusive WNBA insights from its proprietary software that tracks brand exposure.
July 26, 2024
⭐ All the stars
WNBA All-Star Game shatters viewership records as league skyrockets in popularity
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This year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend (ASW) became an epicenter for women’s basketball culture like never before, and it was more than just brands (and celebs) showing up at the marquee event. As expected, fans tuned in on TV, which sponsors anticipated and prepped for with numerous ASW activations.
July 24, 2024
🐝 Let’s bee together
Bumble partners with WNBA for multiyear sponsorship
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Women-first dating app Bumble is firmly embracing its sporty era. After past collabs in the e-sports and NIL spaces, the app announced a multiyear partnership with the WNBA last Wednesday The move followed a Bumble survey that helped it realize its users are all about love and basketball.
July 22, 2024
🤝 Unrivaled support
Ally becomes the first and founding partner for 3x3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled
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Unrivaled — the 3x3 pro women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — made its first major partnership announcement on Friday. Unsurprisingly, the first sponsor to sign with the new league is Ally, the financial institution that’s been transforming women’s sports through investment via its 50/50 Pledge.
July 22, 2024
💰 Work hard, pay harder
WNBA secures $2.2B for historic 11-year media rights deal
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The WNBA just netted another record — this time, for the most lucrative media rights contracts in women’s sports history. On Tuesday, The Athletic reported the WNBA signed three media rights deals alongside the NBA for a grand total of $2.2B over the next 11 years — and they’re likely not done yet.
July 19, 2024
Australia’s NBL teams up with Wollemi Capital to purchase majority WNBL stake
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We have a winner, folks. A month after governing body Basketball Australia (BA) announced it was shopping a majority stake in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) and the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate (WCGS) formed a consortium to buy in.
June 28, 2024
🃏 Aces high
The Las Vegas Aces make history again with home venue sellouts
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It’s already been a banner year for the Las Vegas Aces, who became the first WNBA team to sell out all regular season home games last Thursday. While the mainstream media has largely focused on rookie hype, the Aces’ numbers don’t lie: Dynasties are the real money makers.
June 26, 2024
📈 Cashing out
Las Vegas Aces estimated to have highest franchise valuation in the league
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June 19, 2024
Following up last year’s NWSL valuations, Sportico released estimated valuations for all 12 WNBA teams yesterday. Leading the pack? The back-to-back champions Las Vegas Aces at $140M, followed by the Seattle Storm at $135M.
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Ep #384

Gender parity at the Paris Olympics

July 25, 2024
Gender parity at the Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics are almost here!

In a very special episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive into gender parity at the Olympics, sponsored by our pals at Canadian Tire. Since 1900 when women first competed at the Olympics to 2024, there’s been enormous progress in terms of gender equity at the Games — and the Paris Olympics will be the most equitable ever.

In addition to discussing the history of women at the Olympics, this episode features two insightful conversations with Kim Saunders of Canadian Tire and Julia Wilkinson, a former Team Canada Olympic swimmer, who have both seen the growth of women’s sports firsthand from a business and athlete perspective. Trust us — you don’t want to miss this.

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✨ Sprinkle a little Magic
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark follow in the footsteps of game-changing basketball rivalries
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It’s no secret that stars sell, and that’s exactly what the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark did in their June 15th matchup, which was the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. They’re poised to be the WNBA’s next big rivalry, and while all this attention may feel new, superstar clashes have powered the W and NBA in the past.
June 19, 2024
💰 Coming to collect
WNBA media rights deal could allow league to improve financing model
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The WNBA’s value is skyrocketing, and it’s projected to get up to $240M for its upcoming media rights deal, which will reportedly be negotiated alongside the NBA’s multibillion-dollar deal.
June 17, 2024
📈 Time to shine
WNBA sees historic viewership, attendance, and sales to begin 2024 season
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Business is booming through the first month of the WNBA’s 2024 season. On yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, co-host Ellen Hyslop put its early wins into perspective of how long the league has been here and where it’s headed next. Here are a few key metrics released by the league that prove the W has entered a whole new era.
June 12, 2024
🏅 Golden girls
Team USA 5-on-5 roster includes top WNBA stars, but not Caitlin Clark
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The Team USA Olympic 5-on-5 women’s basketball roster was announced this weekend, and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark didn’t make the cut. It’s a reality check that despite Clark’s rapid ascent, there’s still levels of the game she’s not quite ready for. And while Clark may have an edge in popularity, this U.S. squad will definitely draw a crowd — and marketing dollars.
June 10, 2024
🏀 Baller, shot-caller
Unrivaled offers the highest salary in women’s sports history
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Unrivaled — the 3x3 pro women’s hoops league launched by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — rolled out some game-changing announcements yesterday. The league confirmed an oversubscribed seed round of all-star investors, which enables Unrivaled to offer a six-figure salary that will be the highest in pro women’s sports league history.
May 31, 2024
🧇 Unlimited mimosas, unlimited potential
The WNBA’s Washington Mystics leverage brunch and mimosas to fill arena
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The GIST: Despite a season marked by unprecedented growth for the WNBA, the Washington Mystics don’t have the same level of big-name recognition that’s helping some other teams sell out their arenas. What they do have, however, is a genius marketing strategy.
May 24, 2024