Football

WNFC inks multiyear deal with ESPN for title game as broadcast exposure and sponsorship level up the league

The Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC) announced a multiyear agreement with ESPN yesterday to broadcast its June 21st championship game live on ESPN2. The league has seen recent growth, mostly thanks to increased media exposure and sponsorship, so we chatted with WNFC advisory board member, commentator, and former player Jennifer King to learn more.

June 02, 2026

Everyone is playing (and paying) women’s flag football

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While there’s still higher male participation in the U.S., flag football is rapidly flourishing among women and girls. During the 2023–2024 season, nearly 43K girls played in high school (105% increase YoY), while other data suggests about 500K girls aged 6 to 17 years old participated at some level in 2023.

February 21, 2026

Brands at the Super Bowl are considering women’s sports, women fans more than ever

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Women make their way to Radio Row

February 07, 2026

NFL, Hallmark partnership illustrates potential scripted media opportunity in women’s sports

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This holiday season, the Buffalo Bills aren’t just playing NFL games — they’re the latest team featured in a holiday-themed Hallmark movie thanks to the channel’s NFL partnership.

December 23, 2025

Division races heat up ahead of Week 16 action

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Just like their college counterparts, the stakes are sky-high on the pro gridiron. With only three weeks left in the regular season, the NFL’s playoff picture is beginning to take shape — and three divisions are looking extra spicy in Week 16. Pour a glass of egg nog and let’s discuss.

December 19, 2025

Bad Bunny Super Bowl reactions underscore how Hispanic sports fans remain an overlooked market

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Despite his global appeal and 12 (!!!) Latin Grammy nominations, there’s continued cultural and political controversy over Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime performance, with much of the criticism centering around the singer’s set being entirely in Spanish.

October 06, 2025

Instagram and Spotify share data from Taylor Swift’s appearance on New Heights podcast

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Earlier this week, Taylor Swift broke the Internet by announcing she would join her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, for the first time to release initial details for her 12th album. Unsurprisingly, early data around Swift’s announcement further demonstrate the power of Swifties crossing over into the sports world.

August 15, 2025

Project Rudy pitches an umbrella-style solution for NCAA football

Sports Business

Project Rudy pitches an umbrella-style solution for NCAA football

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October 11, 2024

With an uncertain future looming, the latest reimagination of college football (CFB) — called “Project Rudy” — is being spearheaded by former Disney executives as an umbrella-style solution buoyed by private equity (PE).

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #568

Getting emosh about CanMNT's World Cup run, plus Mal Swanson’s advice for the USMNT

June 30, 2026

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Getting emosh about CanMNT's World Cup run, plus Mal Swanson’s advice for the USMNT

CanMNT won their first-ever World Cup knockout game on Sunday, so Canadian co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are in their feels. Today, they break down the historic win, look to what’s next, and place this game in the greater conversation about the growth of soccer in Canada. And because we’re equal opportunity here at The GIST, we have an interview with USWNT star Mal Swanson on the men’s national team’s chances right after that. Enjoy.