Sports Business | The GIST

SponsorUnited reveals June’s most popular brands based on marketing campaign buzz

Last week, sports sponsorship data insights platform SponsorUnited revealed the 30 most-searched sponsors on its platform for June. The platform’s search data indicated which brands were most buzzworthy last month, with each employing different marketing strategies to make waves with sports fans.

July 07, 2025

3XBA collabs with Rough & Tumble as sports leagues explore women’s sports bar partnerships

Last week, 3XBA — a professional touring FIBA 3x3 women’s basketball league — announced a unique partnership with Seattle’s Rough & Tumble Pub, the second-ever women’s sports bar. Through their new agreement, the two entities will promote one another through activations at live events.

June 30, 2025

Sundial Media and Technology Group inks unique partnership with Grand Slam Track

Sundial Media and Technology Group (SMTG) — the media and live events company behind Essence, Afropunk, and Refinery29 — finalized a unique partnership with Grand Slam Track (GST), a new track and field competition that kicked off this year. SMTG will facilitate media coverage of GST in addition to improving track day experiences for fans.

June 23, 2025

Tubi secures rights to new Naomi Osaka project as streamers develop more women’s sports content

As interest in women’s sports grows, so does the enthusiasm for content surrounding the women’s game. After seeing Netflix benefit from cult faves Drive to Survive and Full Swing, documentaries that converted new fans to F1 and golf, fellow streamers are considering how to leverage storytelling to win over young, more casual sports fans.

June 18, 2025

Investing in women athletes could be a game-changer for brands

Unlike the limit, the perfect women’s sports brand marketing strategy does exist — at least according to Parity, who released its latest research report yesterday about the business of women’s sports.

June 13, 2025

Final approval of House v. NCAA settlement agreement will reshape college sports

Last Friday, the $2.8B lawsuit settlement that will remake the business of college sports, House v. NCAA, was officially approved. This will usher in a new era where athletic departments can share up to about $20.5M of revenue per year directly with student-athletes via name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.

June 09, 2025

SponsorUnited shares insights on WNBA and NWSL sponsorship revenue

This week, data insights platform SponsorUnited (SU) shared new intel with The GIST about revenue generation in the WNBA and NWSL. After comparing revenue and existing deals, the findings illustrate the leagues’ immense YoY growth while still underlining the remaining gap when compared to men’s sports.

June 06, 2025

Sports Business

The Sports Bra announces first franchise sites as women’s sports bars multiply across the country

June 04, 2025

Yesterday, Portland-based women’s sports bar The Sports Bra named the first four cities for its forthcoming expansion. Since opening in 2022, The Sports Bra has spurred a movement of independent women’s sports bars popping up across the U.S. and is now looking to become a multi-city franchise of its own.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #474

That don’t impress me much: WNBA CBA negotiations rage on

July 08, 2025

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That don’t impress me much: WNBA CBA negotiations rage on

Bring it to the boardroom.

ICYMI, the WNBA players union (WNBPA) is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with their employer, the WNBA. Contract restructuring, increased workplace benefits, codifying charter flights — the players’ goals are focused on revamping the growing league…but initial negotiations are not going well.

In today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz discuss recent comments from some high-profile players about the league’s first proposal, and why it felt like a “slap in the face.” Spicy.