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🎾 Serving their customers

🎾 Serving their customers

Sports Business

JPMorgan Chase capitalizes on cool factor in latest women’s sports partnerships

The US Open tips off today with Fan Week, a pre-tourney event that the final tennis Grand Slam organizers have capitalized on by inviting more fan (and sponsor) participation. While JPMorgan Chase has been a longtime US Open partner, the banking powerhouse is keeping things fresh in its 2025 plans for the Open as it wraps a successful year in women’s sports.

August 18, 2025

🎾 The grass is always greener

🎾 The grass is always greener

SponsorPulse shares data insights on Wimbledon fandom in U.S. as sponsorship opportunities loom

With Wimbledon coming up, SponsorPulse followed up 2024 data insights on Wimbledon fandom in the U.S., illustrating the fan profile and opportunity for brands to engage as the British Grand Slam faces growth challenges.

🎾 The fight to freeze

🎾 The fight to freeze

WTA announces rankings protections for players that undergo fertility treatments

On Wednesday, the WTA announced it will protect the rankings of players who take time away to pursue fertility treatments like egg or embryo freezing. It’s the latest move from a pro sports organization to formally accommodate athletes’ family planning, demonstrating new ways to compassionately address the unique challenges women athletes face.

⌚ A timely investment

⌚ A timely investment

Rolex’s tennis sponsorship offers blueprint for brands looking to gain ground in women’s sports

On Sunday, Front Office Sports detailed how luxury watchmaker Rolex has been putting on a decades-long clinic on how to win over tennis fans and become synonymous with the sport. Rolex offers key insights into how brands new to sports (and new brands, period) can capitalize as early adopters in women’s sports.

🎾 Dear Mama

🎾 Dear Mama

PIF doubles down on WTA investment by sponsoring maternity benefits

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) built on its expansive partnership with the WTA by launching the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, the first in women’s sports history to offer paid maternity benefits to self-employed athletes.

🦉 What a hoot

🦉 What a hoot

NY investment firm Blue Owl expands winning US Open strategy to all four Grand Slams

Yesterday, NYC–based investment firm Blue Owl Capital built on its unique US Open advertising strategy with a marquee tennis sponsorship spanning all four Grand Slams. The company will focus on partnering with lower-ranked challengers to optimize its bets for outsized ROI, while also leveling the endorsement playing field court.

January 13, 2025

🎾 A financial ace

🎾 A financial ace

WTA Ventures reports 24% revenue growth since 2023 launch

Last March, the WTA established WTA Ventures, a unique strategic partnership with CVC Capital Partners to create a commercial branch of the women’s tennis tour dedicated to boosting revenue and ROI for the tour. And now the results are in: WTA Ventures increased its revenue by 24% in its first year, setting a new record for the tour.

December 04, 2024

🎾 An optimal match?

🎾 An optimal match?

Sports Business

WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia under scrutiny as long-term viability is considered

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November 06, 2024

The WTA Finals are well underway in Riyadh as Saudi Arabia serves as a first-time host. The tournament competition is heating up, but so is the controversy around holding it in the country, leaving questions about whether the move was truly worth it for the WTA and its partners.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Our way-too-early Super Bowl picks

September 04, 2025

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Our way-too-early Super Bowl picks

Our way-too-early Super Bowl picks

Hut hut, here we go!

It’s officially NFL season, GISTer — and we’re going all in on The GIST of It. Before tonight’s kickoff, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz are breaking down the league’s top contenders, from the defending champs to a team we know, ahem, all too well. It really is the greatest time of year.

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🎾 Causing a racket

🎾 Causing a racket

ESPN doubles down on US Open media rights with expanded coverage through 2037

The 2024 US Open has already seen record attendance this year, and ESPN is leaning in. On Wednesday, the sports channel announced a new 12-year media rights extension with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to remain the Grand Slam’s exclusive broadcaster through 2037.

August 30, 2024

🎾 Open for business

🎾 Open for business

US Open boosts tournament revenue with strategic Fan Week opportunities

The US Open’s main draws may be happening this week, but the year’s final Grand Slam drew historic crowds last week thanks to its Fan Week activations. On Friday, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) told Sports Business Journal it’s targeting a record crowd of 1M over a three-week period — and seems to be on the right track.

August 26, 2024

🎾 Serves her right

🎾 Serves her right

Morgan Stanley further invests in women’s tennis with Serena Williams docuseries

Today, ESPN will debut In The Arena: Serena Williams, an intimate behind-the-scenes docuseries reviewing the biggest moments of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion’s career. As just the second athlete to headline the award-winning project —Tom Brady’s Man in the Arena won a 2022 Sports Emmy — Williams is (yet again) in rare company.

🎾 Money talks

🎾 Money talks

WTA and PIF announce multiyear partnership

Much to the chagrin of at least two tennis legends, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) entered a multiyear partnership on Monday. The eyebrow-raising but not unexpected alliance comes on the heels of last month’s announcement that the WTA Finals will be hosted in Riyadh through 2026.

🎾 Plugged in servers

🎾 Plugged in servers

Microsoft renews its partnership with the Billie Jean King Cup

On Thursday, the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup extended its partnership with Microsoft through 2026. It focuses on developing tech solutions for the women’s national team tennis tournament by utilizing the Azure cloud platform, allowing Microsoft to flex its computing muscles in women’s sports amid explosive sector growth.

🎾 Plot twist

🎾 Plot twist

Saudi Arabia selected as WTA Finals host through 2026

It turns out all the rumors are true. After much deliberation, the WTA Finals will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2024 to 2026. Despite human rights concerns from women’s tennis athletes and journalists, the WTA ultimately followed the money.

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