The GIST

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

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.

November 06, 2024

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

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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

US Open boosts tournament revenue with strategic Fan Week opportunities

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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

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

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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.

July 10, 2024

WTA and PIF announce multiyear partnership

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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.

May 22, 2024

Microsoft renews its partnership with the Billie Jean King Cup

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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.

May 06, 2024

Saudi Arabia selected as WTA Finals host through 2026

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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.

April 05, 2024

Sports Business

Saudi Arabia reportedly makes push to merge ATP, WTA with proposed PIF Tour

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March 15, 2024

According to The Telegraph, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) wants to merge the WTA and ATP tennis tours with a limited-time, $2B offer that expires in 90 days. The rebranded PIF Tour would reportedly replace the proposed Premium Tour, a joint WTA–ATP circuit that’s been in development since January.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #413

Everything we know about Unrivaled, Seattle Storm investigation & WNBA draft lottery results, and NBA storylines

November 19, 2024

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Everything we know about Unrivaled, Seattle Storm investigation & WNBA draft lottery results, and NBA storylines

Hoop, there it is!

Today’s episode of The GIST of It is a hoop-tastic basketball three-parter, co-hosted by Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz. First, it’s all eyes on the WNBA, with the Seattle Storm investigating its coaching staff for alleged player mistreatment and the 2025 Draft order finally set.

Then, it’s the Unrivaled explainer you’ve been waiting for, as the brand-new women’s hoops league prepares to draft its 36 inaugural players into teams, plus a couple updates from Athletes Unlimited Basketball, who are making roster moves themselves.

And finally, there’s so much to discuss from the NBA, from LA Laker LeBron James’ continued dominance to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ historic season start. All hoops, all the time.

A big thank you to Aflac for partnering with us on today’s episode! Add Aflac to your team to close the insurance gap today. Learn more at aflac.com/thegist.