Sports Business | The GIST

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

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

WNBA faces turning point as CBA negotiations sour

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It’s officially spooky season in the WNBA as CBA tensions rise ahead of the agreement’s Halloween deadline. With the league generating more revenue than ever — it banked an estimated $226M in 2024 and is expected to haul $500M in 2026 — and players want their rightful slice of the pie.

October 06, 2025

New Booking.com data further illustrates women’s sports fans’ willingness to travel

The WNBA Finals are set, meaning the locations and dates are also finally locked in. New data from the W’s official online travel partner Booking.com illustrates a largely untapped opportunity for the travel sector to cash in on women’s sports fandom.

October 03, 2025

SponsorPulse highlights recent data showing overlap between WNBA, beauty fans

Yesterday, sports data insights platform SponsorPulse (SP) highlighted its recent report that tracks WNBA fan behavior in relation to the beauty industry. This, combined with May data from Sports Innovation Lab (SIL), proves the fascinating overlap between W fans, luxury fashionistas, and makeup lovers.

October 03, 2025

Wasserman’s The Collective shares new data insights into unlocking the power of women sports fans

The Collective — Wasserman’s women-focused data insights platform — published a new study on Monday advising the sports industry on how to engage with women as sports superfans and powerhouse consumers. By 2030, women are set to control 75% of global discretionary spending and lead 85% of household purchasing decisions.

October 01, 2025

Amazon Prime teams up with FanDuel to use betting to drive viewership to WNBA, NBA

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Yesterday, FanDuel partnered with Amazon to become the official odds provider for WNBA and NBA games on Prime Video. The partnership — which will offer real-time odds and in-app bet tracking — capitalizes on the power of gamification across the sports industry as it attracts both avid and casual fans.

October 01, 2025

Women’s Rugby World Cup victories underscore sport’s potential in the U.S.

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This Saturday, England’s Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup at home, but the wins extend beyond the field. Global interest in women’s rugby is reaching a fever pitch and rising, setting it up as the next Olympic sport ripe for commercialization. But is rugby ready for its close-up in the U.S.?

September 29, 2025

Sports Business

X Games launch rebrand to reach a new generation of action sport fans

September 26, 2025

The X Games — ESPN’s iconic action sports competition that made sports like snowboarding and BMX mainstream and drove their Olympic inclusion — is ready for its glow-up. After its private equity acquisition in 2022, the X Games unveiled new branding and shared details about its forthcoming X Games League this week.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #499

Is LeBron James teasing retirement or taco Tuesday?

October 07, 2025

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Is LeBron James teasing retirement or taco Tuesday?

All hoops, all the time.

The WNBA Finals are in full swing, which means The GIST of It co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz were ready to break down what to expect in Game 3, now that the Las Vegas Aces hold a two-game lead over the Phoenix Mercury…but then LeBron James tweeted. Is the King retiring? Or is he trolling with another clever marketing campaign? Hear the gals’ thoughts on all the above today.

A big thank you to our friends at DoorDash for sponsoring today’s pod. DoorDash is launching a brand new platform called BRING IT IN that’s dedicated to championing women’s sports. The goal is to showcase more women’s games to fans just like you, while providing local restaurants with access to opportunities usually reserved for big sponsors. To celebrate, DoorDash wants to give you up to 30% off during the WNBA Finals. Just head to the link in the shownotes, download the DoorDash app, and start thinking about your next game-day meal.