Sports Business | The GIST

The brands backing a 24-year-old’s push for the Olympics

Annika Malacinski has the kind of Olympic story media outlets and marketers dream of. The 24-year-old daughter of a ski instructor grew up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado — one of the only areas in the U.S. with the infrastructure to facilitate Nordic combined, a marriage between cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

January 24, 2026

Brands turn to emerging women’s sports leagues to reach young digital natives

Softball. Baseball. Lacrosse. What do these sports have in common? In 2025, they all fielded brand-new professional women’s leagues.

January 10, 2026

Wasserman publishes latest report on private equity, asset appreciation in women’s sports

On Monday, Wasserman’s The Collective published the third part of its extensive research on the economy of women’s sports and the influence of women fans. In this edition, The Collective focused on the growth of the women’s sports ecosystem, studying macrotrends exemplified by increased private equity (PE) investment and infrastructure investment.

December 23, 2025

Grand Slam Track announces bankruptcy as Athlos, others illustrate what emerging sports leagues need for success

After months of financial difficulties, track & field league Grand Slam Track (GST) — spearheaded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson — officially filed for bankruptcy last week. As popular Olympic sports try to extend their reach beyond the global competition, GST presents a cautionary tale as it endured common issues faced by upstart sports leagues.

December 16, 2025

Partners of pro athletes offer organic, engaging marketing opportunities for brands and untapped potential in women’s sports

WAGs are where it's at

December 12, 2025

Netflix and Paramount Skydance make billion-dollar moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, shaking up sports landscape

On Friday, Netflix announced it will acquire the streaming and studio divisions of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), now separated under the Warner Brothers (WB) brand, in a $82.7B deal. But in dramatic fashion, Paramount Skydance threatened to finish what it started as it launched a $108.4B hostile bid for the entire company to compete with what was considered a done deal.

December 09, 2025

New app plans to exclusively cater to women’s sports as sector sees growth

Last week, Rival — set to be the first sportsbook built exclusively for women’s sports — shared its plans to be active in three U.S. betting markets by 2026. The platform will include bets across the NWSL, WNBA, NCAA women’s basketball, WSL, WTA, and more, differing from the existing platforms that center men’s sports.

November 25, 2025

New Parity data illustrates the power of Gen Z spending in women’s sports

Sports Business

New Parity data illustrates the power of Gen Z spending in women’s sports

November 14, 2025

Yesterday, Parity shared data from a survey of 2.4K U.S. Gen Z adults that ascertained their perspectives and purchasing behaviors. Compounding on previous data reflecting positive Gen Z attitudes toward women’s sports, this new report clarifies how Zoomers feel about women’s sports, women athletes, and sponsors in the space.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #527

The Super Bowl plot twist no one saw coming

February 03, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

The Super Bowl plot twist no one saw coming

Glowing up for the Big Game!

For the first time since 2003, the two teams vying for a Super Bowl title — the AFC’s New England Patriots and the NFC’s Seattle Seahawks — missed the playoffs the season before. And on today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula are breaking down the transformation. From the Pats’ locker room yap sessions that built a brotherhood to the Seahawks’ risky offseason inking, this year’s Super Bowl matchup is the plot twist no one saw coming.