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The Sports Bra provides new crowdfunding opportunity to scale up business while letting fans invest

The Sports Bra provides new crowdfunding opportunity to scale up business while letting fans invest

Sports Business

The Sports Bra provides new crowdfunding opportunity to scale up business while letting fans invest

Everyone wants to be in the women’s sports bar business these days, so The Sports Bra is making it easy for anyone to own a piece of the action. Yesterday, the Portland-based enterprise built on its expanding franchise business by rolling out a new investment opportunity: A crowdfunding campaign called “Own a Piece of The Bra.”

Jess Smith breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar strategy

Jess Smith breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar strategy

Jess Smith breaks down the Golden State Valkyries’ billion-dollar strategy

The Golden State Valkyries may as well be in Valhalla (or Ballhalla, as they call it). Shortly after the team shared its season two promotional campaign, CNBC deemed the Valks a billion-dollar franchise — the first in women’s sports history. That’s no accident. Valkyries president Jess Smith and her team have been busy building a juggernaut brand — and in a region full of fervent fans and powerful sponsors, that becomes a billion-dollar pursuit. Last month, we spoke with Smith about the strategies she’s implemented to reach this pinnacle, as well as what’s going to keep the club climbing in year two.

PWHL adds two expansion franchises as new markets offer unique value

PWHL adds two expansion franchises as new markets offer unique value

PWHL adds two expansion franchises as new markets offer unique value

The PWHL is getting bigger and better…literally. After adding an expansion franchise in Detroit last week, the league announced new teams in Hamilton, ON, and Las Vegas, NV, yesterday. If those cities weren’t on your bingo card, you wouldn’t be alone — but each market brings its own value to the league. Feeling pucky.

Nielsen, ESPN share WNBA viewership insights that illustrate league’s growth among key demos

Nielsen, ESPN share WNBA viewership insights that illustrate league’s growth among key demos

Nielsen, ESPN share WNBA viewership insights that illustrate league’s growth among key demos

Earlier this week, Nielsen shared WNBA viewership insights from the 2025 season and the 2026 WNBA Draft. The numbers show impressive overall success, as well as high growth in specific demographics and regional markets. That, coupled with brand-new viewership data from ESPN, illustrates that the league is stronger than ever in year 30. Let’s get into the paint.

New Endy partnership illustrates value of partnering with Canadian WNBA athletes

New Endy partnership illustrates value of partnering with Canadian WNBA athletes

New Endy partnership illustrates value of partnering with Canadian WNBA athletes

Canadian mattress brand Endy is returning as the WNBA’s official sleep partner in Canada, touting a new campaign that stars Canadian athletes across the league. The move doubles down on impressive fan growth in the country, which both Canadian and multinational brands are noting.

The Dallas Wings are shooting their shot

The Dallas Wings are shooting their shot

The Dallas Wings are shooting their shot

This year, the Dallas Wings got lucky again. They landed back-to-back No. 1 overall picks, first choosing Paige Bueckers in 2025, then Bueckers’ former teammate Azzi Fudd just a month ago. (The pair are an item on and off the court, but don’t ask the club about it.) In April, we chatted with Wings CEO Greg Bibb about how the team has flourished under his tenure and the hype around the Dallas market, for W fans and brands alike. Everything’s bigger in Texas, after all.

PWHL awards newest franchise to Detroit, proving power of Ally’s hometown marketing strategy

PWHL awards newest franchise to Detroit, proving power of Ally’s hometown marketing strategy

PWHL awards newest franchise to Detroit, proving power of Ally’s hometown marketing strategy

After three years of playing games in the Detroit market, the PWHL is finally ready to commit to the city. The league announced yesterday that it’s expanding to Detroit, MI, after hosting four games there.

Sports Business

Skechers chats about the brand’s basketball strategy amid its new WNBA partnership

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May 07, 2026

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The GIST of It Podcast

The secret to building strength with Ilona Maher

May 19, 2026

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

The secret to building strength with Ilona Maher

The secret to building strength with Ilona Maher

Two words: Ilona Maher.

The rugby star and queen of the Internet joins The GIST of It today, sitting down with senior editor Lauren Tuiskula for a convo on building strength, something Ilona knows better than anyone. Trust us — by the end of this episode, you’ll be ready to add another plate at the gym.

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Sportico, CNBC share differing WNBA valuations that both prove rising value of the league

Sportico, CNBC share differing WNBA valuations that both prove rising value of the league

Sportico, CNBC share differing WNBA valuations that both prove rising value of the league

Over the weekend, both Sportico and CNBC shared their estimated valuations for all WNBA teams. While both outlets came to the same conclusion — the Golden State Valkyries are the highest-valued team — they ended up with different calculations, likely because CNBC included the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire and Sportico did not. Let’s crunch the numbers.

Jordan Chiles and Pure Leaf highlight the value of athlete brand partnerships from both sides

In April, we spoke with UCLA and Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles about how she’s building out her brand portfolio and why brands want to work with her. And on Thursday, we also spoke with Zach Harris, VP and GM of the Pepsi Lipton Partnership North America, who oversees marketing for iced tea label Pure Leaf.

How one NWSL team built a regional culture from the ground up

How one NWSL team built a regional culture from the ground up

How one NWSL team built a regional culture from the ground up

In March, we interviewed Courage COO Ralph Vuono about winning fans in an atomized regional culture, and how the club plans to further energize Courage Country — and prospective sponsors.

Brand interest in new fencing, dance leagues illustrate marketing power in “niche” sports

Two new leagues — the World Fencing League (WFL) and International Dance League (IDL) — are gearing up to serve avid fandoms for niche sports. But are they really that niche? Maybe not, and brands are counting on that wide appeal. Let’s boogie.

PWHL shares impressive growth numbers as new brand partners embrace the league’s value

The PWHL is getting bigger and better each year and has the data to prove it. This week, the league shared metrics from its third regular season that illustrate a continued rise in fan demand. And that interest is driving more and more sponsorships, with new categories constantly joining the fold.

Gotham FC teams up with NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani on shared message of affordability

Gotham FC teams up with NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani on shared message of affordability

Gotham FC teams up with NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani on shared message of affordability

FIFA men’s World Cup tickets are expensive: Fans know it, Gotham FC knows it, and NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani knows it. So in an initiative to make local soccer more affordable, the NWSL club teamed up with Mamdani to sell 1K tickets for its May 9th home game for $5 each, and they sold out in under an hour — and Gotham’s working to offer another 500 more at this price.

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