The GIST

Fubo rolls out its Women's Sports Zone as FAST channels cover the women’s game

Sports-focused FAST channel Fubo recently launched its Women's Sports Zone while touting highly-customizable ad campaigns for brands. Inspired by viewers’ interest in women’s sports, Fubo found a way to activate in the space without having any direct media rights for a major league.

May 23, 2025

E.l.f. continues to consider women fans of men’s sports through NASCAR partnership

We’ve seen makeup brands go big in women’s sports lately, including E.l.f.’s support of the PWHL and Overtime Select. But the brand’s decision to rev up its investment in NASCAR, coupled with previous NFL activations, shows that catering to women who follow men’s sports is a unique and effective way to reach a historically overlooked demo.

May 23, 2025

WNBA’s opening weekend draws impressive viewership and generates bigger brand exposure

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This weekend, the WNBA season tipped off on several networks, and the results are in: Interest in the league is widespread across teams and platforms, illustrating how everyone should harness the WNBA’s popularity however they can.

May 21, 2025

The GIST and Barbarian team up for a data-powered report on the ROI in women’s sports

This week, The GIST debuted a new report in partnership with NYC agency Barbarian that explores the proven interest and investment potential in women’s sports. The report delineates the paradigm shift in how the category is considered, the intense audience engagement among women’s sports fans, and identifies trends to keep an eye on.

May 21, 2025

2025 media upfronts shed light on 2024 wins for sports networks and streamers

Last week, broadcast networks and streamers shared a glimpse into current strategies during the 2025 Upfronts in NYC. Companies like NBC, Amazon, Netflix, and Disney all observed the same trend: It’s smart to double down on live sports because of the impressive engagement the industry generates, both from viewers and advertisers.

May 19, 2025

WNBA enjoys record numbers of sponsors as new, old brands join the league

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The 29th WNBA season tipped off last Friday with a record 45 official sponsors, including 10 brands that signed on during the past year, according to Sports Business Journal (SBJ). Let’s dive into why these old and new brands are recognizing the potential for brand amplification in the W.

May 19, 2025

WNBA and CarMax benefit from free early-season content offerings

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Yesterday, the WNBA announced that partner CarMax activated its Tip-Off Test Drive promotion once again, meaning fans can catch the beginning of the season on WNBA League Pass for free. Sponsoring exclusive, free content is a fantastic way to rev up positive brand association, which is especially key in a space where consumers reward their favorite sponsors.

May 16, 2025

Sports Business

Sports Innovation Lab shares data insights on WNBA fans

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May 16, 2025

With the WNBA season tipping off tomorrow, we’re seeing an increase in aspirational companies choosing to partner with the W. And according to the latest data insights from Sports Innovation Lab (SIL), there’s a reason why brands like Fenty Beauty are choosing the WNBA, especially teams like the NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #461

Getting chippy in the PWHL Finals, plus our expansion draft rules reaction

May 22, 2025

Listen on Apple Music Listen on Spotify

Getting chippy in the PWHL Finals, plus our expansion draft rules reaction

The PWHL Finals are off to a raucous start.

The defending champ Minnesota Frost fell in overtime to the upstart Ottawa Charge in Tuesday’s Game 1 — but the box score only tells half the story. On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz share their thoughts on a player that’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons before shifting gears to the latest news about the upcoming expansion draft. Drop that puck.

This episode is sponsored by our friends at SharkNinja. As one of the founding partners of the PWHL, SharkNinja is committed to growing the women’s game and providing unparalleled support for women in sports, from the rink to the podcast booth and beyond. Check out their full line of incredible products, including their viral hair styling tools, at www.sharkclean.ca.

Additionally, this episode is supported by Amazon Business, the ultimate partner for smart business buying. Amazon Business offers a one-stop shop for all of your business needs, helping companies of all shapes and sizes simplify their purchasing process. Learn more by checking out business.amazon.com today.