Closing Bell

The MLS Players Association exercised an option in 2025 to increase its equity stake in OneTeam Partners by $5.1M, while also making an initial $1M investment in the firm’s global licensing business, OneTeam International. The moves came as the union’s licensing revenue from OneTeam grew 15.6% year over year to $8.2M, according to federal filings.

The MLSPA’s option to purchase additional equity in OneTeam Partners stems from its contribution of commercial rights in 2021. In addition to cash and an initial equity stake, the union received an option to purchase additional equity in OneTeam at the 2021 valuation if it hit certain revenue targets. The MLSPA has now met those revenue targets and exercised its option.

In addition to the uptick in licensing revenue, the MLSPA received more than $1.1M in dividend income from OneTeam for the first time in 2025.

A union spokesperson confirmed the investments shown on the union’s LM-2 filing “reflect exercising an option to increase MLSPA’s ownership share in OneTeam Partners, as well as an equity investment in OneTeam International.” OneTeam declined to comment on the MLSPA’s investments.

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NFL reporter Dianna Russini has “resigned from The Athletic less than a week” after published photos of her and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort “prompted an internal investigation at the New York Times-owned sports outlet.” Russini, in a letter to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg, wrote the publication “supported me unequivocally” in the days after the initial story about the photos came out, but in the days that followed, “commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.” She added the “media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process,” saying that rather than “allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now -- before my current contract expires on June 30″ (AP, 4/14).

According to Guardian reporter Jeremy Barr in a post on X, Ginsberg sent a staff-wide Slack message that said the organization’s review of Russini’s work will continue. He said there were “clear concerns” when the situation was brought to The Athletic’s attention, but “we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter.” He said “new questions were raised” as more information emerged (X, 4/14).

The CFP unveiled a “refreshed brand identity and logo system that directly integrates the ‘CFP’ moniker across most of its marks, and includes ‘subtle yet meaningful’ tweaks to its main logos.” The move is a “deliberate push toward brand clarity.” The logo features a “shimmering, metallic gradient” the CFP calls “Championship Gold.” The organization “updated its primary font for ‘CFP’” and “introduced new arced wording for every round of the playoffs.” The tweaks have “deprioritized references to the ‘College Football Playoff,’ with the focus directed on the three-letter ‘CFP’ acronym.” The brand refresh also “introduces direct lock-up logos for the six bowl games hosting the quarterfinals and semifinals” -- the Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/14).

Netflix unveiled a deal with Concacaf to “stream in Mexico the Nations League finals and the Concacaf Gold Cup tournaments, starting in 2027.” The four-year deal will make Netflix the “exclusive home in that Latin American market for the 2027 and 2029 editions of both competitions,” where the Mexican national team and players feature. The Concacaf agreement is “exclusive to Mexico and to the Concacaf men’s national team competitions” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/14).

Elevate has appointed Willie DiBlasi as Chief Operating Officer, while continuing his role as Chief Financial Officer. The sports and entertainment agency added the COO role as it expands across new markets, service lines and regions globally.

DiBlasi has served as Elevate’s CFO since 2024 and led the company’s Series B and Series C equity raises, a balance sheet recapitalization with Goldman Sachs and four separate strategic acquisitions. In his dual role, DiBlasi will oversee Elevate’s global operations, focusing on optimizing and integrating core business functions -- including finance, people, legal, technology, and performance management -- across all verticals and regions.

Prior to joining Elevate, DiBlasi led the global facility advisory and finance practice at Inner Circle Sports and spent nearly a decade as a VP at Goldman Sachs.

“Willie has been a transformational leader for Elevate since the moment he joined, and our global growth reflects that. This is a strategic step forward … I am proud of what he has accomplished and even more excited about what’s ahead,” Elevate Chair and CEO Al Guido said.

CBS golf voice Jim Nantz defended the network amid criticism of its coverage of the 2026 Masters, saying that it is “live television” and “we all make mistakes.” Nantz, on “The Pat McAfee Show,” said he “can’t speak to the difficulty and some of the decision-making and some of the other things that people are responsible for,” but his crew is the “best in the business” (“The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN, 4/14).

CBS was often “way behind the action and relied far too much on showing shots on tape.” NBC lead golf analyst Kevin Kisner “noticed that and wasn’t impressed.” Kisner, on “ForePlay,” said, “There were a couple of shots in the two days that were seven to 10 minutes behind.” Kisner: “I’m not trying to just kill them but being in TV for 30 times and seeing what our production team does it was just fascinating to me.” CBS had a “rough final hole of the tournament.” The crew lost eventual winner Rory McIlroy‘s difficult approach shot on 18 and “ended with a bad angle on his tap-in putt that didn’t allow viewers to see the ball going in the hole.” It also lost Cameron Young‘s approach shot, which happened “right after McIlroy’s shot from the trees on the right” (SI, 4/14).

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s response to a question about her future on Monday drew a lot of reaction on social media. Engelbert wondered if her gender played a role in the issue being repeatedly raised, replying to a female reporter: “I wonder whether you would ask that of a man, by the way.”

• N.Y. Post’s Madeline Kenny (the reporter who asked the question of Engelbert): “To be clear: I would’ve asked this question to a man.”
• NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach: “Male pro sports commissioners get asked questions about their future all the time. Totally valid question — and a fascinating, super-defensive response.”
• Atlanta-based WCCN-AM’s Nick Cellini: “Rob Manfred, Roger Goodell, Gary Bettman, and David Stern were all asked that question many times over. Bud Selig too.”
• ESPN Radio’s Mark Zinno: “Male commissioners get asked about how long they want to stay in the job all the time. It happens to Goodell yearly.”
• ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski: “Gary Bettman gets asked this question so often that he’s taken to preemptively answering it before it’s asked.”
• WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti: “Adam Silver has literally been asked this. It’s also a fair question to her based on how polarizing she is in her league.”
• Fried Egg Golf’s Kevin Van Valkenburg: “I mean, we asked Jay Monahan some version of this for three years.”
• Reporter Annie Costabile: “Objectively speaking, not only is Cathy wrong—this would be asked of a man and has—but her response was a failed attempt at diverting from the discussions about her job security.”
• The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill: “If a man had her track record, absolutely.”
• Reporter A.J. Perez: “Just answer the question, Engelbert. You made WNBA Draft too much about you with this unnecessary response. I’ve seen this video and similar posts just as much as picks and analysis on here” (SBJ).

SBJ Publishing is releasing, “The Business of Sports Technology,” in partnership with Amplify Publishing Group. The book is written by Next League CEO David Nugent, who provides an insider’s guide to how sports organizations leverage technology to drive revenue, improve efficiency and navigate an increasingly complex, ever-evolving business ecosystem. You can order your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.