Women's Sports
Ally aims to maintain 50-50 gender-parity split after reaching goal early
Ally CMO Andrea Brimmer’s goal after the company reached its 50-50 goal in splitting marketing spend across men’s and women’s sport is to “stay there” while tackling the “burgeoning problem of ‘fanflation,’” according to Emma Hinchliffe of FORTUNE. Ally, which reached its goal a year early, did not ...
Engelbert’s response to question on her future draws strong reaction
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....
SBJ Women’s Sports: Takeaways from Engelbert’s WNBA Draft address
Three keys from WNBA Cathy Engelbert's WNBA draft comments heading into the new season. Also: Ally reaches its 50-50 women's sponsorship pledge well ahead of its deadline, WNBA ticket price trends and JCPenny's driving into women's basketball.
JCPenney taking ‘Inside Lane’ in deal with women’s basketball stars
Gucci, Dior and Prada have had their time in women’s basketball tunnel walks. Now JCPenney is joining the high-fashion brands that have cast athletes as desirable models and fashion icons.
Data Drive: Get-in prices for WNBA games
The WNBA offseason has ramped up throughout the last two weeks, so we asked SBJ’s ticketing reporter Ethan Joyce to take a closer look.
3 takeaways from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in her first post-CBA speech
SBJ’s Mike Mazzeo attended WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s draft press conference Monday in New York City. Here’s what stood out from her time at the podium following a contentious offseason CBA negotiation with the players’ union and amid questions on Engelbert’s future.
WME Basketball represents most players in first round of 2026 WNBA Draft
WME Basketball led all agencies with three clients selected in the first round, including two in the top five, of the 2026 WNBA Draft. TCU G Olivia Miles, UCLA C Lauren Betts and South Carolina G Raven Johnson were chosen second by the Lynx, fourth by the Mystics and 10th by the Fever, respectively....
New grass at Lumen Field reason for USWNT’s long-awaited return
The USWNT for the “first time in nearly a decade” will “play a competitive match in the state of Washington” on Tuesday night when it faces Japan at Lumen Field, according to Tim Booth of the SEATTLE TIMES. There is “expected to be a record crowd” for the stand-alone match, with U.S. Soccer announci...
Columbus City Council nears vote on investor deal in NWSL expansion bid
Columbus City Council is “moving toward voting on a deal with private investors” in the bid to bring a NWSL expansion franchise to the city -- but the deal “isn’t final yet,” according to Jordan Laird of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. A Development Agreement with investors and Franklin County was on “first-...
WNBA Draft draws full, engaged crowd
The WNBA held its draft Monday night in front of a “room full of fans” that were “engaged enough to boo” during a trade. A few years ago, it was a “largely quiet affair,” but now the league has leveled up and made the draft a “true public event,” which came with the tradition of fans “booing as the ...
Engelbert says WNBA in ‘a good spot’ after contentious labor negotiations
NEW YORK -- WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said she “feels really good” about her relationship with the players as the league looks to move forward after a contentious labor negotiation. A seven-year labor deal through 2032 that features the first multimillion-dollar contracts in league history m...
Audience Analysis: WNBA Draft another barometer for women’s hoops
Tonight’s WNBA Draft, like the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, will be a good indicator of a “new normal” for women’s hoops telecasts. The Caitlin Clark draft telecast drew a record of just under 2.5 million viewers on ESPN two years ago, and last year was the second-best with 1.3 million for a ...
Franchise Notes
In Chicago, Julia Poe wrote the Sky’s new training facility in Bedford Park “will not be ready for the start of the season” -- but the team “will not return to Sachs Recreation Center.” A source said that the team will “hold training camp and all other team workouts at an undisclosed location within...
Boston remains WNBA expansion target as owners look to profit from market’s value
The WNBA “has Boston in its sights,” but the league owners “want to profit off such a valuable market,” according to Gary Washburn of the BOSTON GLOBE. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta paid $300M for the rights to the Sun despite Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca offering a record $325M for the fra...
WNBA players entering league experiencing new era
The WNBA players drafted on Monday will enter during a “new era” of the league, a sentiment that has “been felt before with this league, but one that feels particularly heavy -- especially in bank accounts -- now,” according to Chantel Jennings of THE ATHLETIC. Players joining the WNBA during its 30...
Portland Fire land Lashify as first beauty sponsor
The Fire has “inked its first beauty sponsor” in a multiyear deal with Lashify, which will serve as the WNBA team’s “marquee jersey and official eyelash partner,” according to Noor Lobad of WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY. Lashify will “host a ‘Lashify Runway’ arrival experience for fans at Portland’s Moda Cente...
WNBA signs M&M’s as official chocolate sponsor
The WNBA and Mars have inked a multiyear deal making the M&M’s brand the league’s official chocolate sponsor in a newly created category. Terms of the deal were not revealed.
WNBA draftees to experience pay jump from past selections
As significant as the identity of the No. 1 player selected in tonight’s WNBA Draft is, her rookie salary might be a bigger a storyline. Under the terms of the new CBA, the top overall pick will make $500,000 at the top of the rookie scale.
Fiesta Bowl collegiate event keeps flag football in the spotlight
As flag football continues its rapid rise, the Fiesta Sports Foundation is set to host a national Division I women’s collegiate tournament that aims to further elevate the sport.
In six years, founder Haley Rosen takes Just Women’s Sports from startup to power player
Even before women’s sports experienced the skyrocketing growth of the past few years, Haley Rosen saw her place in it. A lifelong soccer player, she thought it would be on the pitch.
Sponsored content
Quote of the Day
We’re waving the flag right now. We are letting people know through action that we want a Major League Baseball team, and we're going to help speed up the process. This is just the beginning.-- Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, on his plan to introduce a motion on April 22 that directs staff to initiate a process that attracts potential ownership groups interested in pursuing an expansion MLB franchise.
PODCAST
SBJ TV
PROPERTIES
