Women's Sports
Detroit PWHL team lands trailblazer Rheaume as GM
The Detroit PWHL team “has star power in its first general manager,” hiring former hockey player Manon Rheaume, the first woman to try out for an NHL team. Rheaume, in 1992, became the first woman to appear in an NHL exhibition game. She joins the team after four years with the L.A. Kings in hockey ...
Rousey: Carano fight to set women’s purse record, challenge UFC’s MMA dominance
MMA fighter Ronda Rousey said that her fight with Gina Carano “will set a new purse record for female fighters” when they meet Saturday at Intuit Dome, with the bout set to be streamed on Netflix. Rousey “championed her bout with Carano as a landscape-shifting moment for the sport” and also “took ai...
Women’s Lacrosse League begins debut season seeking lasting foothold
The Women’s Lacrosse League will begin its inaugural season Saturday, and despite previous women’s professional lacrosse leagues having “struggled to find a foothold in the North American sports landscape,” the WLL’s founders are “optimistic they’ve figured out the formula this time,” according to E...
PWHL’s rapid expansion sparks growth debate
The PWHL “is mushrooming,” as it started with six teams in 2023 and is now at 11 -- and the “obvious question ... is whether this is happening too fast,” according to Bruce Arthur of the TORONTO STAR. The “answer might be no.” PWHL EVP/Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford said, “When we launched, the lea...
Comets’ impending return to Houston showing large interest from fans
The Comets are readying to return to Houston, this time “in a thriving league,” as the team hopes to “emulate their predecessors’ on-court dominance while taking advantage of the league’s improved standing,” according to Varun Shankar of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. At Thursday’s press conference, announc...
Houston Comets 2.0 is official, will bring Sun front office to Houston
Even with their name not officially trademarked, the Houston Comets made their reincarnation official Thursday, in a giddy press conference that also revealed the Sun’s front office staff will move with the players from Connecticut.
NBC’s Sue Bird, Cheryl Miller discuss WNBA coverage as 2026 season gets underway
This week marks the return of the WNBA to NBC Sports for the first time since 2002. Seven regular season games will air on NBC and Peacock with the remaining 15 on Peacock and NBCSN. The debut comes this Sunday with a doubleheader starting with the Aces and Dream at 1:30pm ET on NBC and Peacock foll...
Kelsey Plum to join Prime Video’s WNBA coverage as player contributor
Sports outlets have become increasingly fond of current athletes serving in a contributor role on broadcasts -- and Prime Video has added another well-known athlete to that growing subset. The company will announce Thursday that Sparks G Kelsey Plum will join WNBA on Prime as a player contributor.
PWHL expansion to San Jose appears imminent
San Jose is now “on the clock” to land a PWHL expansion franchise, and though a deal there “still remains to be officially signed,” a notable date to watch for more updates could be “May 19,” according to Ian Kennedy of THE HOCKEY NEWS (X/13). In San Jose, Curtis Pashelka wrote the city would give t...
WNBA, NBA approve sale of Sun to Fertitta, relocation to Houston
The WNBA and NBA BOG unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun from the Mohegan Tribe to new owner Tilman Fertitta. Mohegan Sun Arena will remain the home of the Sun for the 2026 WNBA season, with the team relocating to Houston beginning with the 2027 season (WNBA). Fertitt...
Report: Racing Louisville FC exploring sale of stake in club
Racing Louisville FC owner Soccer Holding has “begun to explore selling a stake” in the NWSL club, according to sources cited by Jeff Kassouf of ESPN.com. Sources said that there is “not currently a prospective buyer identified.” Rather, Soccer Holdings Chair John Neace and partners have “more forma...
Legge, backed by e.l.f. Cosmetics, set to race Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600
Driver Katherine Legge on May 24 will “be the first woman to attempt ‘The Double’” -- racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day -- with cosmetics brand e.l.f. sponsoring both entries, according to Mitchell Northam of USA TODAY. E.l.f. became the first beauty brand to be a...
WNBA sustains business momentum with 46 official sponsors
The WNBA’s 30th season boasts a roster of 46 official sponsors that matches last year’s Opening Week league record, and includes 11 brands that have signed in the past 12 months. For the fourth consecutive year, CarMax served as the Opening Week’s presenting sponsor. Gatorade and Nike, which have be...
PWHL Walter Cup Final set, with Canadian team set to win title for first time
The Montreal Victoire are “on the way” to their first-ever Walter Cup Final after eliminating the Minnesota Frost with a 2-1 win in Game 5 of the PWHL’s semifinal round on Tuesday. The Victoire will now face the Ottawa Charge in the final after the Charge beat the Boston Fleet in the other semifinal...
Reports: PWHL to add teams to Las Vegas, Hamilton
The PWHL is “headed for Las Vegas” with the city set to host the league’s 10th team, according to a source cited by THE ATHLETIC. The PWHL is expected to make the announcement on Wednesday afternoon, according to an invitation from Golden Knights owner Foley Entertainment Group. Las Vegas will be th...
Scripps exec touts early investment in women’s sports programming on ION
Scripps Networks EVP, CMO & GM Keisha Taylor Starr said while a “lot of networks are just beginning to expand their women’s sports coverage,” they made an “early strategic investment to build consistent primetime programming for broadcast franchises” on ION. Starr, speaking on Adweek’s “Marketin...
SBJ Women’s Sports: MLV plants flag in competitive landscape
Major League Volleyball wraps up its third season looking at new teams with owners looking to build on existing growth. Also: Where women's sports sponsorships live, a year of SBJ Women's Sports and more.
Women’s sports executive transactions
AMB Sports and Entertainment named KEITH MCCLOAT as VP and CFO of NWSL Atlanta 2028. Reporting to President of Soccer MAURICIO CULEBRO, McCloat will begin his tenure on May 11. McCloat joins NWSL Atlanta 2028 after spending the past nine years with the Mets, where he most recently served as senior d...
New feature alert: We love to see it!
Over the past year, we have highlighted some of the innovative and often endearing things happening in women’s sports, to which you have frequently heard us say: “We love to see it.” So, we figured what better time than our first anniversary to make a new standing feature in this newsletter to highl...
Reflecting on Year 1 of SBJ Women’s Sports
Feeling a bit nostalgic, I took a look through the archive of our first year of this newsletter. (And very on brand, while listening to Taylor Swift and on my walking pad.)
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I do believe that that will put pressure on those companies that retain or grow their NFL expense to make decisions on other content, and that we will selectively look at contracts.-- Versant CEO Mark Lazarus, on being well-positioned to secure media rights for some leagues as other companies spend more for NFL rights.
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