BUSINESS NEWS

May 20, 2026

Title Nine Opens Applications for 2026 T9 Pitchfest Outdoor Edition, the Outdoor Industry’s Breakout Stage for Women-Owned Brands

Emeryville, Calif. (May 20, 2026) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ - Title Nine, the adventure and outdoor apparel retailer committed to building a community of risk-seeking women, today announced applications are officially open for its ninth annual T9 Pitchfest Outdoor Edition. The company’s flagship entrepreneurship competition and mentorship event is dedicated to accelerating...

May 19, 2026

San Jose awarded Professional Women’s Hockey League expansion team

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced Tuesday that San Jose has been awarded a team as the growing league expands to 12 teams. PWHL officials said the new team will begin play later this year, with home games at the SAP Center, which is also home of the NHL's...

May 18, 2026

The Sports Bra Launches Crowdfunding Investment Campaign

The Sports Bra, Portland's first-of-its-kind bar dedicated 100% to televising women's sports, has officially launched a regulation crowdfunding campaign. The move is designed to raise up to $1.2 million in capital, allowing everyday fans and small-scale investors to own a literal piece of the business for a minimum investment of...

May 14, 2026

Women’s sports expansion fees have exploded. How expensive are they?

Two new WNBA teams began play this past weekend: the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. When those franchises were announced in 2024, their reported expansion fees were among the highest in women’s professional sports history ($50 million for Toronto and $75 million for Portland). But in the two years...

May 14, 2026

OnlyFans Is Paying Pro Athletes What Their Sports Won’t

A very Poppinga estimates it costs her about $50,000 a year to be a professional beach volleyball player. Coaching, flights, hotels, gym memberships, gear—nearly all paid out of pocket. USA Volleyball provides stipends to only its top four teams, and even those athletes tend to have side hustles and roommates....

May 14, 2026

Gainbridge, Parity, and Women’s Sports Foundation® Launch Third Annual Grant Program Investing $250,000 in Girls and Women Through Sports and Education

Zionsville, Ind. (May 14, 2026) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – For the third consecutive year, GainbridgeSM, a simple, safe way to save, is joining forces with Parity and the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF®) to invest in girls and women through sports and education – awarding $250,000 in grants to organizations across the country. Through Gainbridge...

May 13, 2026

WNBA board of governors approve sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Houston Rockets group

The WNBA and NBA board of governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, the league announced Wednesday. The two sides had reached an agreement to sell the team for $300 million in March, according to a person familiar with the...

May 12, 2026

St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93 to focus professional future on women’s team from 2027

St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93 will focus its professional resources on its women’s team from 2027, marking a major strategic shift for one of French cycling’s most historic clubs. CM Aubervilliers 93 Cyclisme confirmed the decision in a statement on 12th May, explaining that the club will concentrate its professional project...

May 7, 2026

The $1 billion bet: The Bay Area is at the cutting edge of a women’s sports boom

The Golden State Valkyries, the Bay Area's WNBA expansion team that debuted in 2025, have reached a landmark $1 billion valuation, making them the first women's professional sports franchise to hit that mark. This figure, reported by CNBC, tops the league rankings ahead of the New York Liberty at $600...

May 7, 2026

BRANWYN Deepens Partnership with Zentera & Transitions to ZQ+ Merino Wool Standard

Bend, OR (May 7, 2026) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – BRANWYN continues to raise the bar for what Performance Innerwear can and should be by deepening its leadership at the intersection of uncompromising natural-fiber product performance, women’s health, and sustainability. The award-winning, seamless Merino wool brand announces its expanded partnership with Zentera Wool Company and has now...

May 6, 2026

The Business of Being Angel Reese: How She Built One Of The Most Powerful Portfolios In Women’s Sports

Angel Reese has built a massive business empire beyond basketball, earning nearly $9-10 million in 2025 mostly from endorsements like Beats by Dre, Cash App, Victoria's Secret, and her signature sneaker, far outpacing her modest WNBA salary of around $75,000. She's expanded into acting with a role in Netflix's "The...

May 5, 2026

Canadian Agency Monday Establishes U.S. Operations in Portland, Oregon

Portland, OR (May 5, 2026) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ - Canadian agency Monday has established business operations in Portland, Oregon, formalizing its presence in the American market as part of a broader expansion that brings leadership closer to U.S. clients across the outdoor, active, and wellness space. With clients including Adidas, Arc’teryx,...

May 4, 2026

Gatorade Makes Major Investment in Women’s Health

The sports drink giant is partnering with Venus Williams and leaning into scientific research to close long-standing gaps in women’s sports science, the latest move in Gatorade’s recent brand evolution. Gatorade is going all-in on women’s health, pushing forward a new performance-driven scientific initiative. The legacy hydration brand is partnering...

May 4, 2026

Ohio will get a National Women’s Soccer League team, but residents oppose training facility location

Columbus, Ohio, is set to receive a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team, but the plan has sparked local controversy regarding the location of the team’s proposed training facility. Both the Columbus City Council and Franklin County commissioners have approved a total of $50 million in public funding to...

May 4, 2026

Meet the Women Who Have Been Building the Cycling Industry All Along

Despite the strides toward inclusivity and the growing number of women on bikes, the cycling industry remains heavily male-dominated. From manufacturing floor to executive boardrooms, the "old boys’ club" atmosphere often persists. However, a powerful shift is underway. Women are no longer just asking for a seat at the table;...

May 2, 2026

“This Isn’t The Flex You Think It Is”: WNBA Surpasses NBA for the First Time Ever, Fans Can’t Stop Talking

The WNBA has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing the NBA in value-to-revenue multiplier, reaching 13.6 compared to the NBA's 13.5, according to Sportico's latest valuations. This metric, calculated from an average WNBA team value of $427 million against $31.5 million in revenue, reflects a remarkable 59% jump in team...

May 1, 2026

Women’s Sports Agents Redefine Power Behind the Scenes as NIL Era Expands Opportunity

Women’s sports agents are increasingly reshaping the power structure behind the scenes, especially as name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules have opened new financial and branding opportunities for collegiate athletes. The article centers on sports agent Tracy Hughes, whose work illustrates how representation has shifted from simple contract‑driven deals to...

April 29, 2026

World champion sprinter sues Puma, claiming defective shoes

According to a report by Front Office Sports, on Friday, April 24, four-time NCAA champion and two-time world champion Abby Steiner of Dublin, Ohio, filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts Superior Court against Puma and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, alleging that the spikes and shoes she was given injured her feet. Steiner is seeking more...

April 28, 2026

Data Drive: Women’s sports bars taking hold and expanding the model

With the NWSL and WNBA both about to be in play at the same time, women’s sports bars will be packing in the fans. And the model keeps evolving. Along with the dozens of permanent venues listed here, pop-ups bars continue springing up across major cities. SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL

April 28, 2026

Ex-Nebraska coach admits sexual relationship with player, records show

A former assistant women’s basketball coach at Nebraska admitted in a pretrial deposition he had a sexual relationship with a former Nebraska player who later sued the coach and the university in February 2024, according to recent court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports. The nature of the relationship between the former Nebraska player —...

April 22, 2026

Lululemon Taps Former Nike Senior Exec Heidi O’Neill as New CEO

Lululemon Athletica, Inc. has hired former Nike senior executive Heidi O’Neill as its next chief executive officer (CEO). O’Neill will start as CEO and join the Board of Directors, effective September 8. She will be based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. O’Neill succeeds Calvin McDonald, who stepped down, effective January...

April 21, 2026

Parity Launches “Athlete, Actually” Podcast Featuring Untold Stories from Professional Women Athletes

April 21, 2026 /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ — Parity, the women’s sports consultancy specializing in professional athlete partnerships, today announced the launch of Athlete, Actually, a new podcast centered on deeper, athlete-led storytelling from across women’s sports. The series features conversations designed to highlight personal stories athletes haven’t previously shared. The series...

April 14, 2026

Allyson J. Davis and Melissa Forman Launch Allez! Sports to Build the Future of Women’s Sports Media

(April 14, 2026, Los Angeles, CA) /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ - Veteran sports media executives Allyson J. Davis and Melissa Forman are filling the massive void in the women’s sports media ecosystem by launching Allez! Sports, a global multi-format, multi-distribution premium content and integrated marketing media company. Two months in, the company’s...

April 10, 2026

Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Announces Evolution of 
Women’s MultiSport Action Group (WMAG)

April 10, 2026 /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ - Running Industry Alliance (RIA) is proud to announce the evolution of the Women’s MultiSport Action Group (WMAG) - a dynamic, member‑led platform created to champion women across all areas of the running and triathlon business sector. First launched at The Running Conference presented by...

April 8, 2026

The Future of Female Performance: Muse Capital Announces Launch of Revolutionary Optima Program Accelerating Women’s Health Innovations in Sports

Muse Capital and its sports advisory arm, Muse Sport, announced the launch of The Optima Program (Optima), a revolutionary program set to define the future of female sports performance. As the first scalable health and performance program of its kind, Optima recognizes the unique needs of elite female athletes and executives in professional sport...