BUSINESS NEWS

June 9, 2026

Women’s sport brought £55m boost to London in 2025, report finds

Women's sports events held in London in 2025 generated over £54.7 million for the city's economy, according to a City Hall report. The Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham was the biggest contributor, producing an economic impact of £48.5 million. That match saw England defeat Canada 33-13 with 81,885...

June 9, 2026

Sue Bird Is Entering a New Era—and Doing It Her Way

Sue Bird receives a different kind of greeting everywhere she goes. In Seattle, where the WNBA great has lived since she was drafted by the Storm in 2002, it’s like saying hello to a neighbor: “ ’Sup, Sue?” A permanent statue of the four-time champion welcomes fans to Climate Pledge...

June 1, 2026

JWS raises new money to expands its women’s sports media platform

Just Women's Sports (JWS) has secured a new seven-figure investment round led by Bolt Ventures, the family office of sports investor David Blitzer. This marks Blitzer's continued support for the company, having previously participated in JWS's 2022 financing. The funding round also included returning investors such as Starry Eyed Tomorrow...

June 1, 2026

Why Retailers Need To Prepare For The New Women’s Sports Consumer

The women’s sports industry is not reliant on converting existing sports fans. Instead, the industry is creating entirely new ones. That distinction may be one of the most important to acknowledge and embrace right now, and it was a thread running through many of the conversations during last month’s espnW Summit...

May 30, 2026

DC’s pro volleyball team takes step forward as expansion season draws near

Washington, D.C. will welcome a new professional women's volleyball team in 2027 as part of Major League Volleyball's expansion. The franchise, owned by All United Sports and Entertainment (the same group behind D.C. United soccer), is progression toward its inaugural season starting next January. The league recently expanded to eight...

May 29, 2026

Paige Bueckers’ WNBA debut jersey sells for record $64,720

Paige Bueckers' jersey from her WNBA debut has sold for a record-breaking $64,720, setting a new milestone for women's sports memorabilia. The Dallas Wings star wore the jersey during her first WNBA game on May 16, 2025, and it was later sold through MeiGray, an authentication and photo-matching company that...

May 29, 2026

New WNBA CBA Will Pay $14M to Retired Players

Retired WNBA players are about to get a multimillion-dollar gift. The WNBA and WNBPA announced Friday that they completed the full CBA, more than two months after they agreed to a deal that allowed the 2026 season to start on time. The CBA contained a “Veteran Recognition Payment” that will pay retired...

May 28, 2026

How the National Women’s Soccer League is building momentum for brands

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) finds itself at something of a pivotal moment. Season 14 is well underway, which is nothing to scoff at in women’s sports years; the Professional Women’s Hockey League and Major League Volleyball started in 2024, while the 3-on-3 basketball league Unrivaled and League One Volleyball debuted only last year. That...

May 27, 2026

Broccoli crowns and stuffed cows at the Women’s College World Series: Why softball dugouts are the best of college ball

A herd of stuffed cows and a human dubbed “Broccoli Guy” will walk into Devon Park this week, and no, it’s not the start to a bad joke. Quite the opposite. The rosters these out-of-character items represent are hoping it's the spark to a national championship. Here at the Women’s...

May 27, 2026

Olympic medallists slam IOC president for comments on athlete pay

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has triggered global backlash after saying she does not believe Olympians should be paid to compete at the Games. “I don’t believe in paying athletes,” Coventry told Sport Nation last week. “I come from a small country, I came from a sport that doesn’t necessarily pay athletes very...

May 27, 2026

Aaron Rodgers Champions Women in Sports by Donating to US Women’s National Flag Football Team Ahead of Olympics Debut

As one of the fastest-growing sports, Flag football has consistently received strong support from the NFL, and its top players, including the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old has become increasingly involved in youth football and charity football initiatives. However, the latest development surrounding Rodgers’ support for flag football carries much bigger...

May 26, 2026

Rhode Island stadium takes unique approach in targeting women’s sports events

One weekend this month, Centreville Bank Stadium in Rhode Island took center stage to make history with the Women’s Lacrosse League kicking off its first season of full-field play. A week later, the soccer stadium on the banks of the Seekonk River welcomed Boston Legacy FC for the first in a seven-game...

May 22, 2026

Caitlin Clark outselling LeBron James in jerseys shows how women’s sports are reaching a new level

Caitlin Clark’s jersey sales have surged so much that she is now being compared directly with the NBA’s biggest stars. It frames that as evidence that women’s sports are reaching a new level of mainstream demand and commercial power. Clark has moved ahead of LeBron James in basketball jersey sales...

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,...