Lucky them
From The GIST Sports Biz (hi@thegistsports.com)
It’s Friday!
And that means the WNBA’s first expansion draft in 16 years is finally here. A lot has changed since 2008 — not only will it be the league’s first nationally televised expansion draft, but ESPN dropped its all-star broadcasting roster yesterday featuring Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Rebecca Lobo.
- Keep scrolling to explore how W expansion benefits basketball’s ecosystem, including its growing roster of sponsors. To infinity and beyond.
WNBA
📺 All the stars
The GIST: As discussed on yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, the WNBA is hosting its first expansion draft since 2008 today as the Golden State Valkyries post up to join the league. With today’s draft seeing historic interest from media and sponsors, the W is primed for the big leagues. Choices.
The format: The Valkyries can choose one player from each of the 12 active WNBA franchises, although there are some limitations. All teams had until November 25th to submit a list of up to six protected players, but the names of the ones left unprotected won’t be publicly revealed.
- While protecting players is common in expansion drafts, this lack of visibility may be a strategic move by the W. In past NWSL drafts, for example, publicizing unprotected players created backlash in locker rooms, with the league ultimately abolishing all drafts in its latest CBA.
The opportunity: Expansion draft sponsors (like Ally) are newer in women’s sports, but prominent W sponsors are activating around this one. Last week, insurance company State Farm backed the expansion draft after supporting the WNBA Draft for 12 years. And on Tuesday, used auto retailer Carmax also opted to present the expansion draft through its founding partnership with the Valkyries.
- This increased investment around the draft may be a result of the WNBA’s record-setting 2024 season and its successful entry draft this April — the event averaged 2.44M viewers, a 307% increase YoY. With this being the W’s first nationally televised expansion draft, exposure could boost sponsor media value.
Zooming out: When it comes to making a spectacle out of a draft, no one does it quite like the NFL, which averaged around 6M viewers and over 775K fans this year. Beyond viewership, the football league rotates its host cities and cultivates a media frenzy, turning Draft Day into a real moneymaker: It generated $213M in economic impact for Detroit this year.
- This will be the first expansion draft of many for the new-look WNBA, and utilizing an ESPN primetime slot could make it appointment viewing for the next few years. Even if the expansion draft doesn’t do numbers like the 2025 WNBA Draft starring Paige Bueckers undoubtedly will, it’s still a major opportunity for W partners to flaunt support. Easy buckets.
🎵 WNBA accidentally leaks new Toronto team’s branding
Earlier this week, W fans noticed “Toronto Tempo” branding on the official W website, which was then quickly taken down. But after a day of speculation, Toronto’s WNBA expansion franchise confirmed its brand identity yesterday.
- Its name was selected after more than 10K fans and a selection committee weighed in, with “Tempo” winning for its bilingual appeal — it’s the same in English and French — and its reflection of Toronto’s vibrant cultural landscape. Pas mal.
💰 Coco Gauff, Caitlin Clark among top-earning women athletes
Yesterday, Sportico released a list of the top 15 highest-paid women athletes this year, who will haul in a cumulative $221M in 2024 (up 27% YoY). WTA world No. 1 Coco Gauff tops the list again with $30.4M from prize money and brand deals, making her just the third woman athlete after Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka to earn over $30M annually.
- Notably, freestyle skier Eileen Gu made $22M from just endorsements, while gymnast Simone Biles and basketball star Caitlin Clark each brought in $11M from sponsorships this year, despite minimal earnings from athletic performance directly.
🏒 EA Sports prepares for PWHL inclusion in NHL 25
EA Sports released its holiday update to NHL 25 yesterday, its first edition featuring PWHL athletes. While the title has included international women’s hockey players since 2022, its recent multiyear deal with the PWHL marks the brand’s commitment to include women’s hockey pros in its games. Another reason to celly.
Together with The GIST
Rev up your job search this year with The GIST’s job board, built to help you find gigs in sports. There are positions with leagues, teams, tech and media companies (to name a few), so there’s truly something for every skill set. Count it.
📈 The GIST co-founders Ellen Hyslop and Jacie deHoop were recognized by Sports Business Journal as Power Players, which included crediting deHoop for multiplying revenue by more than 20x in the past two years. LFG.
⛳ The LPGA updated its gender policy for 2025 competition eligibility, which prevents trans golfer Hailey Davidson from participating in future LPGA Tour events as a result.
🍀 FC Barcelona women’s football management head Domènec Guasch was hired as NWSL expansion team BOS Nation FC’s first general manager (GM). Lucky them.
💰 LSU star Flau’jae Johnson joined UConn’s Paige Bueckers in signing a collegiate NIL deal with 3v3 women’s basketball league Unrivaled.
⚽ Angel City FC announced it decided to part ways with GM Angela Hucles Mangano two months after the club faced NWSL sanctions for violating the league’s salary cap.
💸 New research from event agency Horizon Sports & Experiences indicates 67% of women’s sports fans are driven to support brands that sponsor their fave athletes and teams. Here for it.
Recs from our roster!
📚 What to read
Hoops Muses, a vibrant journey through women’s basketball history and culture. This book brings the game’s milestones and legends to life and makes a great gift for the holiday season.
🤠 What to look forward to
Beyoncé bringing her “Cowboy Carter” era to the NFL Christmas Day halftime show, streaming live on Netflix. Holiday vibes and Queen Bey? A true sleigh.
🎧 What to listen to
This episode of NPR’s Morning Edition discussing women’s mountain biking. From the gender pay gap to rising participation and viewership, this episode breaks down the sport’s evolution.
Today's email was brought to you by Aryanna Prasad and Briana Ekanem. Fact checking by Bonnie Lee. Editing by Dee Lab. Operations by Elisha Gunaratnam and Marga Sison. Ads by Katie Kehoe Foster, Alessandra Puccio, and Lisa Minutillo. Managing edits by Molly Potter and Ellen Hyslop. Head of content Ellen Hyslop.