The GIST

Chelsea reports record valuation for women’s soccer team amid club restructuring

This week, Chelsea F.C. shared financial results for the 2023–2024 season, including the valuation for its women’s side. With Chelsea reorganizing its women’s team under subsidiary BlueCo 22 Midco Limited, the WSL club is reportedly worth $257M, making it the highest-valued women’s soccer team in the world — and topping Angel City FC’s $250M valuation.

April 07, 2025

U.S. and UK will bring FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments to top women’s soccer markets

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Yesterday, FIFA confirmed the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cup (WWC) tournaments in 2031 and 2035 as the U.S. and the UK, respectively. While these nations were the only ones to submit valid bids by the deadline, the confirmation is still a significant milestone for both burgeoning women’s soccer markets.

April 04, 2025

NWSL locks in another tech partnership with extensive AT&T deal

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Yesterday, the NWSL signed telecommunications giant AT&T as its official connectivity partner through an expansive, multiyear deal. While the partnership marks a major commitment to the women’s soccer league, it’s also a safe bet considering AT&T’s previous sports investments and the NWSL’s engaged audience.

April 02, 2025

For Soccer shares demographic insights on women soccer fans in the U.S.

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Yesterday, U.S. media and marketing platform For Soccer released the first installment of its 2025 United States of Soccer series, which profiles women soccer fans in the U.S. The report covers how this audience of 44M women — 43% of all U.S. soccer fans — is growing in size and influence, offering insights for marketers to meet them where they are.

March 28, 2025

Women’s soccer legends team up to launch global 7v7 soccer league

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With investment in women’s soccer on the rise globally, some of the sport’s brightest minds have teamed up to capitalize on its universal appeal in an adapted format. Yesterday, World Sevens Football (W7F) announced it would launch this May as a multi-city women’s soccer tournament.

March 21, 2025

NWSL expands global reach with new international media rights deals

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On Friday, the NWSL kicked off its 2025 season by allowing more global access than ever thanks to new media rights deals. The league expanded its international reach through ESPN while also signing media rights packages to networks in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Australia. Through this, NWSL content will now reach more than 130 countries.

March 17, 2025

Angel City enters unique toy partnership that features limited-edition Tamagotchi

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Yesterday, toy company Bandai Namco made history thanks to a unique multiyear partnership with the NWSL’s Angel City FC (ACFC). The deal makes the iconic Japanese brand the first toy company to sponsor a major U.S. professional women’s sports team, one that will debut its own limited-edition Tamagotchi at its home opener this Sunday.

March 12, 2025

Sports Business

ION converts new viewership as it builds on NWSL coverage

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March 05, 2025

Yesterday, Scripps Sports shared plans to expand on its NWSL coverage for the upcoming 2025 season. After reaching more than 20M unique viewers in its first season covering the league, the company’s Ion network is doubling down on its NWSL investment with revamped studio production.

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The GIST of It Podcast

Ep #452

Gross reporting in MLB and the NSL shaking up pro women’s soccer

April 17, 2025

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Gross reporting in MLB and the NSL shaking up pro women’s soccer

It’s finally happening.

Last night was the long-awaited debut of the Northern Super League (NSL), aka Canada’s brand-new pro women’s soccer league. Calgary Wild FC and Vancouver Rise FC kicked off the action, but there’s so much more to discuss, on and off the pitch.

On today’s episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz chat all things NSL, from the six teams spread out across the country to how the new league is fostering Canada’s FIFA Women’s World Cup ambitions. Tap those ruby slippers because there’s no place like home.

A big thank you to BMO for sponsoring today’s pod! BMO is the official bank of the NSL and the league’s broadcast partner, sticking to their two-decade pledge to grow the game of soccer in North America. Learn more about how BMO is growing the beautiful game at BMOsoccer.com.