- 19
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2025
- First episode
About The Business of Women's Sports
Valuations in women's sports have jumped tenfold in five years—and most investors still don't know why. Rising Value tracks the business behind the games: media rights deals, franchise sales, sponsorship math, and the investors getting in early. Each episode follows the money on one league, team, or athlete brand, explaining what it's actually worth, who's buying in, and what's driving the number up or down.
- Publisher
- Podyzer
- Category
- business · business · sports
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 9 Feb 2025
- Latest episode
- 10 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
19 episodes in the feed.
10 Sept 2026
The Surge of Women's Sports Streaming Platforms and Revenue Models
The emergence of dedicated streaming platforms for women's sports is reshaping how fans consume content and how leagues generate revenue. This discussion will analyze the financial implications of these platforms, including subscription models, advertising revenue, and partnerships with traditional broadcasters. The hosts will explore case studies of successful streaming initiatives, examining how they attract viewership and engage fans in ways that traditional media cannot. The business-focused host will delve into the metrics that matter for these platforms, such as viewer demographics and engagement rates, while the co-host shares insights from the athlete perspective on how streaming impacts fan interaction and athlete visibility. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of this shift for the future of women's sports and the potential for sustainable revenue streams.
3 Sept 2026
The Intersection of Women's Sports and Sustainable Fashion Initiatives
As the conversation around sustainability grows, women's sports are finding unique ways to integrate eco-friendly practices into their branding and merchandise. This discussion will explore how female athletes and teams are leading the charge in sustainable fashion, from eco-conscious apparel lines to partnerships with green brands. The hosts will analyze case studies of successful initiatives that not only promote environmental responsibility but also resonate with a growing consumer base that values sustainability. The business host will examine the financial implications of these initiatives, including cost structures, pricing strategies, and potential revenue streams. Meanwhile, the co-host will share personal insights from athletes involved in these projects, discussing how sustainability aligns with their values and influences fan engagement. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of merging sports with sustainability for the future of female athletics and the potential for attracting new audiences and sponsors.
27 Aug 2026
The Business Behind Women's Sports Documentaries and Their Influence
Documentaries focusing on female athletes and women's sports have surged in popularity, but what does this mean for the business side of the industry? This discussion will explore the financial implications of producing and distributing these documentaries, including how they attract sponsorships, viewership, and media rights deals. The hosts will analyze successful documentary examples, examining their impact on audience engagement and brand partnerships. The business host will delve into the revenue models behind these projects, including streaming platform deals and merchandise tie-ins, while the athlete co-host shares insights on how these narratives shape public perception and inspire future generations of female athletes. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of this trend for the sustainability and growth of women's sports in the media landscape.
20 Aug 2026
The Evolution of Women's Sports Investment Strategies
Investment strategies in women's sports are evolving rapidly, reflecting broader trends in the financial landscape. This discussion will focus on how investment firms and venture capitalists are adapting their approaches to capitalize on the growing market for women's sports. The hosts will analyze different investment models, from traditional equity stakes in teams to innovative funding for grassroots initiatives and technology platforms. The business host will explore case studies of successful investments that have yielded significant returns, examining the criteria that investors use to evaluate opportunities in this space. Meanwhile, the athlete co-host will share insights from their experiences with investors and how these financial strategies impact the athlete experience and overall growth of women’s sports. Together, they will uncover the implications of these investment shifts for the future of women's sports and what they mean for aspiring athletes and organizations.
13 Aug 2026
The Role of Social Media in Athlete Endorsement Strategies
Social media has transformed how athletes engage with fans and brands, creating new opportunities for endorsement deals in women's sports. This discussion examines how female athletes leverage platforms like Instagram and TikTok to build their personal brands and attract sponsorships. The hosts will analyze successful case studies of athletes who have effectively utilized social media to enhance their marketability, exploring the strategies behind their content creation and audience engagement. The business host will delve into the metrics that brands consider when evaluating potential partnerships, including follower demographics and engagement rates. Meanwhile, the athlete co-host will share personal experiences on navigating social media as a professional, discussing the balance between authenticity and commercial interests. Together, they will uncover the implications of social media on the financial landscape of women's sports and how it shapes the future of athlete endorsements.
6 Aug 2026
The Untapped Potential of Women's Sports Analytics Platforms
As the landscape of women's sports evolves, so does the importance of data analytics in driving team performance and fan engagement. This discussion focuses on the emerging analytics platforms specifically designed for women's sports, examining how they differ from traditional sports analytics and what unique insights they provide. The hosts will analyze case studies of teams and leagues that have successfully integrated analytics into their operations, exploring the financial implications of these investments. The business host will delve into the technology behind these platforms, the types of data being collected, and how that data translates into actionable strategies for teams. Meanwhile, the co-host will share personal experiences from the field, highlighting how analytics can enhance player development, improve game strategies, and attract sponsorships. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of investing in analytics for the future of women's sports and how it can help close the gap with men's sports in terms of performance and profitability.
30 Jul 2026
The Financial Mechanics of Women's Sports Merchandise Sales
Merchandise sales are a crucial revenue stream for women's sports, yet the financial mechanics behind these transactions often go unnoticed. This discussion will unpack how merchandise sales are structured, from pricing strategies to distribution channels, and how they differ from men's sports. The hosts will analyze case studies of successful merchandise campaigns, exploring what drives consumer engagement and loyalty. The business host will delve into data on sales trends, popular products, and the impact of athlete endorsements on merchandise performance. Meanwhile, the co-host will share insights from their experiences with merchandise launches and fan interactions, highlighting the emotional connection fans have with female athletes and teams. Together, they will reveal the broader implications of merchandise sales for the sustainability of women's sports and the potential for growth in this area.
23 Jul 2026
The Rise of Women Coaches in Professional Sports Teams
The increasing presence of women in coaching roles across professional sports teams is reshaping the landscape of athletics. This discussion focuses on the financial implications of hiring women coaches, their impact on team performance, and how they attract new audiences and sponsors. The hosts will analyze case studies of successful women coaches in various leagues, exploring how their leadership styles differ and what that means for team dynamics and profitability. The business host will delve into the data on team performance metrics before and after hiring women coaches, while the co-host shares personal insights from their experiences with coaching transitions. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of this trend for the future of professional sports and the economic opportunities it creates.
9 Jul 2026
Exploring the Impact of Women's Sports on Local Economies
The rise of women's sports is not just a phenomenon within the stadiums; it's reshaping local economies in significant ways. This discussion focuses on how women's sports teams and events drive economic growth in their communities. We'll explore case studies from various leagues and cities, examining the financial ripple effects of hosting women's sporting events, including increased tourism, job creation, and local business support. The business host will analyze data on ticket sales, merchandise, and hospitality spending, while the athlete co-host shares personal stories of community engagement and grassroots support. Together, they will uncover the broader implications of investing in women's sports for local economies and how these investments can foster long-term growth and sustainability.
14 Apr 2025
Athlete Brand Valuations and the NIL Market Explosion
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in women's sports have exploded since the NCAA's 2021 ruling, with top athletes now commanding seven-figure annual NIL portfolios. This episode examines how individual athlete brands are valued, priced, and monetized—and what that means for the economics of women's sports at the player level. The hosts walk through the mechanics of NIL valuation: social media following, engagement rates, demographic appeal to brands, and the difference between authentic partnerships and inflated deals. The business host discusses the infrastructure that's emerged: NIL agencies, valuation platforms, and negotiation frameworks that didn't exist three years ago. He also examines the controversial aspect: how NIL deals can inflate athlete valuations without corresponding improvements in team salaries or league profitability, creating a two-tier system where star athletes thrive while role players struggle. The athlete co-host provides ground-level perspective on how NIL actually works: which brands are easiest to partner with, what the negotiation process looks like, and how much time and energy goes into managing multiple NIL deals. The episode also addresses the tax and legal complexity of NIL: how athletes structure deals, what happens when brands don't pay, and why some states have become NIL hubs while others lag.
6 Apr 2025
The Media Rights Bidding War for Women's Basketball Rights
In 2024, the WNBA's media rights negotiations saw unprecedented competition among broadcasters, with the league ultimately securing a deal worth $200 million annually—more than double the previous agreement. This episode reconstructs the bidding war: which networks bid, what they offered, and what changed in the market to trigger such aggressive competition. The hosts examine the strategic calculus for each broadcaster: why ESPN doubled down, why Amazon entered the bidding, and why traditional cable networks felt pressured to participate. The business host walks through the actual deal terms: which games go to which networks, what the per-game rights fee looks like, and how the deal is structured across regular season, playoffs, and the draft. He also addresses the market dynamics that created the bidding war: cord-cutting driving networks to invest in live sports, the WNBA's audience growth metrics, and the scarcity of premium women's sports inventory. The athlete co-host explains what the new media rights deal means for player salaries, team budgets, and the league's competitive balance. The episode also covers the controversial question of whether the bidding war reflects genuine market demand or whether it's driven by networks' fear of missing out on the next big thing.
30 Mar 2025
Billie Jean King's Legacy Fund and Institutional Capital Flow
The Billie Jean King Initiative for Women's Sports, launched in partnership with institutional investors, has committed over $200 million to women's sports organizations and infrastructure. This episode examines how legacy-driven capital differs from venture capital or private equity in women's sports, and what King's name and credibility actually unlock financially. The hosts trace the fund's structure, its LP base, and the types of investments it makes: team ownership stakes, media production companies, and grassroots development programs. The business host analyzes the fund's returns expectations, the timeline for those returns, and how legacy-driven investors evaluate success differently than traditional financial investors. He also examines the controversial aspect: whether King's involvement actually improves financial outcomes or whether it's primarily a branding and credibility play that allows other investors to feel comfortable entering the space. The athlete co-host discusses what institutional capital means for women athletes: does it improve player salaries, working conditions, and career stability, or does it primarily benefit team owners and investors? The episode closes on the broader question of whether women's sports need patient, legacy-driven capital or whether they're ready for traditional return-seeking investment.
23 Mar 2025
Overtime and the Creator Economy Bet on Women's Sports
Overtime, the sports media startup, raised $80 million at a $500 million valuation in 2021 by positioning itself as the TikTok of sports—short-form, youth-focused, and built around creators rather than institutions. A significant portion of its content strategy centered on women's sports and female athletes. This episode examines what Overtime's business model reveals about how women's sports are being consumed and monetized by younger audiences. The hosts break down Overtime's revenue model: advertising, licensing, creator payments, and merchandise; how women's sports content performs relative to men's on the platform; and what the unit economics look like. The business host discusses the broader creator economy trend in sports: how platforms are shifting power away from traditional broadcasters and toward individual creators, and what that means for women athletes who can build direct audiences. The athlete co-host explores the actual creator experience: how much female athletes earn from Overtime partnerships, what creative control they retain, and whether creator-first models actually generate better career economics than traditional sponsorships. The episode also covers Overtime's subsequent struggles and valuation reset, raising questions about whether the creator economy model was overhyped or simply ahead of its time.
16 Mar 2025
Angel City FC and the Expansion Franchise Valuation Puzzle
Angel City FC, the NWSL expansion team in Los Angeles, launched in 2022 with a reported valuation of $250 million—higher than most existing franchises in the league. This episode reverse-engineers that valuation: what market size assumptions, revenue projections, and investor sentiment justified the number before the team ever played a game? The hosts walk through the franchise's ownership structure (a coalition of celebrities, athletes, and institutional investors), the capital raised, and the explicit business plan. The business host examines the expansion fee paid to the league, the infrastructure costs, and the revenue model assumptions for a new market. He also addresses the controversial question: whether the valuation was justified by fundamentals or inflated by hype and celebrity involvement. The athlete co-host, drawing on experience with established franchises, explains what expansion actually means operationally: building a roster, establishing a fan base, and competing immediately in a league with entrenched teams. The episode closes on what Angel City's valuation means for the NWSL's overall health: if expansion franchises are overvalued, what does that signal about the league's long-term sustainability?
10 Mar 2025
The Australian Open Prize Money Parity Moment and Market Signals
In 2022, the Australian Open became the first Grand Slam to offer equal prize money for men and women—a $2.6 million payout for both singles champions. This episode isn't about the social victory; it's about what the financial decision reveals about the tournament's business model and market confidence. The hosts examine the tournament's revenue structure: ticketing, broadcast rights, sponsorships, and hospitality, and how equal prize money was actually achievable without cutting men's payouts. The business host explores the economic argument that had previously justified the gap: lower TV ratings, smaller sponsorship premiums, and reduced attendance for women's matches. Then he walks through the data showing how those assumptions were breaking down, and how the Australian Open's decision signaled to other tournaments that the old financial model was obsolete. The athlete co-host discusses what equal prize money means for player planning, sponsorship leverage, and career earnings trajectory. The episode also covers the controversial ripple effect: how this decision pressured other Grand Slams to follow suit, and whether market forces or social pressure was the actual driver.
2 Mar 2025
Sponsorship Math Behind the Lionesses' Historic Euro Win
When England's Lionesses won Euro 2022, sponsorship deals flooded in—but the timing and structure of those deals reveal exactly how brands price women's sports visibility. This episode maps the sponsorship ecosystem before and after the tournament, showing which brands activated, at what price points, and for what duration. The hosts break down the difference between title sponsorship, category sponsorship, and activation rights; how brands measure ROI on women's sports sponsorships versus men's; and why some categories (apparel, insurance, telecom) dominate while others remain absent. The athlete co-host translates what sponsorship revenue actually means for team operations: training facilities, coaching salaries, travel budgets, and player compensation. The episode also addresses a lesser-known aspect: how sponsorship deals are often structured with performance clauses or contingencies that don't exist in men's sports, creating financial risk for women's teams. The Lionesses' success becomes a case study in how sporting achievement directly translates to commercial value—and what happens to sponsorship when performance drops.
24 Feb 2025
How Serena Williams Built a Venture Fund Around Women's Sports
Serena Ventures, launched in 2020, has deployed over $100 million into startups and brands focused on women's sports and health—a direct bet that the category itself is undervalued. This episode traces the fund's thesis, portfolio strategy, and returns to date. Rather than treating women's sports as a charity or social cause, the fund invests in infrastructure: ticketing platforms, analytics software, merchandise fulfillment, and media production companies that service women's leagues. The business host examines the fund's financial structure, how it sources deals, and what returns look like compared to traditional venture benchmarks. The athlete co-host discusses what it means for women athletes to become investors and operators in their own ecosystem, and how capital flowing from inside the sport differs from capital flowing in from outside. The episode also examines the tension between venture returns and social mission—whether profit-seeking capital actually accelerates the sport's growth or whether it extracts value.
16 Feb 2025
Inside the Vegas Aces Ownership Shift and Valuation Jump
In 2023, the Las Vegas Aces franchise changed hands at a reported valuation of $250 million—a number that would have been laughable for a WNBA team just a decade earlier. This episode reconstructs the exact transaction: who bought it, what they paid, what the previous ownership structure looked like, and why the valuation jumped so sharply in a single sale. The business-focused host breaks down the franchise's revenue streams: ticket sales, merchandise, local sponsorships, and the share of the league's national media rights pool. The athlete co-host, with direct WNBA experience, explains how ownership changes actually affect player recruitment, coaching hires, and organizational stability—and why some franchises become destinations while others stagnate. The episode also addresses the controversial question of whether WNBA valuations are still disconnected from actual profitability or if they've reached a sustainable inflection point.
9 Feb 2025
The Two Billion Dollar Question About Women's Soccer
The U.S. Women's National Team just signed a media rights deal worth $2 billion through 2032—a number that seemed impossible five years ago. This opening episode establishes why that number exists and what changed in the market to make it real. The hosts walk through the structural components: how many games, which networks, what the actual per-game rights fee looks like compared to men's soccer, and why the gap has narrowed so dramatically. The former athlete co-host explains what $2 billion means for player salaries, team budgets, and the federation's leverage in labor negotiations. The episode maps out the fundamental forces reshaping women's sports economics—audience growth, advertiser appetite, and the scarcity of premium sports content—before zooming into specific deals in later episodes.
Host of The Business of Women's Sports?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.