Caitlin Clark is officially headed to the WNBA after her senior season. Iowa‘s star guard made it official on Thursday in a social media post, saying she will be declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft. The reigning National Player of the Year is currently averaging 32.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game while leading the Hawkeyes to a 25-4 record and a top-10 ranking in the country. “While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa,” Clark said in the post. Clark recently broke the NCAA women’s career scoring record previously held by Kelsey Plum and is just 18 points behind Pete Maravich for the all-time NCAA record. The Indiana Fever hold the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft.

Major League Pickleball, PPA Tour Officially Join Forces After Closing Merger

The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) confirmed Thursday they’ve consolidated into one league. Furthermore, the merger is backed by a $75 million contribution from private equity firm SC Holdings, DC Pickleball Team owner Al Tylis, PPA Tour owners Tom Dundon and the Pardoe Family, and a list of current MLP team owners. “MLP and the PPA Tour working as partners creates a sustainable, viable, and healthy ecosystem for all key participants in which the best players in the world can play in both of the thrilling pickleball formats, ensuring that we’re promoting the highest-quality, most exciting events,” PPA Tour Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe said. More than 150 professional pickleball players have agreed to multi-year deals with the new organizations and will participate in an expanded calendar that blends individual (PPA Tour) and team (MLP) events throughout the year.

Russell Westbrook Teams Up with Target to Build Affordable Housing in LA

LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook announced on Instagram earlier this week a partnership with Target that will build 180 affordable housing units in South Central LA. Community-centered businesses will surround the units, the nine-time NBA All-Star added. Westbrook started his Why Not? Foundation in 2012 that, per its website, “is committed to the perseverance of at-risk communities by implementing structured education opportunity, workforce development, and accessible mental health resources.”

Ex-Capitol Chair Michelle Jubelirer Named Billboard’s Women in Music Executive of the Year

Billboard revealed its top women executives in 2024, and former Chair of Capitol Music Group Michelle Jubelirer leads the roster of successful honorees as Executive of the Year. Jubelirer made history in 2021 when she became Capitol Music Group‘s first female chief executive in its 80-plus-year history. Under her leadership, the company won a bidding war in fall 2022 to sign Ice Spice, worked with Universal Music Enterprises to bring back The Beatles with the AI-powered song “Now and Then,” and achieved many more accomplishments. On Feb. 6, Jubelirer announced she was stepping down from her role. Head to Billboard for the full list of winners.

Olympic Champ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, New Balance Debut New Collection

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is more than just an Olympic champion. The two-time gold medalist also dips her spikes into the fashion space, unveiling her personally designed collection with sportswear partner New Balance on Friday. The capsule features unisex performance and lifestyle products in a neutral color scheme, like a terry hoodie and sweatpant set, high-rise leggings for training or lounging, and a New Balance varsity jacket. On feet are two limited edition iterations of the FuelCell Rebel v4 running shoe and McLaughlin-Levrone’s favorite lifestyle shoe, the 9060. The new pieces are available to shop at www.newbalance.com.

Katie Ledecky Joins Allyson Felix, Simone Biles as Athleta Ambassadors

Athleta is starting off Women’s History Month with a big announcement. The active performance brand announced Friday that it’s entered a five-year partnership with Katie Ledecky, the world’s most decorated swimmer. As part of the collab, Ledecky joins Athleta’s Power of She Collective, a cohort of elite athletes that uphold Athleta’s mission to empower women and girls to build confidence, strength, and well-being through movement. During her tenure with Athleta, Ledecky will also participate in wear testing, rep the brand’s performance apparel outside of the pool, and appear in key campaigns. Ledecky also joins fellow Olympic legends Allyson Felix and Simone Biles as Athleta ambassadors.

Tommy Hilfiger Named Official Partner of F1 Academy

Tommy Hilfiger has joined forces with the F1 Academy as an official partner, Formula 1 announced earlier this week. Entering its second year developing female talent in auto racing, the F1 Academy consists of 15 drivers. In the release, F1 added that Spanish driver Nerea Marti, who returns for her second season with Campos Racing, will represent Tommy Hilfiger, racing in a suit and car featuring the company’s iconic red, white, and blue color pattern. As part of the deal, Tommy Hilfiger will also design and provide all F1 Academy staff uniforms.

The post Caitlin Clark Leaving Iowa for WNBA After Season appeared first on Boardroom.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

Each week, women’s sports seem to set a new record. The booming industry has seen the rise of myriad professional leagues such as Athletes Unlimited and League One Volleyball grow and thrive in recent years. Most recently, the PWHL made waves, drawing record crowds and showcasing women’s hockey in a way it’s never been done before.

Whereas previously, only tentpole moments on the sporting calendar, such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup or the Olympics, captured the attention of audiences worldwide, after 50-plus years of Title IX, women’s sports are finally getting their due. Both the NWSL and the WNBA have secured major media rights deals as demand for their games has grown exponentially.

Deloitte estimated that in 2024, women’s sports would break the $1 billion industry marker.

And we’re just getting started. From Caitlin Clark‘s historic run at Iowa to Nebraska‘s history-making volleyball crowd, the attention on the college game suggests that we’re nowhere near the crest of what’s possible.

Boardroom’s Gabe Oshin breaks down the business explosion in women’s sports and looks toward what’s possible in the future.

Read More

1

0

1023

post

6

OR

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Deals & Investments April 5, 2024

From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2024

Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop

Sports April 4, 2024

Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game

Boardroom Investments April 2, 2024

CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL 

The post The Business of Women’s Sports is Exploding appeared first on Boardroom.

Caitlin Clark has officially etched her name in history books. On Thursday, the Iowa Hawkeyes star officially passed Kelsey Plum to become the NCAA women’s all-time leading scorer, eclipsing 3,528 points. In true fashion, Clark shot from the logo 2:12 seconds in the first quarter to reach the milestone against Big Ten rivals Michigan. Plum’s record, set during her time as a University of Washington guard, had stood in NCAA record books since 2017.

Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez & Zendaya to Co-Chair 2024 Met Gala

Known as fashion’s most opulent night, the Met Gala will be here before we know it, and excitement has only increased with the unveiling of this year’s co-hosts. Vogue announced on Thursday via Instagram that the 2024 Met Gala will be co-chaired by Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth, who join Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour for the A-list soirée. The star-studded event is held on the iconic steps of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on the first Monday in May. This year’s theme is “The Garden of Time,” which pays homage to the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”

Megan Thee Stallion, Nike Collaborate on ‘Hot Girl Systems’ Capsule

Megan Thee Stallion and Nike unveiled the rapper’s first-ever apparel and Nike By You footwear collaboration — Hot Girl Systems — on Thursday. The capsule combines her personal style and platform of championing mental and physical health. It includes shorts, sports bras, a bodysuit, a onesie, a bomber jacket with removable straps and sleeves, and cropped tees featuring Megan’s signature hottie flames, reflective materials, and Y2K-inspired graphics. On feet is a Nike By You Air Max 97 by Megan Thee Stallion that is customizable and allows the co-creation of a pair of the classic Nike shoes with details and finishes hand-selected by Megan herself. Shop apparel today on megantheettallion.com; Nike and select retailers will have it beginning Feb 20.

Coinbase Stock Surges After Exceeding Earnings Expectations

Coinbase reported its fourth-quarter earnings Thursday, and it looks like the cryptocurrency exchange platform swung to a profit. The reported revenue of $953.8 million exceeded the analyst forecast of $826.1 million, and overall, the company reported a profit of $273.4 million, or $1.04 per share. Compare this to the same quarter a year ago, when the company posted a loss of $557 million, or $2.46 per share reported. Finally, Coinbase saw 100% more trading volume during the final quarter versus the third quarter. Fourth-quarter volume amounted to $154 billion, ahead of the estimated $142.7 billion. On the heels of Thursday’s earnings report, Coinbase’s stock surged 7% in the extended session.

Kylian Mbappé Reportedly to Leave PSG, Eyeing Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé has told the club he intends to leave when his contract expires this summer, according to the Associated Press. While the five-time Ligue 1 champion hasn’t officially indicated which club he’d like to play for later this year, Mbappé is reportedly rumored to be heading to Spain to join Real Madrid. Mbappé, who has long said his idols growing up were Bernabéu legends Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, has always wanted to play for Madrid. Still in his prime, this could be just the right time in the Frenchman’s career to orchestrate a blockbuster move.

A’ja Wilson’s Book Cracks New York Times Bestseller List

Add another career milestone for A’ja Wilson. The Las Vegas Aces star’s “Dear Black Girls” book is officially on the New York Times Best Sellers list, debuting at No. 4 in the “Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous” category. Part memoir, part motivational, Wilson‘s book is described on Goodreads as “one remarkable author’s necessary and meaningful exploration of what it means to be a Black woman in America today ― and an of-the-moment rally cry to lift up women and girls everywhere.”

The post Caitlin Clark Breaks NCAA Women’s All-time Scoring Record appeared first on Boardroom.

As we move forward into 2024, a lineup of leading stars is already on the rise and brands from around the world are pacing toward finding even more momentum across the sneakers marketplace. With the Paris Olympics this summer, the global event will likely act as a key pillar of the calendar for brands to unleash their newest innovations on the world’s greatest athletes. 

This week, let’s lock in on the biggest stories I’m looking forward to for the year ahead.

The Kobe Year 

To close 2023, we saw Nike take a notable step toward revamping its efforts to promote the Kobe Bryant series. A campaign lapping into January launched in key markets like New York and LA, featuring some of Bryant’s most famous mentality moments throughout his 20-year playing career, touting “That’s Mamba.” 

To date, we’ve seen both Vanessa Bryant and Nike lean in often on key dates. There’s an annual “Mambacita” launch on Gigi’s birthday in May, along with an all-white “Halo” launch on 8/24, representing both of Kobe’s jersey numbers and the day after his birthday. 

I’d anticipate Nike to finally meet what’s been a relentless demand for Bryant’s sneakers during “Kobe Year” in ’24. Retailers anticipate a higher volume of products and more frequent launches after fans have largely been frustrated by a lack of availability in the last year.

SIGN UP FOR BOARDROOM’S SNEAKER GAME

A biweekly email from industry authority Nick DePaula packed with exclusive sneaker news and access to the athletes, designers, and executives that move the business.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The visibility of the “Kobe Brand” is also set to ramp up throughout 2024. There are six NCAA schools in place as “Mamba Colleges” to help highlight pairs on both the men’s and women’s teams, new drops in store for the Kobe 4 Protro, Kobe 8 Protro, and Kobe 9 Protro all year long, and a new accelerated effort around releasing even more Bryant-branded apparel. As part of Nike’s internal re-org to begin 2024, a team of designers has been assigned to work on the Kobe category of products.

With the new contract between the Kobe Bryant Estate and Nike landing in March 2022, the standard corporate 14-18 month product planning calendar is now taking shape as we begin 2024.

More Women’s Sigs & Collections 

As TV ratings, social media metrics, and in-person attendance numbers continue to elevate across women’s sports, I’m also expecting to see even more products associated with women leading the way in hoops to come to market. 

Sabrina Ionescu will launch her second Nike signature shoe during the summer of 2024, with Liberty teammate Breanna Stewart set to launch her third Stewie signature shoe with Puma during the same window. Angel Reese’s first collection with Reebok will debut toward the end of the year during the Fall season. 

The next three players that I see making their mark in the sneaker game are Las Vegas Aces two-time champ A’ja Wilson, NCAA star Caitlin Clark, and USC freshman Juju Watkins. Each is already signed to Nike. 

Wilson is overdue for her own signature shoe. I’d like to see Nike, at the least, create PE colorways of the GT Cut series with Clark that could launch at the end of the year, regardless of whether she enters the WNBA Draft this year or returns for one last collegiate season at Iowa. Juju is must-see TV, getting buckets on a nightly basis at USC. She’s a player that Nike could be building up already with LA regional product launches while she’s still in school. I’m expecting to see all three take their leap as leading faces of Nike Basketball this year. 

Future of Curry Brand 

Since launching in late 2020, Stephen Curry is now on his fourth signature under his own Curry Brand, as he’s looked to establish his new “Splash” logo and the Flow technology that’s made its way across Curry’s product lineup of new models. 

With a lifetime deal in place, 2024 projects to be all about expanding Curry Brand even more. Its first signature athlete, Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, is set to debut his own namesake silhouette. The new year could bring even more athlete and ambassador signings. 

A potential first appearance for Curry at the Summer Olympics in Paris will also serve up yet another global stage for the Warriors star to showcase the future of his brand.

Year of the Foamposite

One of the keys to watch for Nike Sportswear this year will be the re-emergence of the Foamposite. After the model took off on an extensive run in 2012, the brand tucked the iconic Penny Hardaway sneaker back into the vault in recent years.

This year, it’s looking like a lineup of some of the most beloved Foamposites since its 1997 introduction is on the way back. The classic “Dark Neon Royal” is set to return, with detailing inspired by the sample pair from Nike’s original “Phone Number” campaign, complete with the blue Swoosh border and black and blue carbon fiber checkered shank. 

Look for the Eggplant Retro once again, along with one of the greatest theme colorways ever, as the “Galaxy” Foamposite from 2012 All-Star Weekend sees a return for the first time. 

Now priced at $240 retail, near-monthly Foamposite launches could lead to a serious category driver for Nike’s Sportswear imprint.

Reebok Is Back (again!) 

With new ownership comes new moves, and 2024 should become a foundational year for Reebok’s new vision and direction going forward. President of Basketball Shaquille O’Neal’s first move was signing LSU star Angel Reese to the brand, and this year, Reebok is looking to land an additional face of the company from the NBA. 

Shaq x Reebok

The Big Executive has been tasked with providing strategic direction, athlete recruitment, and marketing briefs for the brand’s upcoming relaunch into hoops.

Check it out!

With a replenished and more strategic retro approach for its coveted Allen Iverson and Shaq models to come this year, I expect ’24 to be the year that sets the company up for decades down the road as Reebok looks to re-capture the success and momentum it enjoyed throughout the 1990s. 

KD 4 Retro Releases

The breakthrough model of Kevin Durant’s line is on the way back, as the KD 4 is set to return all year long in both OG and new looks. Looking back at the original lineup of colorways from the 2011-12 season in which KD made his first trip to the NBA Finals, you realize just how deep the coveted colorways went. 

Durant recently named the “Galaxy” and “Weatherman” themes as his two favorites, although the favorite from most is often the “Nerf” KD 4. With his new lifetime deal with the Swoosh locked in, the KD 4 Retro should look to establish the next chapter of the KD business on the Retro side, with people calling for the return of the strapped-up silhouette for years now, and 2024 finally delivering. 

Tiger’s Next Move 

2024 started with a storyline that nobody would’ve ever expected to become a reality — Nike and Tiger Woods were splitting up. One of the most impactful sports marketing partnerships ever ended after 27 years and hundreds of millions in generated revenue. With Nike shifting to a lessened emphasis on new golf products and an expected focus on its growing Jordan Golf business, the two sides are parting ways as Woods enters the closing chapter of his career on the PGA Tour.

How Nike Made Tiger Woods Bigger than Golf

When Nike invested in a golf phenom that became bigger than the sport itself, the brand and the player didn’t just win. They altered the aesthetic of the sport.

Check it out!

In many ways, the split is comparable to Roger Federer‘s departure from Nike, as the brand struggled to justify paying the tennis icon’s market value when weighed against its small Nike Tennis business. Federer ultimately landed a 10-year, $300 million apparel ambassador deal with Uniqlo and an equity-driven footwear partnership with On that projects to be worth around the same figure.

Going forward, Woods is expected to soon announce his new brand partnership, potentially launching his own “TW” line of apparel in tandem with TaylorMade, according to industry sources. For the last year, he’s primarily played in FootJoy golf shoes on the course.

The Olympics!

The 2020 Olympics were unfortunately impacted due to the pandemic, leading to a shifting launch calendar that brands had trouble planning for once the Summer Games eventually took place in Japan in 2021. This year, the Paris Olympics are set to begin in late July and look to land as a triumphant return for new tech and innovation debuts. 

I’ve always loved seeing what brands have in store from a statement product standpoint, not just for the expected running and basketball events but for new sports like skating or specialty usage sports like weightlifting and even equestrian in years past. 

With the Olympics taking place in one of the world’s fashion capitals, the storytelling should go that much deeper. I’ll have my eye on a handful of hoopers in particular.

France native Victor Wembanyama could launch his first collection of PE colorways in Paris. Curry could debut a new silhouette during his first Olympic appearance. Nikola Jokić is expected to be donning his first signature shoe with 361°. Joel Embiid will also be suiting up for Team USA this summer, and the sneaker free agent could have an Olympic surprise in store.

Last but not least, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should see his star power go to another level as he leads a loaded Team Canada toward a potential Olympic medal. 

Can Kyrie Make His Mark Again? 

After parting ways with Nike over a year ago, Kyrie Irving landed a new five-year shoe deal with Anta that will see his first signature collection launch this spring. Already, he’s been practicing in blacked-out prototypes of two different sneakers from his upcoming KAI branded line, with a series of layered themes and more vibrant retail colorways expected to launch throughout the year. 

When he left Nike, his annual signature business was towering toward $400 million annually, making Irving one of the industry’s most successful series movers. 2024 will be an early indicator of whether Kyrie can continue his success in the industry under his new deal with Anta, which boasts more than 9,000 stores throughout Asia.

His next venture also includes a new wrinkle, with Irving taking an ownership stake in the global distribution plan by becoming an investor in Kicks Crew, where his signature series will be made available to US consumers. 

“It’s a game-changer in the athlete-brand partnership landscape,” said Irving. “It’s not just about endorsing a product anymore — it’s about being actively involved in how that product reaches consumers … We’re redefining the traditional athlete approach to shoe deals.”

If Irving can once again surpass the esteemed $100 million mark for his second act signature business this year, I wouldn’t rule out a return towards him elevating and becoming a top-five seller again.

The Shai Superstar Takeoff 

As the longtime double-digit signature lines of league icons from LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry continue on, there’s a new class of rising stars I expect to see take a huge jump in 2024. That trio should include Anthony Edwards, who’s debut Adidas AE 1 will be one of the best signatures of 2024, rapidly rising Pacers point Tyrese Haliburton, and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Currently under contract with Converse, if the OKC Thunder star in Gilgeous-Alexander entered a true sneaker free agency this fall, I fully believe that Shai could become one of the most sought-after endorsers in industry history. Several brands would immediately make him the face of their company — meaning a signature shoe will be an expected component of every potential offer.

I’ve been jokingly using this stat when talking to folks throughout the industry about his impact, but it’s still true: Last season, SGA became the first and only player to be named to the All-NBA first team and the All-League Fits first team in the same season. 

While the second award from SLAM’s Instagram off-shoot page might hold less historical significance on paper, it matters, and truly speaks to Shai’s rise as a crossover superstar, where he’s mastered the blend of on- and off-court perhaps better than anyone during the tunnel era. 

With the Thunder now a contending team heading into this year’s playoffs and the Team Canada headliner projecting to be a breakout star at the Paris Olympics, the time is right for a Shai signature business to begin. 

More Sneakers:

1

0

97

post

6

OR

98

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL 

Sneakers March 28, 2024

Allen Iverson Wouldn’t Change A Thing

Sneakers March 26, 2024

The Black Women Who Rule Basketball Fashion

Sneakers March 22, 2024

Women Run the NIL Shoe Deal Game This March Madness

Exclusive

Sports March 15, 2024

Curry Brand Signing MiLaysia Fulwiley Has Been a Long Time Coming

Deals & Investments March 13, 2024

The Budding Business of Giannis

The post Nick DePaula’s 10 Sneaker Headlines to Look Forward to in 2024 appeared first on Boardroom.

LeBron James is signing a multi-year trading card partnership deal with Fanatics Collectibles, the sports memorabilia company announced Wednesday at 6:23 a.m. PT, matching the two numbers King James has worn during his all-time great NBA career. As part of this year’s 2023-24 Bowman University Chrome Basketball set hitting stores later this month, there will be a one-of-one autographed card featuring the Lakers star in his St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school jersey and his oldest son Bronny in his USC jersey. The 100-player set will also feature women’s college hoops superstars Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.

Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung has more on the LeBron James x Fanatics partnership.

Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Joins Star-studded BodyArmor Roster

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has inked a multi-year deal with BodyArmor, the sports drink brand confirmed Wednesday. Teaming up with the Montreal-born All-Star coincides with the company’s first international rollout, with its product now available across Canada. When talking about legendary BodyArmor investor Kobe Bryant and fellow endorser Ronald Acuña Jr., who inspired his off-field ambitions and strategy, Guerrero Jr said, “Off the field, I’m just trying to keep the same mindset that those two guys have.” In addition to BodyArmor, Guerrero Jr. has endorsement deals with Wilson, Jordan Brand, and Topps. Other BodyArmor athletes include Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Alex Morgan, Christian McCaffrey, and CeeDee Lamb.

For more on Vladdy’s deal with BodyArmor, check out Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung full breakdown.

Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka’s Hana Kuma Launching New Video Podcast Series

Nick Kyrgios is leveraging his meddling reputation in tennis to spark deep conversation outside of it. The Aussie tennis star is collaborating with Naomi Osaka‘s Emmy-nominated media company, Hana Kuma, to launch a new video podcast series titled “Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios.” Launching on Jan. 24, Kyrgios will speak with the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Jemele Hill, Jay Shetty, Frances Tiafoe, Rainn Wilson, Gary Vaynerchuk, Mike Tyson, and Osaka herself, who is making a return to the court after welcoming a daughter last year. Audiences in the US can tune in via the Tennis Channel, and in Europe, one can tune in on Discovery+ and Eurosport as well as on Hana Kuma’s YouTube channel and podcast platforms.

‘Oppenheimer’ Helps IMAX Crack $1 Billion in 2023 Revenue

Oppenheimer cleaned up at the Golden Globes over the weekend, and it shouldn’t be surprising considering the film played a large part in IMAX dominating the box office in 2023. IMAX had its second-highest grossing year in history last year, hauling in $1.06 billion thanks to movies playing on their screens across the globe. Variety notes the biographical thriller, directed by Christopher Nolan, is now the highest-performing movie to be released on IMAX in 2023, earning $183.2 million from screenings. Revered for his lengthy and mind-bending projects, Nolan said he preferred watching the film in an IMAX theater, which likely led fans to seek out a participating theater to see for themselves. IMAX will have more than 100 films playing on their screens in 2024, including Dune — Part Two, Joker: Folie à Deux, and Deadpool 3.

Tom Cruise & Warner Bros. to Jointly Make Movies in 2024

Tom Cruise and Warner Bros. Discovery are joining forces to develop and produce original and franchise theatrical films starting this year. Although little was divulged about specific projects, the veteran actor and Warner Bros. have a decades-long history. Cruise has previously starred in classic films produced and distributed by the studio, like Edge of Tomorrow, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Risky Business, and more. “Excited to share this news. I look forward to making great movies together!” Cruise wrote on his Instagram, alongside a photo of the announcement.

SAG-AFTRA Signs Agreement to Set Conditions for Use of AI in Gaming

SAG-AFTRA signed an agreement with an AI voiceover studio that sets conditions for the use of artificial intelligence in video games. Announced Tuesday during a press event at CES 2024, the deal permits SAG-AFTRA members to work with Replica Studios to license their voice to game studios. According to the Guild, this covers licensed voices “in video game development and other interactive media projects from pre-production to final release.” In addition to establishing minimum provisions, the compromise also aims to ensure performer consent and negotiation for uses of their digital voice double. It requires that performers have the opportunity to opt out of its continued use in new projects.

The post LeBron & Bronny to be Featured on Fanatics Trading Card in New Partnership appeared first on Boardroom.

With the College Football Playoff championship game just days away, the NCAA reached an eight-year deal with ESPN worth $115 million per year — $920 million total — to broadcast 21 men’s and 19 women’s collegiate sports championships each season, college sports’ governing body announced Thursday.

The deal, beginning on Sept. 1, encompasses every NCAA championship domestically aside from Division I football and men’s basketball.

The wild success of Division 1 women’s basketball of late, led by superstars like Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, and Angel Reese, sparked speculation that the NCAA would spin off the sport’s rights. Reports suggested that if the sport was sold as its own entity, college women’s basketball could garner roughly $80 million in Year 1 of a new sports media deal.

However, despite drawing 9.9 million viewers in last year’s women’s title game, ESPN and the NCAA decided to keep the annual women’s basketball tournament within this new package deal valued at $65 million per year. Keeping the burgeoning, emerging product is a significant win for ESPN, with the NCAA saying selling women’s hoops on its own this time around wasn’t feasible.

“We said from the beginning that we wanted the best deal that we could get for all of our championships,” Baker told The Athletic. “There was a lot of informal conversation that took place with many other potential participants in this negotiation, but the one who constantly engaged and the one I would argue was the most enthusiastic in a significant way throughout the course of this was ESPN. The way they handled the negotiations demonstrated that this was really important to them, that it continued to be part of their portfolio. They will be a terrific partner, I think, going forward here.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The current rights deal that ends this year brought in just $34 million annually. The next deal expires in 2032, the same year the D-I men’s basketball contract with Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery runs out, which pays the NCAA $900 million annually.

“ESPN and the NCAA have enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship for more than four decades, and we are thrilled that it will continue as part of this new, long-term agreement,” Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman, said. “The ESPN networks and platforms will exclusively present a record number of championships, including all rounds of several marquee events that, together with the NCAA, we have grown over time.

“This unprecedented deal also further strengthens The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports and will help fuel our continued growth, including in the critical streaming space.”

Biggest Women’s March Madness Ever? Volleyball Takeover?

Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung gives his 10 sports business predictions for 2024, including why it could be a big year for women’s sports.

Read More

ESPN will broadcast all rounds of marquee events like women’s basketball, women’s gymnastics, softball, baseball, volleyball, and FCS football. The deal reportedly guarantees the women’s basketball, women’s gymnastics, and women’s volleyball title games are broadcast on ABC each year. In addition, men’s and women’s team tennis and men’s gymnastics are added to this package for the first time.

There will be more than 800 hours of NCAA championship programming per year now on ESPN linear channels, with the worldwide leader also receiving international rights for all championships.

“The NCAA has worked in earnest over the past year to ensure that this new broadcast agreement provides the best possible outcome for all NCAA championships, and in particular women’s championships,” Charlie Baker, NCAA president, said.

“Over the past several years, ESPN has demonstrated increased investment in NCAA championship coverage, and the Association is pleased to continue to provide a platform for student-athletes to shine. Having one, multi-platform home to showcase our championships provides additional growth potential along with a greater experience for the viewer and our student-athletes.”

Want more sports?

1

0

1023

post

6

OR

Tech Talk April 7, 2024

ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI

Deals & Investments April 5, 2024

From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2024

Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop

Sports April 4, 2024

Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game

Boardroom Investments April 2, 2024

CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL 

The post NCAA, ESPN Reach Massive College Sports Media Rights Deal appeared first on Boardroom.

If you don’t know Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark by now, you just aren’t paying attention.

The reigning National Player of the Year has been dominant on the court again this season, averaging 32.3 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game while leading Iowa to a 27-4 record and a top-5 ranking in the country. All of this after she earned unanimous All-American honors while putting up 27.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game last year.

Oh, and she also led Iowa to last year’s national title game, where the Hawkeyes fell to Angel Reese and LSU. As she continues through her last year at Iowa, she became the fastest NCAA D-1 player to eclipse 3,000 points in just 110 games and would go on to break Kelsey Plum’s old NCAA women’s basketball record for most career points scored. Not satisfied, Clark went on to break the all-time NCAA career scoring record, previously held by Pete Maravich, over the weekend against No. 2 Ohio State on Senior Night. She finished the game with 35 points en route to leading the Hawkeyes to victory in the regular season finale.

Clark put her WNBA aspirations on hold to return for her senior season in Iowa City, and with a year of eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many wondered if she would return to college for one more year. But the star hooper officially let the world know her intentions of heading to the WNBA after this season on Feb. 29, just days ahead of her final regular season game.

Clark is leaving, but not before she’s been able to take full advantage in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) space through various partnerships and deals with some of the biggest brands out there. She signed on with Excel Sports Management to secure representation as she wades through a bevy of deals off the court.

Let’s break it down.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

Caitlin Clark NIL Market Value

All data via On3.com’s NIL rankings as of March 4, 2023.

Women’s College Basketball NIL rank: 1
Overall NIL rank: 4
Annual Valuation: $3,100,000
10-week high: $3,100,000
10-week low: $910,000
Total followers: 1.3 million (1M on Instagram, 186K on X, 159K on TikTok)

The above monetary figures are via On3’s NIL Valuation, a proprietary algorithm that “establishes the overall NIL market and projected 12-month growth rate by measuring two categories, Brand Value Index and Roster Value Index.”

Notable Caitlin Clark NIL Deals

Gatorade

Having eclipsed the 3,000 point mark, Clark joins an iconic club of elite athletes who serve as an ambassador for the legacy brand. The Iowa standout is the fourth college athlete inked by Gatorade, joining UConn hoops phenom Paige Bueckers, Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, and Penn State running back Nick Singleton. 

For Clark, the partnership was a natural one. She was selected as the Gatorade High School Player of the Year two times during her pre-college career. However, it’s also more than just bragging rights. Gatorade will make a commitment of $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation as part of its broader Equity in Sport initiative.

State Farm

After making history during March Madness, Clark made history as State Farm’s first collegiate athlete and the first female on the company’s roster. Clark is in good company, as State Farm also sponsors Patrick Mahomes and Chris Paul.

“Welcoming Caitlin Clark to our team expands and strengthens our ability to positively impact communities, engage with audiences in meaningful ways, and reinforces our commitment to raising the visibility of women in sports. As a fellow Good Neighbor, we can’t wait to drive progress forward together with Caitlin for years to come,” State Farm Chief Marketing Officer Kristyn Cook said in a statement.

Buick

Ahead of Iowa’s run to the national title last season, Buick tapped women’s college basketball’s best players for its “See Her Greatness” campaign. In addition to Clark, Stanford‘s Cameron Brink, South Carolina‘s Aliyah Boston, UConn‘s Azzi Fudd, and UCLA‘s Kiki Rice also partnered with Buick.

Nike

Whenever a major brand seems to target basketball’s elite for an NIL partnership, Clark always seems to be involved. Last year, Nike teamed up with Clark, Bronny James, DJ Wagner, JuJu Watkins, and Haley Jones on long-term deals.

“I grew up watching Nike athletes across all sports play their game,” Clark said. “They have inspired me to work hard and make a difference. I’m humbled to be part of this first Nike basketball class and passionate about inspiring the next.”

Other notable deals: Topps, Iowa Cubs, H&R Block

More NIL:

1

0

77

post

6

OR

356

April 6, 2024

DJ Burns Jr. Shines as NIL Star with Huge NCAA Tournament Run

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL 

March 23, 2024

Mikaylah Williams Joins Kiki Rice on Jordan Brand NIL Roster

March 19, 2024

UNC Star Deja Kelly Inks NIL Partnership with Tommy Hilfiger

Exclusive

Sports March 15, 2024

Curry Brand Signing MiLaysia Fulwiley Has Been a Long Time Coming

Sports January 9, 2024

Jordan Brand’s Booming Championship Roster

The post Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is Cashing In appeared first on Boardroom.

State Farm has signed Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark to a NIL deal, joining the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Chris Paul on the insurance company’s roster. The standout point guard shared the news on Instagram, along with a separate rapid-fire video opposite Jake from State Farm. The 21-year-old led the Hawkeyes to a Final Four appearance last season and was named the National Player of the Year after averaging 27.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game. Clark, who also boasts NIL deals with Nike, Topps, and Buick, is the first collegiate athlete on State Farm’s roster.

Aces-Liberty Game 1 Garners Largest Audience Since 2000 WNBA Finals

Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty was a ratings success, averaging a 0.45 rating and 729,000 viewers on ABC, per Sports Media Watch. This makes Sunday’s showdown the largest audience for Game 1 of a Finals since 2000 when the Houston Comets and New York Liberty averaged 872,000 on Lifetime. Game 1 saw the defending champion Aces beat the Liberty, 99-82, with Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum combining for 72 of the Aces’ points. Game 2 is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET from Michelob ULTRA Arena, affectionally referred to as “The House.”

Roc Nation School & JPMorgan Chase Launch Financial Health Course

Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU) and JPMorgan Chase announced a new partnership on Tuesday that will establish the school’s first-ever financial health course for the 2023-24 academic year. The three-credit, 16-week course aims to provide nearly 150 students with strong money management skills and build a strong financial future. As part of the alliance, JPMorgan Chase will contribute $115,000 to the Roc School’s Hope Scholarship program, which supports high-achieving students with financial need, and an additional $220,000 grant to support financial coaching efforts at the school. The seminar will also feature special guest speakers, including New York Giants legend Victor Cruz and JPMorgan Chase leadership, sharing wisdom and advice for academic, career, and personal success. 

Carletta Higginson Named WMG’s New Executive VP & Chief Digital Officer

Warner Music Group (WMG) announced Tuesday that Carletta Higginson has joined the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, effective Oct. 16. Higginson comes to WMG from Google, most recently as Global Head of Music Publishing at YouTube and Google Play. The release notes she worked in business development and legal positions during her decade-long tenure across both music publishing and recorded music. In her new role, the Columbia Law grad will “oversee the full spectrum of WMG’s global digital partnerships, from deal-making through account management, while she and her team will explore commercial innovation and forge new digital partnerships.”

Wasserman Acquires J1S, Launches Creators Division

Wasserman has acquired creator company J1S, the company announced Tuesday, and in turn, is launching a “Wasserman Creators” division. J1S co-founder Michael Jones will assume the role of Senior Vice President of the newly formed division which J1S staffers will help operate. “The decision came down to Wasserman’s company culture matching J1S, and a strong alignment on the creator economy,” said Jones in the release. “With the launch of Wasserman Creators, we can continue executing on providing world-class representation, expanding our service offerings, and positioning ourselves in a manner unmatched in today’s environment.” Jones and his wife, Hannah Haarala Jones, founded J1S in 2019.

Beckham Documentary Claims No. 1 Spot on Netflix in First Week

In its first-week debut, David Beckham‘s Netflix docuseries Beckham clinched the top spot among the platform’s English-language series, recording 12.4 million views. The program is a trip down memory lane for international football fans and pop music enthusiasts alike. The $20 million project features interviews with Beckham and his wife of 24 years, Victoria. Famous Manchester United teammates like Gary Neville, Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, and, of course, former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also speak to his impact on the game. As for his Real Madrid colleagues, Diego Simeone shows up to address that 1998 red card debacle.

The post Caitlin Clark Joins Mahomes, CP3 on State Farm Roster with NIL Deal appeared first on Boardroom.

This is Part 3 of our “Boardroom & ChatGPT Expand the WNBA” series. If you missed Parts 1 & 2, catch up on how we picked our expansion cities and developed team names and branding for them.

One of the main reasons fans are clamoring for WNBA expansion is because there are too few roster spots compared to how many deserving women can compete in the league. That makes a potential WNBA expansion draft all the more fun.

And so, the Nashville Rhythm and Vancouver Vortex are on the clock. With some help from ChatGPT (and a little more hand-holding than we needed before), we conducted a full-on WNBA expansion draft to fill their rosters. For added measure, we asked AI to give us a coaching staff for each team and some priorities for the WNBA’s traditional first-year player draft.

Behold.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

WNBA Expansion Draft Rules & Assumptions

The WNBA CBA does not outline exactly what an expansion draft would look like. There also hasn’t been one in the league since 2008, and there hasn’t been one involving multiple teams since 2000. We do, however, want to ensure a few things:

• Current WNBA teams should be able to protect some of their players from being taken.
• There should be a maximum number of players from a current team that can be taken.
• The expansion teams still need to adhere to salary minimums and maximums.

To do that, we decided that each current team would be allowed to protect 50% of its roster. Additionally, no more than three players from a current team would be allowed to be drafted. After that? We just gave ChatGPT the list of available players, their salaries, positions, and basic stats and let the bot go nuts.

We asked that ChatGPT consider roster construction when drafting players but didn’t elaborate. If AI thinks a team of 12 centers is the best way to win in the WNBA, well, who are we to challenge our future overlords?

We also had to make some assumptions, partly because we don’t know exactly how an expansion draft would work in real life and partly because we need to simplify the process for our own sanity.

• Unrestricted free agents this offseason will just be eligible with their 2023 teams.
• The draft will be 12 rounds to equal the size of a WNBA roster. When you throw in regular WNBA draft picks and free agents, that’ll be plenty for training camp competition.

Without further ado, here is how ChatGPT ran the expansion draft.

WNBA Expansion Draft Results

Round 1: Nashville Rhythm select: Monique Billings, Vancouver Vortex select: Kiah Stokes
Round 2: Nashville Rhythm select: Danielle Robinson, Vancouver Vortex select: Natalie Achonwa
Round 3: Nashville Rhythm select: Sug Sutton, Vancouver Vortex select: Shay Peddy
Round 4: Nashville Rhythm select: Kayla Thornton, Vancouver Vortex select: Jade Melbourne
Round 5: Nashville Rhythm select: Katie Lou Samuelson, Vancouver Vortex select: Ruthy Hebard
Round 6: Nashville Rhythm select: Tiana Hawkins, Vancouver Vortex select: Isabelle Harrison
Round 7: Nashville Rhythm select: Kristi Toliver, Vancouver Vortex select: Lexie Hull
Round 8: Nashville Rhythm select: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Vancouver Vortex select: Nia Clouden
Round 9: Nashville Rhythm select: Haley Jones, Vancouver Vortex select: Kadi Sissoko
Round 10: Nashville Rhythm select: Bridget Carlton, Vancouver Vortex select: Sika Kone
Round 11: Nashville Rhythm select: Dearica Hamby, Vancouver Vortex select: Joyner Holmes
Round 12: Nashville Rhythm select: Nikola Milic, Vancouver Vortex select: Alaina Coates

WNBA Draft Needs

One of ChatGPT’s drawbacks is that it does not have much knowledge about events 2021-present. That makes it impractical to let it simulate a WNBA Draft of current college players. So, instead, we asked it to come up with draft priorities for each team based on the rosters it compiled. From there, we simulated a mock draft ourselves in which the Rhythm and Vortex got the first two picks. Nashville had the first pick in the expansion draft, so here, that pick goes to the Vortex.

ChatGPT Recommendations

Nashville Rhythm

• Playmaking Guard: While Danielle Robinson is on the roster, adding another playmaking guard could provide more depth and versatility in the backcourt.
• Outside Shooting: The Rhythm could benefit from more consistent outside shooting to stretch the floor and open up driving lanes for their guards and forwards.
• Wing Scorer: Adding a versatile wing player who can create their own shot and contribute on both ends of the floor would enhance the team’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
• Frontcourt Depth: Although the roster has solid frontcourt players, adding depth in the post could provide more options in terms of matchups and rotations.

Vancouver Vortex

1. Interior Defense and Rebounding: The Vortex could prioritize adding players who excel in interior defense and rebounding to complement their existing roster, especially in protecting the rim and controlling the boards.
2. Versatile Wing Players: Players who can play multiple positions on the wing and contribute on both offense and defense could enhance the team’s flexibility and lineup options.
3. Perimeter Shooting: Adding players who can consistently knock down three-pointers would help space the floor for the team’s interior players and create more offensive opportunities.
4. Backup Point Guard: While they have solid guards, having a backup point guard who can manage the offense and relieve the starting guard could be beneficial.
5. Depth Across Positions: Building depth at various positions would provide the Vortex with more flexibility in terms of rotations and matchup strategies.

Draft Picks

Nashville: Angel Reese, Nika Mühl, DeYona Gaston
Vancouver: Caitlin Clark, Diamond Johnson, Aubrey Griffin

The Coaches

What good is it to have a roster of players if there’s no one around to coach them? We weren’t about to pull names out of thin air to lead the Rhythm and Vortex, so we entrusted ChatGPT to do this for us as well. To start, we simply asked who the coaches should be, and let’s just say the AI aimed rather high, suggesting the likes of Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, and Eric Musselman, to name a few candidates.

So we refined the criteria, limiting the candidates to current WNBA head and assistant coaches, NBA assistant coaches, and college head coaches who have never won a national championship (this would get Geno and Dawn out of the mix).

Ultimately, ChatGPT settled on two highly qualified candidates with strong assistant staffs to match.

Nashville
Head coach: Adia Barnes
Assistant coaches: Salvo Coppa, Tamisha Augustin, Cameron Newbauer

Vancouver
Head coach: Lindsay Gottlieb
Assistant coach: Jackie Stiles, Tamika Catchings, Vickie Johnson

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

Team Rosters

Pre-training camp cuts that would be needed to get the rosters down to 12 each.

Read More:

1

0

55

post

6

OR

38

April 4, 2024

Angel Reese Takes Over Vogue to Declare for WNBA

Sports March 8, 2024

Spotlighting The Women of the Boardroom

March 1, 2024

Caitlin Clark Leaving Iowa for WNBA After Season

Sports February 26, 2024

The Business of Women’s Sports is Exploding

Sports February 17, 2024

Steph vs. Sabrina: The NBA & WNBA Square Off in Starry’s 3-Point Contest

Sports February 7, 2024

WNBA Gets Girls in the Game with VOICEINSPORT

The post Boardroom & ChatGPT Expand the WNBA, Part 3: Draft Day appeared first on Boardroom.

Take a bow, Angel Reese. The LSU Tigers hoops star deserves as much after putting up yet another double-double with 15 points and 10 boards in her team’s 102-85 victory over Iowa in the finale of the Women’s NCAA Tournament en route to Most Outstanding Player honors.

In most cases in sports, the days following such a championship accomplishment are filled with praise and congratulations. Instead, a large part of the national discourse has been focused on players’ celebrations rather than celebrating the women themselves that put on literally record-breaking performances on both sides.

In the final moments of the game, cameras caught Reese doing the same “you can’t see me” celebration that Iowa star Caitlin Clark did in the Elite Eight against Louisville in the direction of her opponent. She added her own twist on the gesture popularized by G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo and wrestler/actor John Cena by pointing to her ring finger, alluding to the jewelry she just locked up by winning a natty.

My first thought? What a badass, the same thought I had when Clark did the same thing in the Elite Eight against Louisville. Both of these players have been phenomenal all season long and have helped elevate women’s basketball forward in very real ways.

But thanks to social media, the conversation surrounding this brief celebration turned vile.

As anyone who works in sports knows, keyboard warriors are nothing new, so perhaps we shouldn’t be all that surprised. When you have grown men with high-profile presences in media throwing out profanities at a young woman who isn’t even of legal drinking age as if she committed a crime on the court for their millions of Twitter followers to see, however, that’s where we have a problem:

It’s exhausting. It’s unnecessary.

Luckily, being the badass that she is, “Bayou Barbie” doesn’t care what the retrograde haters think. She also couldn’t care less what this author — or any other writer that feels the need to chime in on the matter — thinks of her, and rightfully so.

“I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in. ‘I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto.’ Y’all told me that all year. When other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. This was for the people that look like me,” Reese said to members of the media after the game.

She doubled down with the sentiment on ESPN the next day with host Malika Andrews.

Talk that talk, Angel.

Honestly, it’s refreshing to see. She has every right to feel the way she feels and say what she wants to say, and if anyone has a problem with it, well, that problem may lie within. Do you know who hasn’t had a problem with it? Caitlin Clark, who got the ESPN treatment with a specific segment discussing her trash-talking ahead of the title game — and that’s because she’s a competitor who understands that if you dish it out, you gotta be able to take it back in return.

“I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter what way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I compete, she competed,” Clark said to the Worldwide Leader. “It was a super, super fun game. I think that’s what’s going to bring more people to our game.”

This is sports. It doesn’t need a clarifier ahead of it. Men or women, this is supposed to happen when the best of the best put it all on the line on the biggest stage.

Plenty of rabble-rousers out there are trying to turn this into an individual battle between Reese and Clark rather than encouraging healthy competition. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure some of it was personal; perhaps Reese’s postgame comment of “I don’t take disrespect lightly” was meant to refer directly to Clark’s waving-off of South Carolina’s Raven Johnson in the Final Four.

But even so, I refuse to give in to that notion and pit these two women against each other when they’re likely on the same page about it. Again, competitors compete, and I’m here for it.

So, all that said, let’s get into it.

I could talk about how there were clear-as-day racial biases here, with pundits and fans alike choosing sides instead of enjoying the two of the best players the sport of basketball has to offer at peak performance. Not to harp too much on two individual professional Twitter instigators, but simply take the words used to describe Angel’s actions above — “classless piece of shit” and “fucking idiot” — and compare them to those used for Clark while doing damn near the same celebration: “Queen of Clapbacks.”

Some observers have comparied the length of each respective celebration to bolster one’s “argument,” but talk about nitpicky. The sentiment is the same, but Reese’s was done amid much higher stakes.

Excuse her extending the championship moment for just a bit, putting one more personal stamp on it.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

This isn’t the first time words during this tournament have carried racial implications, either. When South Carolina, undefeated all season long and the top seed heading into the tournament, fell to the hands of Clark and Iowa in the Final Four, head coach Dawn Staley used her postgame remarks to defend her team.

“We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters,” she said. “This team exemplifies how you need to approach basketball on the court and off the court. And I do think that that’s sometimes brought into the game, and it hurts.”

The “bar fighters” reference may have been in response to Iowa’s coach Lisa Bluder likened offensive rebounding against the Gamecocks to a bar fight, but in reality, Staley may have simply been fed up with the narrative surrounding her team all season long.

I also could address the hypocritical takes out there — and there have been plenty — expecting female hoopers (or female athletes in general) to fall in line and behave like “ladies.” In the wide world of celebrations and taunts, this whole episode should have just been considered just another day on a basketball court; Reese’s clip would get played once on SportsCenter, dudes at the local bar would note how cool it was, and the world would move on. This doesn’t even come close to some of the worst or most egregious trash-talking during a basketball game when compared to male counterparts.

So, why all the hate toward Angel?

Take one of the most disrespectful taunts in basketball for example — the “too short”/”too small” gesture. It’s been done so often in the game that it has become accepted, especially by the men. The same can be said for a staredown after posterizing someone on a dunk, another taunt that occurs regularly. These things happen all the time in the men’s game without any of us batting an eye.

So circling back to my original point: Why are we even talking about this?

Instead of harping on the subject further, I’ll choose to speak on Angel Reese’s and her team’s accomplishments en route to winning a national championship. I choose to focus on the fact that she shows up to the court every single night as her true self, unapologetically so. Or how about we celebrate her breaking a single-season record for double-doubles with 34 on her way to unanimous First Team All-American honors?

Then, there’s Caitlin Clark, who was the best player in the country all season long, landing consensus National Player of the Year honors for her troubles. In case you forgot in all this hoopla, she broke an NCAA Tournament record with 193 total points while putting up Stephen Curry-like daggers on the regular.

Perhaps most importantly, though, Sunday’s championship game was a huge win for women’s college basketball, as LSU and Iowa made TV history by attracting 9.9 million viewers, peaking at 12.6 million. It was the most-watched college event — men’s or women’s — on the ESPN+ streaming platform on top of being the most-viewed women’s college basketball game ever. Oh, and the viewership was up 103% year over year.

For reference, this game boasted higher US viewership than the following events:

• Any MLS game ever
• Any Stanley Cup Finals game since 1973
• The 2023 Orange Bowl and 2023 Sugar Bowl
• Any 2021 NBA Finals game
• The season finale of HBO’s The Last of Us
• The most recent All-Star Games for the MLB, NBA, & NHL.

(Now, imagine if networks started to invest in women’s sports much sooner! But that’s a topic for another day.)

Here are a few more records that fell during Sunday’s title game:

• LSU’s Jasmine Carson scored 16 second-quarter points, breaking the single-period scoring record in a women’s Final Four game. 
• Clark broke the NCAA title game record for 3-pointers with eight.
• The Tigers’ 102 points are the largest point total in any semifinal or national title in tournament history dating back to 1982. Throwing in Iowa’s 85 points, the 187 combined points were the highest-ever total for a national championship game. 
• Iowa’s 14 3-pointers set a record for most team triples in a title game.

To be clear, that list is not exhaustive of all the records that were broken in this game, but it’s a fine place to start given the extent to which all this unhealthy discourse in recent days has distracted from the matter.

So, no more celebration talk from me, thanks — I’m handing out flowers.

Congratulations to Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers, who went through the gauntlet on their way to bringing home a national title to Baton Rouge. And congratulations to Caitlin Clark and Iowa, too, for making a run to the championship that included an upset victory over one of the best teams in recent memory in the previously undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks. While we’re at it, congratulations to Dawn Staley and Co. as well for also doing their part in pushing things forward with a 42-game winning streak that sure inspired challengers nationwide to go harder and do more.

With authentic personalities in Reese, Clark, and Staley leading the way, women’s basketball is in good hands and trending in the right direction.

Those who prefer to ignore even the most impressive sporting achievements in favor of harmful discourse, on the other hand, I’m not so sure about. Maybe it’s time for a different hobby.

More Women’s Sports:

1

0

19

post

6

OR

355

Sports March 20, 2024

Lindsey Horan Accelerates the Future of Women’s Soccer

Sports February 26, 2024

The Business of Women’s Sports is Exploding

Sports January 1, 2024

10 Sports Business Predictions for 2024

Sports November 25, 2023

Sophia Smith Trusts the Process

Sports November 6, 2023

Richfresh Leaves Mark on Historic NCAA Moment in Paris With South Carolina & Notre Dame Tracksuits

October 6, 2023

WNBA Expansion Hits the Bay Area; New Team to Begin Play in 2025

The post For Women’s Hoops, Angel Reese & Caitlin Clark’s Trash-talking Was Never the Problem appeared first on Boardroom.

As Iowa took the court against LSU on Sunday, it was the first active Big Ten team to play in the Division I women’s basketball championship game since 2005.

It comes amid a year of unprecedented success for the conference — on the court, on TV, and in the stands. Not coincidentally, it also comes just two years after now-former commissioner Kevin Warren created the first senior-level position in conference history dedicated to the growth of women’s basketball.

That position, Vice President of Women’s Basketball, belongs to Megan Kahn, formerly of WeCOACH, a 501c(3) non-profit that focuses on education and professional development of women’s basketball coaches. When Kahn took her new post, Warren tasked her with strengthening and enhancing women’s basketball in the Big Ten.

This was in the aftermath of the disastrous 2021 NCAA women’s tournament that brought gender inequity in college athletics to the forefront of the national conversation. With a new light on the sport, Warren, a massive basketball fan himself, wanted to do right by his schools and enable them to compete at the highest level.

“He walks the walk when it comes to women’s athletics and elevating Big Ten women’s basketball,” Kahn told Boardroom. “He wanted to make sure that we were giving our coaches, our student-athletes and our teams every opportunity to be successful.”

It’s a tad disingenuous to leave it at “the Big Ten hired a VP of women’s basketball and now the conference has a team in the title game.” Kahn has been on the job for less time than Caitlin Clark has been on campus, and Kahn didn’t make a shot for the Hawkeyes this year.

But if you’re talking about the overall success of the conference this year? That has Kahn’s fingerprints all over it.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The Big Ten Tournament Resume

It was never a question that the Big Ten was the best conference in women’s college basketball this year. Indiana, the conference’s regular season champion, was a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Its conference tournament champion, Iowa, just knocked off the mighty South Carolina Gamecocks. Maryland and Ohio State both reached the Elite Eight. Michigan won a tournament game for the fifth consecutive year. And further down the bracket, Illinois made it for the first time in 20 years and Purdue snapped a four-tournament drought to return to the Big Dance.

“There’s no doubt this was the best year for Big Ten women’s basketball in a long, long time,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said in the team’s pre-Final Four press conference. “We felt all year long that playing in the Big Ten has prepared us in this journey so far and whatever team that we play, if they try something different, well, one of the great coaches we have in the Big Ten has probably tried it against us already. Some of the unbelievable athletes that we have in the Big Ten has probably already done that to us.”

That helped Iowa stun the Gamecocks and a sold-out crowd in Dallas, 77-73, behind 41 points from Clark. And she did that in what may have been the most talked-about game in women’s basketball history.

Ray Katz, chief operating officer of Collegiate Sports Management Group and an adjunct professor at Columbia University, told Boardroom that he estimated around 4 million viewers would tune in for the game, which would break the previous record for a semifinal, set in 2013. The actual broadcast brought in 5.5 million viewers, making it the most viewed women’s hoops matchup since the 2004 battle between the University of Connecticut and Tennessee. To make that even more impressive, Katz notes, 25% fewer households have cable subscriptions compared to a decade ago.

Those are the numbers that Kahn wants to see as she continues to craft the most competitive league in the country.

Keys to the Megan Kahn Kingdom

Kahn took over her role in 2021, while the COVID-19 pandemic was still wreaking havoc on college basketball. She was unable to travel for the first few months of her tenure, but once she was able to get on the road, she could start seeing games in person, meeting players, and earning the trust of her league’s head coaches.

That last part proved imperative. In order to maximize exposure, the conference has had to be innovative. This could be as simple as adjusting the playing schedule so that high-profile teams played high-profile games in exactly the right time slots. Or, it could be unorthodox, like launching a fashion collab with the league’s best players. It also could mean hosting a biweekly podcast with Sirius XM, dedicated to women’s basketball, which Kahn does.

No matter what she tries, though, it requires some buy-in from the coaches and trust from the league office.

“[Warren] gave me the keys to the kingdom. There was no blueprint or playbook that said, go execute these things,” Kahn said. “And so it allowed me to utilize my strengths to be innovative and to think outside the box and to think about, ‘okay, we have this unbelievable product on the floor. What can I do to help build it off the court?'”

The hope is that what Kahn does in the Big Ten today will inspire other conferences to try similar practices on their own. Together, it’ll raise the profile of the sport and eventually improve the overall product.

It’s similar to what Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has tried to do with men’s basketball, positioning his conference as a leader in the sport by expanding its presence in New York, turning its conference tournament into a cultural event, and making culinary waves along the way.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

There’s another side to this, though — one that doesn’t appear in the men’s game. Remember: Kahn took her position coming out of the debacle in the 2021 NCAA Tournament bubble. One of her main focuses, along with elevating the women’s basketball brand in the Big Ten, had to include highlighting and correcting the litany of inequities that existed before she arrived.

“There was somebody in a similar position to me on the men’s side,” Kahn said. “We didn’t even really have a budget. Nobody had served in this position so there wasn’t even a budget that existed.”

One concrete change that’s happened in the last few years: Basketball media days now feature the conference’s men’s and women’s teams, rather than holding separate events for each. It ensures that every media member who shows up to cover the men has the opportunity to do the same for the women. As a result, both sets of student-athletes have the same platform to tell their stories.

Tapping into the Potential

From media day in October to the NCAA Tournament in March, this has been a season of tangible successes for Kahn and the Big Ten. The conference has been, arguably, the most visible college basketball conference in the country.

Most notably, that’s meant putting two women’s basketball games on FOX this year, while the network is not contractually obligated to air any at all.

“They said ‘we want Caitlin Clark,'” Kahn said. “So we were able to plug and play some matchups for them that we thought would make great TV ratings.”

The excitement exists in-arena, too. It seemed like a week didn’t pass this conference season without a Big Ten team announcing record-breaking attendance numbers for a women’s basketball game. That includes Indiana selling out Assembly Hall for a women’s basketball game for the first time ever, and later, a record crowd watching Iowa defeat Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game in Minneapolis.

The potential for that sort of buzz always existed, according to ESPN analyst and former Purdue head coach Carolyn Peck. It was just a matter of tapping into it.

She used the example of going back to West Lafayette earlier this year and seeing billboards with Purdue women’s basketball players on them.

“You gotta remind them,” she said. “You’re not going to win every game, but to keep the fan loyalty and to give it the treatment that you have given the men for so many years. Now it’s not either/or; it’s both.”

Peck also said that it’s important for the conference — with Kahn at the helm — to delve deeper into what they could do to maximize revenue in the women’s game.

“You’ve gotten about as much out of football as you’re going to. Men’s basketball, you’ve gotten as much out of them as you’re going to,” she said. “Your next revenue stream is women’s basketball because they’re playing in the big arenas, so you sell those tickets, you have captivated audiences that you can advertise in, you have a strong audience that attracts TV to come into your place. It used to be a situation where they had to give away tickets to get people there. Tickets in Dallas this weekend are more expensive than Taylor Swift concert tickets. It is a valued product.”

Sustaining Momentum

The next, natural question is how the Big Ten sustains its momentum beyond Final Four weekend.

If you ask the experts, it won’t be hard — at least in the near-term. Clark will likely be back at Iowa, along with a slew of budding stars around the league.

“Jaycee [Sheldon]’s coming back, Cotie McMahon is going to be a star,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Iowa’s going to be really good again. Maryland — and who knows what happens with the portal — but just the way those teams play is really, really fun.”

“Really, really fun” seems to be how Big Ten programs have defined themselves, sticking with a high-scoring, fast-paced style. Lobo added that Indiana and Iowa were the top two teams in the nation in field goal percentage this year. She perhaps stated the obvious, saying, “it’s fun to watch teams make shots.”

Basketball fans seem to agree. Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville had higher ratings than any NBA game shown on ESPN all season, as Clark and Cardinal star Hailey Van Lith went at it. Though the 97-83 Hawkeye win wasn’t the nail-biter many may have wanted, the teams obliterated the over. They combined for 180 total points, while Clark and Van Lith combined for 68. And Clark? She had the first 40-point triple-double in tournament history (41 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds).

Eventually, however, Clark won’t be in college anymore and it’ll be up to the next generation of stars to keep it going. In addition to Sheldon and McMahon at Ohio State, the Big Ten is adding UCLA and USC in two years, meaning Juju Watkins will suit up routinely on Big Ten Network.

As for Kahn, that means a few additional headaches in trying to put a league schedule together to accommodate teams on both coasts, while looking out for the student-athletes’ well-being. But it’s a good problem to have.

“When I see the Big Ten brands somewhere in the women’s basketball space, I want it to be big and bold and innovative,” she said.

With a Big Ten team battling for the championship, it appears the league has bought in.

Want More March Madness?

1

0

15

post

6

OR

293

April 9, 2024

UConn Secures Second Consecutive NCAA Title

April 6, 2024

DJ Burns Jr. Shines as NIL Star with Huge NCAA Tournament Run

Sneakers April 1, 2024

LSU’s Mikaylah Williams is Jordan Brand’s Newest Face of NIL 

Sports January 4, 2024

NCAA, ESPN Reach Massive College Sports Media Rights Deal

Sports January 1, 2024

10 Sports Business Predictions for 2024

Execs & Entrepreneurs April 5, 2023

Leveling the March Madness Financial Playing Field

The post The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Revival Is Complete appeared first on Boardroom.

In the time it took you to click on this story, TCU punted again and Georgia scored another touchdown.

Yes, the college football season had about as anti-climactic an ending as you could imagine, and letdown fans might be wondering where to turn. The answer is, of course, college basketball.

If you’ve been sidetracked by Saturday afternoon tailgates and midweek MACtion to this point, don’t worry. You’ve missed a lot since the Champions Classic in November but never fear. From the Big East to the Big 12, and Zach Edey to Zia Cooke, Boardroom is here to catch you up.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The Men’s Top 25 Looks Nothing Like It’s Supposed To

If you only saw the preseason AP Poll and then tuned out until right this minute, you’d be forgiven for being positively baffled. Houston and Kansas (preseason Nos. 3 and 5) being in the top two spots is nothing outlandish, but after that, it gets crazy. Purdue started the season unranked but was actually No. 1 until this week thanks to a dominant run at the PK85 tournament and a 13-0 start. Alabama, which started at No. 20, is now ranked fourth, with UConn (unranked to start the season) at No. 6.

And those teams we thought would be awesome? Well, preseason No. 1 North Carolina lost four straight at the end of November and is now unranked. Things have gotten so bad for preseason No. 4 Kentucky that people are starting to wonder if John Calipari‘s time with the Wildcats is nearing an end. Creighton, thanks partly to an illness from star Ryan Kalkbrenner, went from top 10 to losers of six in a row before getting their big guy back and starting to right the ship. Duke and Baylor were also top 10 teams in November. Today, Duke is No. 24 and Baylor is unranked and 0-3 in the Big 12.

New Blood in Women’s Basketball

As expected, South Carolina and Stanford appear to be the two best teams. They’re a combined 32-1, and that one loss came for the Cardinal at the hands of…the Gamecocks. But take a look at the top 25 and you’ll see some unfamiliar names — or some kind of familiar names in unfamiliar spots.

Ohio State, which has not been to the Elite Eight since 1993, is 17-0 and in the driver’s seat for a 1 seed. Made even more impressive is how flat-out awesome the Big Ten has been. The Buckeyes are one of three Big Ten schools in the AP Poll top 10 (Indiana and Maryland are the other two), with Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois all in the rankings as well.

Yes, Illinois. The Illini went 7-20 last year, 1-13 in the Big Ten, and are somehow 14-3 this year, complete with a win over Iowa and a down-to-the-wire loss against the Buckeyes.

It’s not just the Big Ten that’s brought surprises. Out west, Utah is 14-1 and suddenly ranked in the top 10. And on the outskirts of the Top 25, you have two traditional men’s powerhouses proving the women can compete as well, with Kansas and Villanova.

Tournament Expansion: Possible, Not Likely

NCAA Tournament expansion is going to be a topic of discussion every year until it actually happens. Then, two or three years later, it’ll come right back. It’s the nature of the March Madness beast.

Last week, the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee released its recommendations to the Board of Governors, and it included expanding NCAA championships for sports with 200 or more teams to 25% of eligible schools. In basketball, that would mean a 90-team NCAA Tournament.

Before you throw your computer/phone/tablet in frustration, don’t. There seems to be little interest from the men’s or women’s basketball committees to expand to 90, and you shouldn’t expect any expansion at all until the men’s contract with Turner is up in 2032. After that, could you see an expansion to 72 or 76 teams? Maybe. And if you don’t like it, just remember you’re complaining about more March Madness. Not a bad problem to have.

The Wildest Men’s Coaching Carousel Ever?

Let’s get this part out of the way: One of the most prominent jobs in the game opened under one of the worst circumstances you could imagine when Texas fired head coach Chris Beard following a domestic violence arrest. That will forever be the most important and serious part of the story. But the reality is that Texas is going to need to hire someone and the list of names is intriguing, led by the Hall of Famer Calipari. If the Longhorns don’t go that route, they could take a swing at Kelvin Sampson (Houston), Jerome Tang (Kansas State), Eric Musselman (Arkansas), or Chris Holtmann (Ohio State).

The chain reaction that would set off is only the beginning. Plenty of other questions abound, including: Will Georgetown finally say it’s had enough of Patrick Ewing? Will Jim Boeheim call it a career at Syracuse? Will Kenny Payne even get a second year at Louisville? Those are all elite jobs and they all have a non-zero chance of opening (along with Kentucky, maybe the best in the nation). Buckle up.

Player of the Year Watch

Men’s Basketball Favorite: Zach Edey, Purdue

The best player on one of the best teams, Edey is running away with the player of the year race in men’s basketball. Through 15 games, the 7-foot-4 behemoth is averaging 21.9 points and 13.2 rebounds per game while shooting 63% from the field. The Purdue conversation begins and ends with the big man, who has compiled an ORtg over 100 in every game he’s played this year and is far outpacing everyone else in the country on the KenPom Player of the Year list.

Other candidates: Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Marcus Sasser (Houston), Drew Timme (Gonzaga)

Women’s Basketball Favorite: Aliyah Boston (South Carolina)

You can make a great case for a handful of players, but for now, it’s still Boston. Her per-game numbers are down this year, but it’s because she is commanding so much attention from opposing defenses that it’s making everyone on her team better. Combined with Zia Cooke, South Carolina undoubtedly has the best 1-2 punch in the game. The best player on the best team will always be in the running for player of the year and Boston checks all the boxes.

Other candidates: Cameron Brink (Stanford), Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Angel Reese (LSU)

Playing Favorites

Considering how turbulent the first couple of months have been, it’s no surprise that the betting market has changed substantially. Here are the favorites to win the men’s and women’s national championships, with their odds today compared to their odds in the preseason, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Men’s Basketball Odds

Houston: +600 (was +850)
Kansas: +750 (was +1500)
Purdue: +1200 (was +4500)
Arizona: +1300 (was +2000)
UConn: +1400 (was +8000)
Tennessee: +1400 (was +2500)
UCLA: +1400 (was +2000)

Women’s Basketball Odds

South Carolina: +125 (was +135)
Stanford: +270 (was +450)
UConn: +700 (was +1000)
LSU: +1200 (was +5000)
Ohio State: +1800 (was +5000)
Indiana: +2000 (was +4000)
Notre Dame: +2000 (was +2500)
Iowa State: +2500 (was +3000)
Utah: +3500 (was +20000)

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post The Football Fan’s Guide to the 2022-23 College Basketball Season appeared first on Boardroom.

At long last, welcome to college basketball season. The games tip off for real on Monday, and while the slate isn’t exactly loaded thanks to the Champions Classic getting bumped to the second week of the year, there is plenty of intrigue around this season. Gonzaga and South Carolina are the betting favorites to win the men’s and women’s national championships, respectively, but they’re far from the only contenders. 

More importantly for fans, there are plenty of storylines off the court that will shape how college basketball continues to evolve.

As the 2022-23 season begins, let’s explore the biggest and best of them.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

Impending NCAA Tournament Expansion

Thanks to the NCAA’s recent efforts to atone for the disastrous inequities witnessed at the 2021 NCAA Tournaments, it’s safe to assume that if the men expand their own March Madness field, then the women will do the same — like it or not. And if you’re against further expansion as most fans tend to be, at least take solace in knowing that it means increased opportunities for more men and women each year to play on the sport’s biggest stage. 

The 2023 NCAA Tournaments are locked at 68 teams, so don’t worry about anything changing in time for March, but there’s a real chance the field is bigger in 2024 or 2025. It doesn’t sound like we’re going to get a 96-team field anytime soon, but don’t be surprised if the First Four becomes the First Eight and the fields are 76 teams each.

Why? Well, people like to say football drives the bus in college sports, but that’s not entirely true; 85% of the NCAA’s annual revenue comes from March Madness, so more springtime basketball inventory means more revenue for the NCAA. Oh, and it makes the coaches happy — a good way to increase your job security on the sidelines is to make the NCAA Tournament. More at-large spots means it gets a little bit easier to do just that.

Continuity in the Men’s Game

A fortunate byproduct of the NIL era is that we are going to see more roster continuity in men’s college basketball. Players like Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, who in the past may have gone to the NBA Draft after a year like he had in 2021-22, are back with an opportunity to make (quite literally) hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The obvious benefit is that keeping more talent in school makes the college game better. It also makes it easier for the so-called casual fan to follow the game. In the past, men’s college basketball hasn’t featured teams with clear on-court identities in the season’s opening weeks, as the true superstars don’t often emerge until around January.

Well, now we know. CBS Sports published its list of the top 101 players in college basketball this year and the top 10 are all upperclassmen, with Timme and Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe leading the way.

Some other returning stars to watch: Armando Bacot at North Carolina, Marcus Sasser at Houston, Trayce Jackson-Davis at Indiana, and Jaime Jaquez at UCLA.

The Women’s Game has More Contenders than Ever

For the better part of the past decade, the pool of contending teams in women’s basketball has slowly grown. This year, South Carolina is the clear-cut national championship favorite, but there are probably a dozen teams that have real Final Four potential — and if you can make it to the Final Four, who knows what can happen? Stanford and Tennessee are both expected to be factors, as always, and though UConn lost Paige Bueckers for the season, would anyone really be surprised if they were major factors in the end? 

But there are some less traditional names joining the fray this year. Vic Schaefer has his best team since he came to Texas in 2020, and that’s saying a lot — the Longhorns are coming off back-to-back Elite Eight seasons. Iowa also has a potential Final Four team with Player of the Year candidate Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano. Louisville will be back in the mix as well, along with a resurgent Notre Dame and a sneaky-good Iowa State.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The IARP Fallout

One of the biggest storylines on the men’s side this offseason was the drama (or lack thereof) around the Independent Accountability Resolution Process board that reviewed NCAA infractions cases from Memphis and Louisville. After literally years of review, both programs got off essentially unscathed despite facing Level I violations (the big, bad kind).

Even though Louisville doesn’t figure to be competitive this year and Memphis projects as an also-ran in the AAC, this has some broader implications. We’re still awaiting a rule on Kansas’s own case, and the Jayhawks have already suspended head coach Bill Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend for the first four games of the season as a preemptive measure. Jayhawk fans should feel a little more at ease after seeing the Louisville and Memphis resolutions, however, and for the Cardinals in particular, the NCAA infractions case is no longer looming over them on the recruiting trail. Kenny Payne’s job just got much easier when it comes to bringing in talent.

Slightly unrelated: The process has been so long and drawn out that the IARP will dissolve when it is done with its current slate of cases.

The Women’s Regionals

This year, instead of the typical four regional sites, the final 16 teams will go to one of two locations for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight: Greenville, South Carolina and Seattle. The hope is this will create better game environments by consolidating eight fanbases in cities likely to have at least a semi-local team.

Greenville will, of course, be a hotbed for South Carolina fans, and if Oregon makes it to the tournament, you can count on the committee sending the Ducks out west. Stanford, which isn’t exactly local but also isn’t TOO far, will be as well. The question becomes whether other fanbases will travel a longer distance than usual — UConn fans are used to playing their regionals in Connecticut or, at farthest, Albany. Will they go to South Carolina? Louisville and Notre Dame were typically locks for the midwest; same question to those fanbases.

As I wrote after last season, I’m willing to give a chance to any idea to increase visibility and excitement around the women’s game. Let’s wait and see what happens here.

The Balance of Power in Men’s Hoops

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Duke Men’s Basketball (@dukembb)

Last year, we got our first look at North Carolina in a post-Roy Williams era, and Hubert Davis weathered a rocky regular season to take the Tar Heels all the way to the national title game. This year, we get to see if Jon Scheyer at Duke and Kyle Neptune at Villanova can have similar success in their first years following the departure of a program legend (Mike Krzyzewski and Jay Wright, respectively). 

So far, Scheyer has shown no signs of letting Duke fall from the top of the sport. The Blue Devils enroll the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, led by Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively. For 2023, Scheyer already has four of the top 16 recruits currently committed, per ESPN’s rankings.

At Villanova, Neptune has a team with a real shot at winning the Big East. The Wildcats probably won’t be as dominant this year as they were during the latter part of the Wright Era, but that’s not Neptune’s fault. The team has had some turnover from last year’s crew that made the Final Four, and an injury to stud freshman Cam Whitmore isn’t helping matters. Neptune told Boardroom that Whitmore is one of the most talented players on the team and was “unbelievable” in practice this fall. Don’t be surprised if Villanova makes the second weekend once again.

One More Under-the-radar Storyline: Keep an Eye on the WAC Tournament

This isn’t going to get much attention, but is something worth keeping an eye on. The Western Athletic Conference, which operates entirely off the national radar with schools like Grand Canyon and Abilene Christian in tow, is going to use advanced metrics to help seed its men’s conference tournament. The idea is to minimize some of the randomness around one individual game result and really favor its best teams. While the wild unpredictability of March Madness is part of what makes it fun, one-bid leagues desperately want their best teams to win their conference tournaments and will go to great lengths to help them out — just look at the WCC, where Gonzaga is essentially guaranteed a double-bye to the conference semifinals every year. If those small schools get their best teams in, it increases their odds of winning an NCAA Tournament game or two, which would result in far higher payouts to the league. If this works out well for the WAC, other conferences might follow suit.

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post The Off-the-court Intrigue Shaping College Basketball in 2022-23 appeared first on Boardroom.

Nike Basketball’s future is shining a little brighter today. The sportswear giant announced on Monday that it has signed name, image, and likeness deals with Caitlin Clark, Bronny James, Haley Jones, DJ Wagner, and JuJu Watkins.

This starting 5 for Nike represents some of the biggest names in amateur basketball. LeBron James‘ and Dajuan Wagner’s sons lead the way, but come November, the women may make the most noise. Clark and Jones are both potential first-team preseason All-Americans and their schools, Iowa and Stanford, are real Final Four contenders. As for Watkins, if you don’t know her name yet, now’s a great time to change that. She’s the No. 2-ranked recruit in the class of 2023 and appears destined for the W.

For the Swoosh, this is more than just a quintet of great players, however. These are five who are capable of influencing culture on and off the court.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

It’s no coincidence that all five signees currently play for Nike-sponsored schools — though James, Wagner, and Watkins are still in high school. Theoretically, this synergy allows them the opportunity to play in partner product on court while also promoting Swoosh styles on their social channels.

Nike is also teaming with each athlete to make an impact in their individual communities through philanthropy ranging from book drives to basketball clinics.

Already, Nike has sent its NIL class special packages filled with footwear and lifestyle apparel. How these partnerships play out on-court will provide new narratives at all levels for a company that eclipsed over $44B in revenue in 2021 alone.

Read More:

• ChatGPT, Voice Engine, Sam Altman & More Updates from OpenAI
• From March Madness to Man United: Brands Make Fan Dreams Come True
• Everything is On the Table for Maverick Carter, Paul Rivera & The Shop
• Boardroom Talks: Amar’e Stoudemire Always Understood the Game
• CNBC x Boardroom Game Plan Summit Returning in 2024

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post Nike Signs Bronny James, Caitlin Clark & More to NIL Deals appeared first on Boardroom.

Aliyah Boston has a ton on her plate. With the help of Jade-Li English of Klutch Sports, she has signed deals with solar panel company ProSolar, worked on a custom shirzee deal with Under Armour, and inked a pact with Bojangles.

Now, she can add Bose to the fold.

The 20-year-old superstar is one of three new college basketball athletes partnering with the audio equipment leader — and the only woman athlete, as the others to join this NIL deal are Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Wendell Moore.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aliyah A. Boston (@aliyah.boston)

Her ever-growing list of endorsements is perhaps only topped by the accolades she’s received for her on-court play. The junior is averaging 16.8 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for a Gamecocks team that officially secured the NCAA Tournament’s top seed. They’ll play the winner of Howard and Incarnate Word in the First Round on Friday at home in Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC.

Boston is looking to be named the Lisa Leslie Award winner as the nation’s top big for the third-straight year after becoming the back-to-back winner of The Athletic’s National Player of the Year honor earlier this month. If that wasn’t enough, she’s the favorite to win the Wooden Award recognizing the nation’s top player alongside a super-elite group that includes Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.

Should Boston and South Carolina advance, a matchup against Clark’s Hawkeyes could be their last obstacle before the Final Four in Minneapolis.

As Boston gets ready to move through the tournament, Bose has provided its QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones for her and her teammates. Let’s just say it’ll help tune out all the noise while competing for a championship.

This initiative is a continuation of Bose’s NIL deals with college football stars in December that included Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, and Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud.

A native of the US Virgin Islands, you can find Boston is listening to rappers such as Lil’ Baby and Gunna while mixing in gospel artists like Travis Greene.

“The noise-canceling headphones are where it’s at for me,” Boston said.

Click here to sign up for Boardroom’s newsletters

Right now, Boston and South Carolina are in preparation mode — working out and getting their collective mind right for what they hope is a title run to add to their 2017 national championship.

The last time she stepped onto the court, things ended in disappointment. Kentucky outscored the Gamecocks 21-7 in the fourth quarter of the March 6 SEC Championship Game in Nashville, and a Dre’una Edwards 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 64-62 upset over the nation’s top-ranked team.

“We just come back and get ready to work,” Boston said of the Kentucky loss. “It didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we know there’s a bigger trophy ahead that we want.”

With the stakes far greater, South Carolina’s most recent NCAA Tournament game also ended in defeat, a 66-65 loss to Stanford in last season’s national semifinals. From that game, Boston learned to move on more easily from losses.

The Gamecocks exacted some revenge against the Cardinal on Dec. 21, getting 18 points and 11 rebounds out of Boston and overcoming an 18-point deficit for a 65-61 win. It was a battle between the top two ranked teams in the country at the time.

She has continued to work on her game and identify what aspects of it will help her team the most, like becoming more efficient on the floor and more patient around the basket. She’s leaned on head coach and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, who she said has been through it all and can help regardless of the situation.

Off the court, there are other deals that haven’t been announced yet but will be soon, as the Worcester (Mass.) Academy product remains judicious with what, where, and to whom she attaches her name.

“You kind of know what you want to represent and what might be good or what might not be good,” she said.

What we know would be good is Boston’s chances of going first in next month’s WNBA Draft if she were eligible. But to be draft-eligible in the W, you need to be at least 22 years old and either have no college eligibility left or renounce that eligibility.

“Obviously we would probably wanna be in the league right away, but we can’t,” Boston said. “My mom’s probably happy because I get to graduate and make sure I get my degree before I walk out of college. So that’s definitely a priority.”

Although she’d like to believe that she would’ve been ready to enter the WNBA Draft after her first college season, Boston said she probably would not have been ready. Even in her third season, Boston said she’s needed these extra years to hone her development. Since that Stanford loss in the 2021 tournament, she said her development has come in the form of a more consistent outside game, improved aggressiveness, the ability to better put the ball on the floor, and improved physicality.

As the Gamecocks enter the big dance, the best player in America shouted out teammates such as guard Zia Cooke, guard Destanni Henderson, guard Brea Beal, forward Victaria Saxton, and guard Bree Hall. Boston encouraged fans to look out for the Gamecocks’ bench depth as well as its versatility from its guards and post players.

“Every single player that steps on the floor for South Carolina — every single one of us is where it’s at,” she said.

Boston said she’s thought about bringing a championship back to Columbia ever since she committed to Staley and the Gamecocks.

She knows this is the year they can do it.

“We need to continue to improve on taking care of the ball and making sure that we execute,” Boston said. “I don’t think anything is holding us back from winning a national championship.”

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post Aliyah Boston: Sound & Spirit appeared first on Boardroom.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

NBA All-Star Weekend draws near as the Association preps to descend on Cleveland. But this week, all eyes are on Super Bowl LVI in LA, and Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez are not short on opinions and picks for Sunday’s Rams-Bengals showdown on the newest edition of Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast.

The guys also discuss the art and science of the Instagram unfollow and the breathtaking performance put forth by Iowa Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark on Feb. 6 — one that put her in an exclusive club with KD himself.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post The ETCs: Talking Super Bowl, NBA All-Star, & Caitlin Clark appeared first on Boardroom.

Right now, though it might only last a couple more weeks, Caitlin Clark is the most important person in women’s college basketball.

You can debate where she ranks among the best players in the nation or how good you think her Iowa Hawkeyes team is. That’s all fair game. But nobody currently playing is able to shoot her way into the feeds of a national audience like her.

Look no further than Sunday night.

Yes, Iowa lost 98-90 at Michigan. Hypothetical detractors will be quick to point that out. But tell me her stat line isn’t wild:

46 points | 14-29 FG | 6-13 3PT | 12-14 FT | 10 assists

If you have a Twitter account, you probably heard her name last night — if only from friends sharing this:

Feel free to watch that two or three more times before we continue.

Raising the Game

Women’s college basketball is growing fast. Last year’s national championship game received the highest TV ratings for a title game since 2014. This is the same tournament in which a women’s game was shown on ABC for the first time since 1995 and every game was broadcast nationally in its entirety for the first time ever.

When Sedona Prince highlighted the disparities between the women’s and men’s tournaments last year, national outlets covered it extensively, bringing to light what coaches around the country have experienced and penning powerful features on inequities in sport.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that those outlets have not done their part to level the playing field. Before Clark’s performance Sunday, here’s what some of the leading sports outlets had done recently around women’s college basketball:

• Just one of the most recent 22 stories on Sports Illustrated’s NCAA Basketball page was about the women’s game.
• SportsCenter had tweeted once about women’s basketball since Feb. 1 despite sending more than 20 original tweets per day in that time.
• CBS Sports has not written a women’s college basketball story since Jan. 23 while publishing 138 men’s stories since then.

All of that is to say that Clark has an ability to break through whatever artificial barriers media outlets have put up around the sport. And when you’re just that awesome, even the replies — the most cynical place on the Internet — reflect her impact on the game.

And no, the talk around Clark’s outburst was not limited to just a few diehard fans or national brands looking to check the box on posting about women’s sports.

Locally, Clark has brought more attention to her program than it has ever received. The Hawkeyes are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and opened the season ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll — their highest starting position in 25 years. Clark’s hyped matchup with Bueckers in last year’s Sweet 16 lit the sport on fire, causing the two fanbases to clash over which freshman phenom was better, with each side cherry-picking the stats that put their player in the best light.

The 1.6 million fans who tuned into that game made it the second-most-viewed Sweet 16 game in the tournament”s history. Ratings that day were up 66% compared to 2019.

As a result, Iowa was given 13 nationally televised games this year, including two on an ESPN network and one on FS1. Compare that to 2019-20 — the last pandemic-free regular season before this one — when the Hawkeyes were on national TV only seven times, all on the Big Ten Network.

Room to Grow

Like so many other top college basketball players, Clark has dabbled in the new name, image, and likeness rules, allowing her to make some money as a collegiate athlete. Here are her two major NIL deals as of this writing:

• The Vinyl Studio: Name and number-branded fan gear with “From the Logo” written on it to highlight her remarkable range
• HyVee: Clark is the first college athlete to sign with the Iowa-based supermarket chain, joining Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Kirk Cousins as partners.

As of today, that appears to be it, but it’s certainly not for a lack of suitors. She said last summer that she would be picky about which opportunities to explore, preferring to keep her focus on basketball.

And for now, basketball’s focus is on her. Her Hawkeyes are now two games behind Michigan for first place in the Big Ten. With outlets like BallisLife and SLAM tweeting about her Sunday and an ESPN2 showdown with Maryland looming next week, there’s an opportunity to keep her in the spotlight.

It shouldn’t take someone with talents so patently absurd as Clark’s to elevate this sport, but for right now, she’s the one who has cracked the code to break through.

And that’s why she’s so damn important.

Sign up for our newsletter

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Email *

Checkboxes *

• HeadlineToGo
• Tech Talk
• Inside the Boardroom
• Sneaker Game

Subscribe

The post The Irreplaceable, Unmistakable Caitlin Clark appeared first on Boardroom.