Greta Gerwig turned 40 on Friday, and she got to mark a milestone birthday alongside a historic career achievement. Though Barbie is only entering its third weekend in theaters, the film’s director has a lot to celebrate. According to the latest industry statistics, Barbie is now the highest-grossing film directed by a woman at over $823 million through Aug. 3. Gerwig beat out Patty Jenkins and her 2017 DC Comics film Wonder Woman, which earned $822.8 million at the box office.

The movie stars Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, both two-time Oscar nominees and among the industry’s most in-demand stars. Despite headlining several massive projects in the past, Barbie is the high watermark at the box office for both actors.

The arrival of the 2023-24 NFL preseason means the return of EA Sports’ Madden franchise is right around the corner — and a new crop of artists lending their talents to the official soundtrack to Madden 24. The latest iteration features 36 hip-hop heavy tracks from famous faces like Jack Harlow, Doechii, IDK, Chika, Polo G & Southside, BIA, Kimbra, and so many more. The soundtrack is scheduled to go live on Aug. 18 with the launch of the game, with more bops to be added later.

Boardroom’s Bernadette Doykos has more on the full, 36-track lineup.

There’s an interesting development unfolding in Tallahassee right now. On Friday morning, reports surfaced that Florida State University athletic department is working with JP Morgan Chase to explore institutional investment options like private equity in order to raise funds.

What does that mean? Well, if this comes to fruition, the Noles would create a holding company for its media rights; a private equity firm would invest in that entity and receive a payout from future sponsorship and television rights profits in return. Currently a member of the ACC, if FSU ultimately decides it’s better off competing in the Big 10 or SEC years from now, an institutional investment could help them pay a conference-mandated exit fee of $120 million — though the ACC still owns FSU’s TV rights for the next 10+ years as things currently stand.

Boardroom’s Russell Steinberg brilliantly breaks down Florida State’s potential alliance with a private equity firm.

Sports analyst Skip Bayless announced Thursday that rapper Lil Wayne will appear on FS1’s Undisputed every Friday. The new-look program will feature the “A Milli” artist participating in one segment for about 12 to 15 minutes. The 40-year-old’s stint could be longer if he’s “hot,” “rolling,” and has time on his schedule, Bayless said in a tweet sharing the news.

This is the first major announcement for the long-running program since Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe bid farewell to Undisputed after seven years as co-host in June. “He is so deep when it comes to sports. He doesn’t yell or scream, but he does get emotional and you hang on to every word because trust me, he has thought through every single word. Wayne is my match. That’s why I love him so much. That is why we text so much about sports,” Bayless added of Weezy’s uncommon impact.

One of the biggest showdowns of the WNBA regular season thus far is happening this weekend. Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson and the 2022 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces (24-2) are set to face five-time WNBA All-Star Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty (20-6) at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. ABC will assume broadcast responsibilities, with Ryan Ruocco, Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo, and reporter Holly Rowe on the call.

Additional coverage highlights include in-game audio from mic’d-up coaches and players, live player interviews at the end of the first and third quarters, and talkbacks with both teams’ head coaches to start the second and fourth quarters.