Sporticast: NIL Pork, WNBA Expansion and a Soccer Jersey Debate
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the latest in the WNBA’s expansion efforts. The league is in advanced talks to sell an expansion franchise to the owners of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, according to The Athletic, a deal that could be announced later this month.
The WNBA has been discussing expansion for a while, both with current NBA owners and with outside investors. A Bay Area team would play in the Chase Center, and likely benefit from the experience of the same owners that have helped grow the Warriors into the most valuable team in the NBA. Recent investors in the WNBA overall include Nike, Laurene Powell Jobs, Dee & Jimmy Haslam, Condoleezza Rice and Linda Henry.
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Next the hosts talk about Chelsea FC finally landing a front-of-jersey sponsor. The Premier League team has been playing this season without an advertiser on its uniforms, but will debut a new kit for the next league game following a partnership with Infinite Athlete. The hosts debate whether the plain blue jerseys that the team was wearing looked good, or bush league.
The hosts then move rapid-fire through a host of other topics. They include a fun NIL deal signed in Iowa between the local pork producers association and four Iowa State football players whose last names are Purchase, Moore, Hamman, Bacon. (Say it fast.)
The hosts also discuss the NFL’s upcoming Toy Story crossover broadcast, and a new gambling product from Genius Sports that will combine live NFL games, odds and stats onto one single screen.
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