Are the WNBA’s 9-Figure Losses What They Seem?
Negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA are stalled by disputed financials, with the league reporting a $50 million loss in 2024 and warning of "hundreds of millions" in losses under the union's latest proposal. Meanwhile, the league has collected nearly $1 billion in expansion fees, which it does not count as revenue, and secured a $200 million‑per‑year media‑rights deal. The WNBA’s ownership structure—42% NBA owners, 42% team owners, 16% external investors—complicates revenue distribution, making true profitability opaque. Analysts argue that reported losses may reflect accounting choices rather than operational deficits.
IOC Once Again Cracking Down on Olympic Social Media Clips
The International Olympic Committee has deployed an automated monitoring system to purge Olympic clips from YouTube, X, TikTok and other platforms during the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Games, citing protection of media‑rights holders. Even light‑hearted posts, such as a dog watching the...
Unrivaled Leans In to NBA Arenas After Making Millions in Philly
Unrivaled, the 3‑on‑3 women’s basketball league, turned a $2 million Philadelphia pop‑up into a springboard for larger NBA‑level venues, moving its March 2 semifinals from Miami to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Philly stop delivered over $1 million in ticket sales and $400,000...
‘Have to Pinch Myself’: Chris Berman Marvels at ESPN Getting Super Bowl
ESPN will broadcast its first Super Bowl in February 2027, followed by another in 2031, marking the network’s debut as the sole carrier of the NFL’s marquee event. Veteran sportscaster Chris Berman, a 46‑year ESPN veteran, expressed amazement and confirmed...
Jazz Owner Defends Team After $500,000 Tanking Fine From NBA
The NBA levied a $500,000 fine on the Utah Jazz for benching stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of two games, deeming the action “conduct detrimental to the league.” Coach Will Hardy defended the move as a minutes‑restriction...
Manfred: MLB Will ‘Consider Being in Business With Prediction Markets’
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced that MLB is evaluating formal partnerships with prediction‑market platforms, following precedents set by the NHL and MLS. Prediction markets differ from traditional sports betting by operating under a federal commodities framework rather than...
Dodgers $401M Payroll Adds Tension Ahead of MLB Labor Talks
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with a $401.1 million luxury‑tax payroll, far outpacing any other franchise and intensifying fiscal disparities in MLB. Commissioner Rob Manfred noted the Dodgers’ compliance with the current CBA but warned their spending could dominate...
Panthers Owner Aims to Build Charlotte Into a Destination City
Tepper Sports and Entertainment CEO Kristi Coleman says Charlotte is emerging as a premier entertainment hub, backed by an $800 million renovation of Bank of America Stadium and a new 4,400‑seat music venue with Live Nation. The city’s visitor economy reached...