Former WNBA President and Upshot League founder Donna Orender joins Laura to talk about why she’s launching a new pro league—and why the moment demands it. She shares lessons from her time leading the W, the structural gaps she’s aiming to fill, and what it takes to create community-rooted franchises that are more than just teams—they’re assets.

00:29 Meet Donna Orender

02:05 Donna's Early Love for Basketball

06:51 Building Belief and Overcoming Obstacles

10:40 The Hardest Job: Transforming the WNBA

17:00 Reflecting on Success and Future Endeavors

21:29 Introducing the Upshot League

24:18 Opportunities for Athletes and Coaches

27:45 Fundraising and Selling the Vision

34:45 Naming the Upshot League

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As Co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences, David Levy is helping usher in the next era of sports media—just like he did at Turner. He joins Laura to talk about why sports still command top dollar in a fragmented media landscape, Unrivaled's innovative approach to sponsorship, and where he sees opportunity in the rapidly growing women's sports business.

00:39 Meet David Levy: Co-Founder of Horizon Sports and Experiences

02:18 The Evolution of Sports Media

06:39 The Business Case for Women's Sports

10:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Sports Broadcasting

20:01 The Rise of Unrivaled: A New Era in Women's Sports

20:37 Innovative Sponsorship Strategies

26:30 Expanding the League: Future Plans

33:57 The Business of Women's Sports: Insights and Predictions

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There was no home for pro volleyball in the U.S.—so Katlyn Gao built one from the ground up: LOVB (A.K.A. League One Volleyball). She joins Laura to share how a personal mission became a national movement, why conviction matters more than consensus (or even fundraising), and what it takes to build something that lasts—and reshapes the future—in the world of women’s sports.

00:35 Meet Katlyn Gao: Visionary Behind League One Volleyball

01:25 Building a Pro League: Challenges and Strategies

02:58 The Youth Pipeline: Foundation of the League

05:54 Commercialization and Brand Building

13:54 Creating Cultural Relevance and Fan Engagement

23:02 Personal Stories and Motivations

27:00 Season One Highlights and Future Plans

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How do you build a world-class women's football league on one of the sports' biggest stages? Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer at the Women's Professional League Limited (the organization behind England’s top women’s football leagues), joins Courtside to discuss how the WPLL is redefining how to build and expand the commercial opportunities for some of the most storied teams in football history. She and Laura dive into the WPLL’s goals, the power of historic club brands like Arsenal and Chelsea, growing a global fanbase, and why creating a distinctive identity for women’s football—not just mirroring the men’s game—is key to partnership development and long-term success.

• 00:00 Introduction: Soccer or Football?
• 02:08 The WPLL: Structure and Vision
• 04:25 Challenges and Opportunities in Women's Football
• 08:29 Media and Global Expansion
• 13:04 Brand Identity and Club Strategies
• 15:14 Commercial Partnerships and Growth
• 20:59 Player Involvement and Standards
• 23:10 Leveraging Global Competitions
• 26:45 Future Prospects and Final Thoughts
• 37:05 Conclusion and Credits

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Meg Linehan didn’t follow a path into women’s sports journalism—she carved it. Now Senior Writer at The Athletic, she joins Courtside to talk about breaking in before there was even a beat, the evolution of media access, and where today's brands and storytellers have an opportunity to grow. From locker rooms to leadership, this one’s a blueprint.

00:00 Meet Meg Linehan

03:07 Freelancing and the Path to The Athletic

10:05 The Future of Women's Sports Reporting

13:48 Bridging the Generational Gap in Women's Sports

19:51 Media Training and Resource Allocation

24:42 The Next Generation of Soccer Talent

26:07 Globalization and Competition in Women's Soccer

28:54 Balancing Brand and Reporting

30:57 Future of Women's Sports Coverage

33:01 Advertising and Authentic Partnerships

37:37 Predictions and Final Thoughts

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The Sports Bra–a bar in Portland dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, and the first of its kind in the world–was never just about sports. In this episode, founder Jenny Nguyen shares the origin story of “the Bra” including building a business rooted in community, the fanbase beyond sports lovers, and why giving people a space to feel seen is part of her ultimate strategy for growth.

00:53 Meet Jenny Nguyen: Founder of The Sports Bra

03:01 Jenny's Journey: From Basketball Dreams to Culinary Passion

06:25 Discovering a New Path: From Pre-Med to Chef

14:12 Opening The Sports Bra

21:13 Impact of Creating a Unique Space

24:07 Expansion and Franchising Decisions

32:03 Dreams and Future Plans

35:44 Inspiring a New Market

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What does it take to grow women’s sports into a billion-dollar plus business? Kate Johnson, Global Marketer at Google and Olympic Medalist, explains how she’s leveraging everything from technology to media accountability to build the industry from the inside out. She shares Google’s investment strategy, approach to supporting creators, and how she’s building the infrastructure women’s sports needs to scale.

• 00:29 Meet Kate Johnson: Olympian and Executive
• 01:56 Kate's Journey to Rowing and Olympic Dreams
• 06:04 From College Rowing to Olympic Success
• 08:58 Transitioning from Athlete to Executive
• 12:58 Kate's Role at Google and Women's Sports
• 15:13 Challenges and Innovations in Women's Sports
• 20:10 The Future of Women's Sports and Technology

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Ilana Kloss, CEO of Billie Jean King Enterprises, has spent decades making sure women’s sports isn’t treated as charity—it’s an investment. She joins Courtside to break down the business case for equity, why sustained investment is key, and how brands are finally waking up to the value of women’s sports.

• 02:27 Introing Ilana
• 10:35 The Founding of World Team Tennis
• 24:16 Building Billie Jean King Enterprises
• 30:43 The Evolution of Women's Tennis
• 31:17 Navigating the Modern Media Landscape
• 33:47 Challenges and Changes in League Structures
• 35:10 Sustaining Growth in Women's Sports
• 37:50 The Power of Unified Voices
• 41:33 Investment and Long-Term Vision
• 49:47 The Role of Brands in Women's Sports
• 55:12 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

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