Just Women's Sports

"The 91st," your one-stop-shop for all things USWNT at the 2024 Paris Olympics is back and breaking down the Olympic semifinals. On this week's episode, it wasn't always pretty, but the result remains the same. The USWNT is through to the Olympic gold medal match after back-to-back 1-0 extra time wins over Japan and Germany. Hosts Jordan Angeli, Jess McDonald, and Duda Pavao react to those games, provide player ratings, and talk through Brazil's stunning win over World Cup champions Spain. Later, Allie Long joins in for a game of "This or That," addressing such pressing issues as whether or not Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky is the bigger GOAT. To close things out, the crew previews the USWNT's gold medal final and discusses whether Emma Hayes should make some shock lineup changes in order to put the best XI on the pitch. Subscribe to JWS on YouTube to never miss an episode: https://lnkd.in/eugDkZcy

The USWNT beat Germany 1-0 in the Olympics soccer tournament semifinal this afternoon, punching their ticket to the gold medal match for the first time since 2012. The game remained scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation time, before Sophia Smith fired off the game-winning goal five minutes into extra time. A few gargantuan saves from goalkeeper Alyssa Neaher saw the team through to the final whistle. Today marked the fifth time the US has played Germany in a major tournament semifinal — the most between two nations in both Women's World Cup and Olympic history. The US got past Germany at both the 1991 and 2015 World Cups plus the 2004 Olympics, while Germany got the best of the USWNT at the 2003 World Cup. The US will go on to face either Brazil or Spain in the Olympic final, with their opponent to be decided by this afternoon's semifinal match.

When it comes to sports, Gen Zers are less likely to sit through a televised game — but their digital habits are fueling the rise of women's sports. Our own Amanda Hajjar spoke on an Ad Age panel covering Gen Z’s interest in sports, and how digital marketers can best engage the next generation of fans. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e5p5z6fW

On Sunday, Team USA cyclist Kristen Faulkner took gold in the women's road race event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris — the first US woman to do so since 1984. The win was a shocking one, as Faulkner originally failed to qualify for the Olympics. She was a last-minute addition to the roster, coming on as a replacement for cyclist Taylor Knibb when Knibb dropped the race to focus on other events. "It’s a dream come true," said Faulkner after completing the 98-mile course in just under four hours. "It’s the best feeling in the world. I don’t know how to describe it." The cyclist — who featured on Harvard's crew team before picking up cycling for the first time after college — was up against some very experienced Olympic challengers, including Dutch star Marianne Vox, one of the greatest athletes to ever participate in the event.

Emerging girls high school basketball league Overtime Select announced on Thursday the signing of an unprecedented eight sponsors ahead of their inaugural season. Tipping off August 3rd, the eight-team league will feature 64 of the country's best high school basketball players — the largest number of top-ranked players competing at one time. The investment indicates an increased interest in women’s sports across the board, with sponsors including Adidas, Army Reserve National Guard, JPMorganChase, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc., "The Real Cost," Gatorade, Nissan, and State Farm. "We are proud of our sponsorship of Overtime and the way it is developing the next generation of athletes," says Kristyn Cook, State Farm’s chief agency of sales and marketing. "Overtime Select is elevating women's basketball, and State Farm is honored to be one of the brands continuing the push forward into the next era of women's sports."

Live coverage of Tuesday afternoon’s Olympic women’s gymnastics team final averaged 12.7 million viewers across NBC networks, ranking among NBC’s most-watched Olympic weekday daytime events ever. According to official data from Nielsen and Adobe Analytics, Tuesday's entire Paris Olympics lineup — highlighted by Simone Biles and the US women’s gymnastics team's gold medal-winning performance alongside the US women’s rugby sevens team’s bronze-medal thriller — drew a total of 34.7 million viewers across NBC networks, nearly doubling the Tokyo Olympics' 18.4 million opening Tuesday viewers.

Following the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team's thrilling bronze medal win on Tuesday, trailblazing businesswoman and investor Michele Kang announced she would pledge $4 million to the program to be distributed over the next four years. The investment — which will go toward growing the sport and supporting players and staff in the lead-up to the 2028 LA Olympics — comes on the heels of Kang's newly formed Kynisca Sports International, the first woman-owned multi-team global organization dedicated to women’s football. Kang has long been a champion of women's sports, with ownership stakes in club soccer teams Washington Spirit (NWSL), Olympique Lyon (France), and London City Lionesses (England). "2024 has been a banner year for women’s sports with record-breaking attendance and viewership, and women’s rugby is no exception,” said Kang in a statement. "This Eagles team, led by players like Ilona Maher and co-captains Lauren Doyle and Naya Tapper, has captivated millions of new fans, bringing unprecedented attention to the sport. I am so happy to support these outstanding athletes to realize their dream in capturing the gold in Los Angeles in 2028. That work starts now. "As corporate sponsors and broadcast networks increasingly see the value and enthusiasm for women’s sports, now is the moment to unlock the full potential of these incredible female athletes and inspire generations to come."

USA Women’s Rugby made history on Tuesday, defeating longtime powerhouse Australia to capture the Team USA's first-ever Olympic medal in Rugby Sevens. Down 12-7 with just seconds on the clock, US center Alex Sedrick managed to run the ball some 85 meters into the try zone to level the score at 12-12. She then converted the kick to break the tie, the 14-12 upset victory over Australia securing the bronze medal for Team USA's women's Eagles squad. It marks the first time any US rugby team has medaled in the Rugby Sevens event — a widely played compressed version of the sport — and the first time the US has medaled in any Olympic rugby event since 1924.

On Saturday, Just Women's Sports debuted the first episode of 'The Gold Standard,' an original digital series hosted by WNBA and Team USA basketball legend Lisa Leslie and NWSL and USWNT great Kelley O'Hara. Over the next two weeks, Lisa and Kelley will break down all the Paris Olympics action from an insider's perspective. The series kicks off by discussing some Opening Ceremony memories, recapping the USWNT's win over Zambia, previewing USA Basketball's quest for an eighth-straight gold, and so much more. Watch along for expert insight from gold medalists, exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, and pure enjoyment of the Summer Games. Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode: https://lnkd.in/eWATX7j8

The WNBA recently announced it had closed on an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights agreement with Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC. The new deal will see the league earning a reported $200 million each year starting in 2026 and running through 2036, with the potential to reevaluate in 2029. The WNBA's current broadcast contract, set to expire in 2025, is valued at approximately $60 per year. "Partnering with Disney, Amazon, and NBCU marks a monumental chapter in WNBA history and clearly demonstrates the significant rise in value and the historic level of interest in women’s basketball," said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement. "These agreements allow the league to continue to build a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women’s basketball and sports which will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans."