Welcome back to The Varsity, my twice-weekly private email on the egos, front offices, and executive teams driving the business of sports. Happy Dan Hurley Day to all who celebrate.
Today’s issue includes my in-depth interview with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. We discussed the league’s “existential” 2020 season, its slow build to the current Caitlinsanity, and how she’s deploying a recent $75 million capital raise. Engelbert, who used to run Deloitte, is a thoughtful and talented exec, and I’m sure you will learn a lot from this interview.
Okay, here’s your polite twice-weekly reminder to stop forwarding this email to your friends and minions! Unless you want Fritz, Puck’s email concierge, to start spamming you with Marchand’s pointillist self-portraits.
Let’s get to it…
The Starting Five: French Open Edition
WBD’s French Open connection: My spies spotted David Zaslav, TNT Sports C.E.O. Luis Silberwasser, and Turner Sports chief content officer Craig Barry at Roland-Garros over the weekend, putting the finishing touches on WBD’s deal to…
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
New AI-tailored content experiences
Sports media rights holders face new challenges as the way fans consume content continues to change. There is an increase in focus on short-form content, multiple viewing platforms, and various viewing formats.
WSC Sports, a trusted partner to the NBA, LaLiga, Big Ten Network, Bleacher Report and 460+ other sports organizations, recently announced the release of three new products that empower sports organizations in meeting the changes desired by fans:
AI-powered content management and creation with expanded support of all types of content including both in and around the game content (press conferences, interviews, fan reactions, arrivals, etc.).
Vertical content experience in the right holders’ O&O app including stories, vertical swipeable video feeds, polls, and quizzes.
Expansion of media rights owners’ reach delivered through fully controlled access to pre-agreed, third-party sports properties generating new traffic, exposure, and revenue streams.
Can’t see the full story? You’re receiving the free version of The Varsity at . For full access to Puck, and to each of my colleagues, you can subscribe here.
A very candid chat with Cathy Engelbert, the former Deloitte C.E.O. who became the commissioner of the WNBA in 2019.
I went over to a college buddy’s house last night to watch Game 2 of the NBA Finals. And at some point during the second quarter, my friend offered his opinion on USA Basketball’s controversial decision to leave Caitlin Clark off the Olympics roster. He thought it was an abject mistake—a view consistent with much of the punditocracy, who want to see Clark rewarded for her impact on the sport, even if her WNBA debut has not matched the hype. On the bright side, I reminded him, Clark’s impact on the sport has been profound in ways both quantifiable (the WNBA set attendance and TV records in May) and cultural. To wit: I can’t remember the last time…
You received this email because you signed up to receive emails from Puck, or as part of your Puck account associated with . To stop receiving this newsletter and/or manage all your email preferences, click here.
Puck is published by Heat Media LLC. 227 W 17th St New York, NY 10011.
