WNBA’s 30th season growth

Sport & Story Daily May 11, 2026: The WNBA is expecting major growth in its 30th season.

Author

Kelsey Middleton
May 11, 2026

WNBA’s 30th season growth

May 11, 2026

WNBA anticipating significant commercial growth in historic 30th season
The WNBA enters its 30th season with strong commercial momentum driven by a new CBA, expansion, a record media deal, and rising sponsor interest. Sponsorship revenue grew 40% from 2024 to 2025 and is expected to increase at a similar rate this year, fueled by new partners such as AWS, P&G, Mars, and Skechers and a growing base of brands not tied to the NBA. League executives say the WNBA has shifted from being viewed as an experimental partnership to a proven marketing asset, with record valuations, expanded sponsor activations, and increasing investment from blue-chip brands reinforcing its status as a high-growth property.
Sports Business Journal

Referees Association, NFL ratify 7-year CBA to avoid work stoppage
The NFL Referees Association ratified a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement with the NFL, ending a multiyear negotiation and preventing a potential work stoppage ahead of the 2026 season. The deal includes offseason access for officials during minicamps and training camps, expanded use of performance metrics for postseason assignments, and salary increases, while maintaining a three-year probationary period for new officials. Both sides emphasized the agreement as a partnership focused on improving officiating, reached after more than two years of negotiations that had previously raised the possibility of replacement officials.
ESPN

76ers Donating Playoff Tickets So Knicks Fans Don’t Buy Them
Ahead of a playoff series against the Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers are donating 500 tickets for each remaining home game to local community groups in an effort to keep opposing fans from buying seats. The tickets are being distributed to groups such as frontline medical workers, local educators, and families, both to support the community and ensure a stronger Philadelphia home-court presence. The move follows prior playoff matchups where Knicks fans heavily populated the arena, prompting concerns about a “Madison Square Garden South” atmosphere and leading players like Joel Embiid to urge fans not to sell tickets to opposing supporters.
Forbes

Getting an Ad Into Disney's Super Bowl Takes More Than a Big Check
Disney is seeing unusually high advertiser demand ahead of its 2027 Super Bowl broadcast, with executives reporting an “unbelievable” volume of early requests despite the market typically being dominated by incumbent advertisers. Because Disney has not hosted a Super Bowl in two decades, more ad inventory is available, creating new opportunities for both major brands and emerging companies to participate. The company is packaging the game across ABC and ESPN and emphasizing creative quality and diverse advertisers while positioning the Super Bowl as the centerpiece of a broader live-event strategy spanning sports and entertainment properties.
Adweek

Miami to Expand Paddock Club Hospitality With New Extension Overlooking Turn 1, Making It One of the Largest in Formula 1
South Florida Motorsports plans to expand the Miami Grand Prix’s Paddock Club with a 115,000-square-foot extension ahead of the 2027 race, enhancing its premium hospitality offering and making it one of Formula 1’s largest such venues. The three-story addition will stretch from the start/finish straight toward Turn 1, providing views of the opening corners while increasing total capacity to about 9,200 guests and 305,000 square feet of hospitality space. Designed by HOK+ROSSETTI, the project will also introduce upgraded amenities, improved access and circulation, and a permanent home for the Precision Drive Club, further elevating the event’s luxury experience and year-round activation.
Hok

Detroit lands PWHL franchise
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has awarded Detroit an expansion franchise that will begin play in the 2026–27 season at Little Caesars Arena, expanding the league to nine teams. Detroit’s successful bid was led by Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and supported by strong local attendance and prior hosting of multiple PWHL games, demonstrating the market’s readiness for a permanent team. The new franchise has already secured Ally Financial as its inaugural sponsor, will reveal its team name and branding later, and will further anchor league activity in the city by hosting the 2026 PWHL Awards Ceremony and Draft.
The Stadium Business

Skip Bayless Re-Energizes ‘First Take’ in ESPN Return
Skip Bayless’ return to ESPN’s First Take for the first time in nearly a decade quickly restored the show’s signature energy, as his on-air chemistry with Stephen A. Smith reignited the confrontational, high-engagement style that originally made the program popular. The reunion leaned heavily on nostalgic debate topics and Bayless’ trademark provocative takes, which complemented Smith’s reactive style and created a more dynamic and entertaining broadcast than recent iterations with other contributors. The appearance underscored how the duo’s contrasting approaches elevate each other on-air, highlighting questions about the show’s current format and whether reintroducing that pairing—at least periodically—could strengthen First Take’s overall appeal.
Front Office Sports

TPC Network. Food & Beverage Manager.
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Dallas Stars. Assistant Controller.
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U.S. Soccer Federation. Product Designer, Mobile
The Product Designer will own the design of U.S. Soccer's mobile application, the iOS and Android experience that connects members, fans, and participants to the game across the country. Reporting to the Director of Product, this individual will own the end-to-end mobile design experience and serve as the design lead for the app, setting up the bar for craft, usability, and brand expression on a platform that touches our community every day. Apply Now.

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Coaches support big changes for the future of college football at AFCA meeting
College football coaches, through the American Football Coaches Association, are backing major structural changes to the sport, including a potential expansion of the College Football Playoff to as many as 24 teams. They also support eliminating conference championship games and restructuring the calendar so the season ends earlier, likely by the second week of January. While the proposals are not binding, they reflect growing momentum among coaches and other stakeholders for sweeping reform to the postseason format and overall structure of college football.
Yahoo Sports

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