How do women’s sports make (lots and lots of) money — without losing their fans or...selling out? Or, screw it, should the make as much money as they can?

This week, Kelly and Sara dig into the money talk — from WNBA labor negotiations and shifting fan dynamics to what happens when women’s sports finally start cashing big checks. How much do female athletes *deserve* to be paid? And can they make more and more money without alienating their fans? How? 

But first — what we loved in women’s sports this week:

• The New York City Marathon: Hellen Obiri smashed the course record in 2:19:55 and a record 59,226 runners crossed the line, making it the biggest marathon in history. Are we in a running boom, or a chasing bucket lists boom?
• And, India wins their first-ever Cricket World Cup! At home. Against undefeated Australia. After an ugly start to the tournament and a wave of online misogyny. This comeback win was massive, a long time coming, and will change the game forever.

And the epic record-breaking $13.8 million prize purse brings us to this week’s big question: How much do women deserve to be paid?

Sara starts by breaking down the WNBA’s ongoing contract negotiations — with players pushing for a guaranteed share of league revenue instead of just a higher salary cap. And then we dive into the weeds of women's sports finances: Right now, fans often identify more with players than teams — but will that stay true as female athletes earn more and more? At what point does a (historically) socially conscious fan base turn against a (fundamentally) capitalist enterprise? If a large portion of your fandom doesn't believe billionaires should exist, then is it even possible to create billionaire athletes and league owners off those fans? Can that new model be built?

Send us your answers in a voice memo to [email protected]

And we close with our Feisty Picks of the Week.

Time Stamps

0:02 - The record-breaking New York Marathon

8:35 - Make it a movie: India wins their first-ever Cricket World Cup

14:45 - How much should women get paid?

26:00 - Balancing making bank and doing good

35:38 - Sponsors and women's sports fans

46:55 - Our predictions for the future of that women's sports growth curve

47:40 - Feisty Picks of the Week

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