On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Rachael DeCecco, SVP of Lacrosse at the PLL & WLL.

DeCecco takes us behind the scenes of the WLL’s growth across multiple cities and the inaugural WLL Championship in Philadelphia. She explains how media partnerships with ESPN and ABC are introducing the league’s elite players to larger audiences, and why greater visibility can change what is possible for women’s sports.

The conversation also explores player development, youth engagement, league operations, community programming, and the work required to make lacrosse more accessible. DeCecco shares her perspective on leadership and mentorship, recent funding success, and her vision for creating a sport in which every young girl feels valued.

In this episode:

• The growth of the Women’s Lacrosse League

• Bringing the WLL Championship to Philadelphia

• Expanding professional women’s lacrosse into new cities

• Broadcasting lacrosse on ESPN and ABC

• Preparing for lacrosse’s Olympic future

• The differences between sixes and traditional lacrosse

• Developing players and engaging young athletes

• Making lacrosse more accessible around the world

• Leadership, mentorship, and sportsmanship

• The future of the WLL and women’s sports

CHAPTERS

01:05 Upcoming WLL Championship in Philadelphia

02:19 The growth and development of the WLL

04:36 The origins of Rachael's involvement in lacrosse

06:07 Media coverage and distribution of the league

07:44 Key players and their impact on the league

12:57 Lacrosse in the Olympics and future prospects

15:46 Rachael's background and journey in sports

19:41 Youth sports, access, and the future of lacrosse

24:10 The legacy and inspiration for young girls in sports

25:12 Recent funding and the league's future growth

26:03 Mentors and influences in Rachael’s career

27:55 Proudest moments and future aspirations

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#WomensLacrosse #WLL #SportsLeadership

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Dustin Gouker, Sports Betting & Prediction Markets Expert.

Gouker discusses the rapid growth of prediction markets and their impact on the sports betting industry. He explains how these platforms gained prominence, attracted new users during major events such as the World Cup and began challenging established sportsbooks. Gouker also examines how sports, financial trading and political forecasting are increasingly converging within the prediction market industry.

The conversation explores the original purpose of prediction markets, the legal and regulatory questions surrounding them and the potential implications of future court decisions. Gouker also discusses their value as tools for political and economic forecasting, the entry of financial companies such as Robinhood and his outlook for the industry. He also reflects on covering the rise of legal sports betting, appearing in a Netflix documentary and the mentors who influenced his career.

Chapters

02:12 The rapid turnaround of the Netflix doc and Dustin’s involvement

05:12 The significance of May 14, 2018

07:12 The Supreme Court case and its impact on sports betting

09:47 Underdog’s recent deal and prediction markets’ growth

12:39 The exponential growth of prediction markets and new entrants

13:15 The impact of the FIFA World Cup on prediction markets

15:09 The disruption of traditional sports betting giants by prediction markets

16:19 The evolution of online sports betting and prediction markets

17:42 DraftKings and FanDuel’s response to prediction markets

18:33 Legal and regulatory challenges facing prediction markets

20:12 The regulatory landscape and potential legal outcomes

22:58 Predictions on the future of prediction markets and legal decisions

24:48 The political and societal implications of prediction markets

30:48 Opportunities and risks in the prediction market industry

33:15 Dustin’s insights on the future of prediction markets

Connect with Dustin Gouker:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-gouker-876857b5/

X: https://x.com/DustinGouker?lang=en

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Alejandro Bedoya, Analyst for Telemundo during the 2026 FIFA World Cup & Professional Soccer Player.

Bedoya joins the show to discuss his experience covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup as an analyst for Telemundo Deportes. He shares what it was like to bring his perspective as a veteran player to the broadcast, break down the tournament’s biggest moments, and connect with soccer fans in a new way.

Bedoya also reflects on his professional playing career, which has spanned more than 15 years across the United States and Europe. He discusses representing the U.S. Men’s National Team, serving as captain of the Philadelphia Union, and what could be next as he begins the next chapter of his career.

Alejandro Bedoya:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-bedoya-9a8b87ab/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alebedoya?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Chapters

01:58 Alejandro Bedoya’s role in the 2026 World Cup

04:06 Experiences covering different teams and countries

07:10 The cultural significance of Spanish language coverage

10:01 Fan passion and stadium atmospheres

14:55 Norwegian fans in Miami and World Cup moments

18:54 Spain’s victory and Messi’s performance

23:11 Evolution of the game from 2014 to 2026

28:03 Technology in sports broadcasting and gameplay analysis

36:50 The future of soccer in the US and MLS growth

On this special All-Star House edition of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, recorded live at The Owner's Box All-Star House during MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia, Wayne Kimmel sat down with Eric Weiss, Managing Director at IC360, Ondre Gipson, Founder of True Hustler LLC, and Nick Schell, President of BTA Sports.

Weiss is a Managing Director at IC360, a global leader in sports integrity and compliance, helping leagues, sportsbooks, and governing bodies protect the integrity of competition through monitoring, education, and technology. Gipson is the founder of True Hustler LLC, a sports business and athlete development company focused on empowering athletes and creating opportunities through entrepreneurship and mentorship. Schell serves as President and co-founder of BTA Sports, an AI-powered sports analytics company developing data-driven decision intelligence tools that bring greater transparency and insight to sports analytics, fantasy sports, and sports gaming.

Together, they discuss the evolving intersection of sports, technology, and fan engagement, from protecting the integrity of competition and leveraging data to creating new opportunities for athletes, brands, and media companies. The conversation also explores entrepreneurship in sports, the future of digital fan experiences, and how innovation is reshaping the business of sports.

Chapters:

0:11 Eric Weiss, IC360

13:05 Ondre Gipson, True Hustler LLC

22:45 Nick Schell, BTA Sports

On this special All-Star House edition of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, recorded live at The Owner's Box All-Star House during MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia, Wayne Kimmel sat down with CJ Handron, CEO of Diamond Kinetics; Brodie Van Wagenen, former MLB General Manager and sports executive; Rob Ponger, CEO of Perfect Game; and Sean Campbell, CEO of EL1 Sports.

Handron leads Diamond Kinetics, a leading sports technology company transforming player development through data-driven training and performance analytics. Van Wagenen is a longtime sports executive and former General Manager of the New York Mets with decades of experience representing elite athletes and shaping the business of baseball. Ponger serves as CEO of Perfect Game, the nation's premier amateur baseball scouting and events organization. Campbell leads EL1 Sports, one of the nation's premier youth baseball and softball training organizations, focused on developing athletes through world-class instruction, facilities, and competitive programming.

Together, they discuss the future of baseball, from youth development and amateur scouting to the technologies and organizations shaping the next generation of players. The conversation explores how data, analytics, and innovation are transforming player development, the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for young athletes, and how leaders across the baseball ecosystem are working to grow the game at every level.

Chapters:

0:11 CJ Handron, Diamond Kinetics8:57 Brodie Van Wagenen, Roc Nation Sports 18:32 Rob Ponger, Perfect Game30:44 Sean Campbell, EL1

On this special All-Star House edition of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, recorded live at The Owner's Box All-Star House during MLB All-Star Week in Philadelphia, Wayne Kimmel sat down with Chris Marinak, President of Playfly Sports; Jason Miller, Executive Vice President at Excel Sports Management; and Marc Oppenheimer, Chief Marketing Officer of Parx Casino.

Marinak leads one of the sports industry's premier sports marketing and media companies, overseeing partnerships, media rights, sponsorships, and fan engagement across professional and collegiate sports. Miller is an Executive Vice President at Excel Sports Management, where he helps lead one of the world's top sports agencies across talent representation, brand partnerships, and global business development. Oppenheimer serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Parx Casino, where he oversees marketing strategy and brand growth for one of Pennsylvania's leading gaming and entertainment companies.

Together, they discuss the evolution of the sports business, from Excel Sports Management's global expansion and the importance of authentic athlete partnerships to how Playfly Sports is using data and technology to transform sports marketing. The conversation also explores the changing landscape of fan engagement in college athletics, the growing role of AI and analytics across the industry, and how major events like MLB All-Star Week create new opportunities for brands, teams, and communities.

Chapters:

0:01 Chris Marinak, President, Playfly Sports10:31 Jason Miller, EVP, Excel Sports Management22:28 Marc Oppenheimer, CMO, Parx Casino

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Vala Dormiani, Founder of Ludis.

Dormiani is the Founder of Ludis, an AI-native platform transforming how organizations develop talent through personalized coaching and performance intelligence. Prior to founding Ludis, he held senior product and strategy leadership roles at Cloudera, GO1, and Slice, which was acquired by Rakuten.

In addition to his operating experience, Vala has worked as a venture capital investor in both the United States and Australia, backing and advising emerging technology companies. He matriculated at Stanford University at the age of 14 and has earned numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Chapters:

01:11 Making Data Science Easy for Everyone

02:25 Applying Ludis Across Industries

04:22 Data Collection and Integration in Sports

06:11 AI-Generated Code and Deployment

08:40 Using Data for Injury Prediction and Performance

12:49 AI Democratization and Industry Evolution

17:04 Service as Software and Function Automation

20:32 The Impact on Data Science Jobs

22:55 Digital Twins and Human Augmentation

27:04 Future of AI and Industry Transformation

35:02 Democratization of Data in Sports

37:02 The Future of AI Ecosystems and Partnerships

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Grant House, Lead Plaintiff in House v. NCAA Lawsuit.

House is a professional swimmer, sports law advocate, and graduate of Arizona State University, where he earned a degree in Business Communication before completing a master's in Sports Law and Business. A former Team USA swimmer and multiple-time Olympic Trials qualifier, House has competed at the highest levels of the sport while developing a deep understanding of the intersection between athletics, business, and law.

House is widely recognized as the lead plaintiff in the landmark *House v. NCAA* case, which fundamentally changed the landscape of college athletics by paving the way for revenue sharing with student-athletes. His advocacy has made him one of the most influential voices in the ongoing evolution of college sports and athlete rights.

Beyond his work in the courtroom, House is passionate about athlete development and leadership. Through coaching, swim clinics, and mentoring young athletes, he continues to help the next generation reach their potential while promoting fairness, opportunity, and innovation across the sports industry.

Grant House:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/granthouse/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitochondria_house/?hl=en

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed former Nike Soccer Executive Joe Elsmore.

Hailing from Kearny, NJ, aka Soccertown USA, Joe possesses a passion and deep area of expertise in the field of sports marketing. He was instrumental in building the foundation of the Nike Soccer Brand by architecting Nike Soccer's asset portfolio over three decades. He has been a fundamental figure in marketing the sport of soccer to its highest level in North America. Joe's specific leadership in women's soccer brought the US Women's National Team center stage and made him one of the most respected Director's in Nike Soccer's History.

With his inherent relationship skills and partnership mentality he helped Nike establish brand authenticity by connecting Nike with the best soccer athletes.  Joe established long term relationships with hundreds of coaches and athletes such as Mia Hamm, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Alex Morgan;  soccer organizations include CONCACAF, US Soccer, MLS, NWSL, USL, NCAA and many Elite Youth programs. 

Joe possesses a unique combination of industry experience, knowledge of the business environment and navigating complex negotiations to bring significant value to all parties in a partnership. A consummate team player with caring style makes collaborating Joe a win-win proposition.

Joe Elsmore:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-elsmore-712636/

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Margaret Fleming, Reporter at Front Office Sports.

Fleming covers the business of soccer, the FIFA World Cup, and breaking news shaping the sports industry. She shares insights into the evolving soccer landscape and the stories driving the global sports business conversation.

Fleming previously covered the business of sports media as a fellow at Business Insider, with a special focus on NIL, women's sports, VCs and startups, and sports betting. She also worked at CNBC, The Colorado Sun and Pittsburgh's NPR station, and has bylines in ProPublica, the Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Equalizer Women's Soccer Magazine.

She received her BSJ and MSJ from Northwestern University, where she was a part of WNUR Sports and the Medill Investigative Lab.

Fleming is based out of the FOS office in New York.

Margaret Fleming:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-fleming-1874631a5/