Val and Steve chat with Thayer Lavielle, Managing Director of The Wasserman Collective, about the increasing importance of commercial partnerships to the growth and sustainability of women’s professional football.  The Collective is a team within the broader Wasserman agency which focuses on producing publicly-shared research to support greater gender equity in all corners of sports and entertainment.

Thayer shares insights on the Return-on-Investment for brands investing in women’s sports, and why women’s leagues, teams, and athletes are now justified in seeking more value from commercial partners. They also discuss media visibility, social media's impact on sponsorship valuation, and appropriate tradeoffs to get butts in seats.

Before that discussion, Val, Dave, and Steve reflect on The Collective's latest report, Her Love of the Game (https://www.wearethecollective.com/her-love-of-the-game), exploring the growth of female sports fans, what they care about when brands sponsor their favorite teams, and their loyalty to brands that align with their values. 

Dave and Steve also console Val on her daughter's decision to support Chelsea Women, and their excitement for upcoming international friendlies.