The Business of Women's Sports: Emerging Leagues

Wednesday, October 14 | 12:30 PM ET

The Business of Women's Sports

Emerging Leagues

Beyond the WNBA and NWSL, a growing wave of emerging women’s leagues is testing new formats, compensation models, and commercial strategies — from basketball and volleyball to softball and baseball startups. While expansion and experimentation are driving momentum, long‑term sustainability remains the defining challenge. This SBJ Live episode will examine how emerging women’s leagues are being built, funded, and positioned — and what separates durable growth from short‑term buzz.

What We Will Discuss:

• Business models behind new and emerging women’s leagues
• Media, distribution, and visibility strategies at the startup stage
• Player compensation, ownership, and labor considerations
• How brands and investors are evaluating early‑stage league opportunities

Who Should Attend:

• League founders and team executives
• Investors and operators focused on women’s sports
• Brand and sponsorship leaders seeking early‑entry partnerships
• Media, agency, and consulting professionals tracking league innovation

Featured Speakers (Additional to be Announced)

Luke Cooper has dedicated his career to basketball, business and helping others in the space reach their full potential. Beginning as the lead student manager for the University of Missouri, Kansas City’s men’s basketball program, he quickly transitioned into a full-time basketball development career that eventually led to his position as President and Co-Founder at Unrivaled. 

Prior to Unrivaled, Cooper served as Head Trainer at Overtime Elite for almost two years, where he notably trained Amen and Ausar Thompson, the first twins to be selected in the NBA Draft’s top five. His experience working with NBA talent includes Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal and David Lee, and led to his co-founding of Through the Lens alongside Alex Bazzell, current Unrivaled President, and Carmelo Anthony. The platform is aimed to help bridge the gap from the best trainers and players in the world to the everyday player and parent. 

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Cooper began his career as a KC Skills Coach at Pure Sweat, a basketball training company with skills coaches working across the U.S. that offers a variety of services to players and coaches at every level.

Raquel Braun is the Co-Founder of Mulier Fortis, a consultancy transforming the landscape of sports, media, and technology, and currently serves as Chief Media Officer at League One Volleyball (LOVB). At LOVB, she leads the league’s global media and content strategy, overseeing media rights, live event production, original programming, and strategic partnerships to build a permanent media business for one of the fastest-growing professional women’s sports leagues in the U.S. With 18 years of experience driving growth for major sports and media organizations, Braun has held leadership roles at EA Sports, FOX Sports, and the Women’s Sports Network, where she served as Chief Business Officer. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching sports and entertainment law to the next generation of industry leaders.

Allie Kleva, Chief Growth Officer, Athletes Unlimited

Jason Langwell joined TMRW Sports in July 2024 as the company’s first Chief Revenue Officer, leading commercial strategy and revenue growth across the company’s expanding portfolio of sports businesses.

Since joining TMRW Sports, Jason has helped build and scale the commercial business around TGL, the primetime team golf league founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley, while leading commercial development for TMRW Sports’ next generation of properties, including WTGL and a new professional flag football league being developed in partnership with the NFL and its 32 clubs.

Prior to TMRW Sports, Jason spent a decade at Intersport, where he helped drive growth across the company’s consulting, experiential and hospitality businesses. In 2018, he launched Intersport’s Golf Practice and Detroit office and served as Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, helping build the PGA TOUR event from its launch into one of Detroit’s premier sports and entertainment events.

Throughout his career, Jason has focused on building new sports properties and commercial platforms that bring together leading brands, athletes, and fans.

Registration is free. All registrants will receive a recording of the webinar following the event.

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