Claim OwnershipCourtside with Laura Correnti
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Women’s sports aren’t just growing—they’re booming. And Courtside is where you’ll get the inside track on the deals, disruptors, and dollars driving the industry forward. Hosted by Laura Correnti, award-winning media executive and founder of Deep Blue Sports & Entertainment, this podcast goes beyond the scores to spotlight the power players, trends, and investments shaping the future of this billion-dollar business. From groundbreaking sponsorships to media rights battles and the investors betting big, Courtside delivers the play-by-play on how women’s sports are changing the game. Whether you’re an industry insider, investor, athlete, or a fan ready to see women’s sports thrive, this is your front-row seat to the action: Courtside.
23 Episodes
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Joining Editor in Chief of Marie Claire Nikki Ogunnaike, Laura traces her journey from college athlete to successful partner at Giant Spoon, and how she founded Deep Blue to drive commercial investment in women’s sports. They explore the critical role sports play in achieving career leadership, the impactful intersection of advertising with women's sports, and the innovative strides being made to elevate women's sports through creative investments and new business models. 01:55 Laura's Journey: From Soccer to Advertising03:03 The Impact of Sports on Corporate Careers05:15 Early Career in Digital Media06:54 Building Giant Spoon and Entrepreneurial Insights15:01 Deep Blue's Mission and Market Challenges17:12 Partnering with Sue Bird and Strategic Vision19:21 The Economic and Social Impact of Women's Sports23:22 Future Vision for Deep Blue and Women's Sports35:25 Lightning Round: Money, Style, and PowerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike Nichols has spent nearly two decades proving women’s sports are undervalued—and he’s putting his investments where the returns are. The former LPGA exec turned Chief of Sponsorship Strategy at Group 1001 joins Laura to talk about Gainbridge’s partnerships with the USL Super League, Caitlin Clark, and more. They get into why 40% of his sponsorship dollars go to women’s sports, how $5,000 grants can create outsized impact, and where the opportunity lies for brands willing to get in from grassroots to the ground floor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
UCLA WBB head coach Cori Close joins Laura to talk about a culture that outlasts banners and awards—sweeping the sheds, nurturing the roots, and why “coaching people’s hearts” is her real playbook. She opens up about the Final Four learning curve, the NIL and transfer-era noise, and what infrastructure college programs actually need so coaches can coach. Plus: the service work that connects teams—and how gratitude, discipline, and “uncommon” choices turn talent into titles. 01:18 Coach Cori Close's Journey and Early Influences03:35 The Coach Close Basketball Method06:28 Achievements and Reflections on Awards09:11 Mental Conditioning and Player Development13:13 Challenges and Lessons from the Final Four17:43 Navigating NIL and Financial Conversations23:50 Future of Women's College BasketballSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Constance Schwartz-Morini, CEO of SMAC Entertainment, has turned sports talent across sports into household names along with her partner and client Michael Strahan. She shares how she helped Strahan become a media mogul, why Deion Sanders is the ultimate CMO, and how she’s shaping the future in women’s sports with clients including Emma Hayes, Brie and Nikki Garcia, and Erin Andrews. They dig into what it takes to build athlete-led content, how to expand careers beyond the game, and why the women’s side of sports is ready for a bigger stage. 00:31 Introduction01:50 Constance Schwartz-Morini's Early Life and Career06:28 Building SMAC Entertainment with Michael Strahan08:40 Developing Athlete Brands: The Case of Deion Sanders12:48 Empowering Women in Sports15:16 Challenges and Strategies in Women's Sports Management20:10 Future Directions and Final ThoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Laura founded Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, the first firm dedicated to commercial investment and growth opportunities in women's sports, she changed the game. She dives into how she did it: explaining inspiration she drew from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, why she’s torn up her five-year plan so many times amidst the growth of women’s sports, and what needs to be done to create more “multi-hyphenates” amongst female athletes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What happens when you design a sports league for the next digitally-led generation instead of adapting for an old one? You get Overtime—a media and sports company rewriting the rules. EJ Lawrence, Head of League Partnership Development, joins Laura to unpack the strategy behind its four leagues (including Overtime Select, its women’s basketball property), the content engine driving a tidal wave of content every week and the sponsorship model built for storytelling. They get into what Gen Z wants from sports, how Overtime is closing coverage and funding gaps, and why building a fan community (150MM+!!) means listening as much as talking. 01:41 EJ Lawrence's Journey in Sports05:38 From Traditional Sports to Digital Media09:25 Joining Overtime and Its Unique Model12:09 Overtime's Audience and Content Strategy18:52 Building Brand Relationships in Basketball19:42 Reimagining Sponsorship at Overtime22:43 Empowering Athletes On and Off the Court25:42 Overtime Select: Structure and Success32:27 Parental Involvement and Feedback34:54 Expanding Storytelling and Crossover EventsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarah Spain has spent nearly two decades shaping the way we talk about sports—from breaking down barriers in early sports radio to co-creating ESPN’s first all-women podcast. Now she’s back with Good Game—a first-of-its-kind, daily podcast spotlighting the stories, stats, and stars driving the explosive growth in the popularity of women’s sports. Sarah joins Laura to talk about her journey to airtime and why telling better stories isn’t just good journalism—it’s part of the game plan for growth. 00:00 Introduction and Early Aspirations02:26 Realizing a Career in Sports Broadcasting05:06 Breaking into the Industry07:37 Finding Her Style and Voice09:43 The Importance of Humor and Listening12:29 Challenges and Evolution in Women's Sports Coverage16:21 Community Building and Engagement20:24 Commercialization and Brand Engagement29:12 Closing Thoughts and Future ProjectsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When the U.S. Women’s National Team won the 2019 Women's World Cup, a stadium full of fans chanted “equal pay” instead of “USA”—and Laura Correnti took note. She tells Inside the Ice House how that moment inspired the journey to founding Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, what brands need to know about strategic investment, and why the growth curve is just getting started. 00:44 The Rise of Women's Sports 01:25 Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment01:40 Key Trends from Cannes Lion02:53 The Evolution of Brand Storytelling03:35 The Impact of AI and Individual Creators05:53 The Business of Women's Sports09:02 Challenges and Opportunities in Women's Sports Marketing17:05 The Future of Women's Sports23:10 Strategic Approaches for Brands25:50 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Andrea Brimmer announced Ally’s 50/50 pledge at the 2022 ESPNW Summit, it wasn’t a tribute ad or a token donation—it was a demand for equity, backed by dollars. As CMO of Ally (and a former collegiate midfielder), Andrea joins Laura to unpack how they turned a bold idea into a blueprint for the industry. They talk through how she restructured the budget, challenged media systems, and proved that betting big on women’s sports isn’t just good PR—it’s smart business. Plus, why Andrea shows up “like a girl” in every room she enters, and what it means to leave the game better than you found it. 00:51 Meet Andrea Brimmer: Athlete to Marketing Pioneer02:13 Andrea's Early Love for Soccer04:33 Athlete Strengths that Become Executive Strengths06:39 The Drama of the 50/50 Pledge Announcement13:24 Impact and Results of the 50/50 Pledge18:56 Authentic Partnerships with Athletes21:12 Systemic Issues in Women's Sports25:56 Reflecting on Progress and Future GoalsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Speaking with Michael Kassan on his show Good Company, Laura Correnti explains why she isn't waiting for permission; she’s building the new power structure in women’s sports from the ground up. In this episode, she joins Michael to unpack how she's turning under-leveraged markets into power plays, architecting culture-shifting brand deals, and proving that when you own the game, you don’t have to play by the old rules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024 was a record-breaking season for the WNBA—and Colie Edison is making sure it’s just the start. As Chief Growth Officer, she’s behind the league’s 19% spike in sponsorships, its mission to build long-term brand equity, and the 13x business return league partners are experiencing. She joins Laura to break down what’s fueling and how to sustain that growth, how the league is approaching an expanding fanbase, and why building the W means meeting the moment while thinking seasons ahead through data and beyond. 00:52 Coley Edison's Impact on WNBA Growth01:48 Expansion Teams Announcement05:06 Sponsorship Growth and New Standards06:14 Historic Media Rights Deal08:07 Balancing Core and New Fans10:38 Storytelling and Brand Partnerships14:25 Building Internal Resources and Infrastructure17:37 Data Collection and Business Intelligence20:09 Fan Demographics and Engagement22:03 Value of League, Team, and Athlete IP29:15 Sustaining and Gaining Momentum36:25 Upcoming Events and Future PlansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kristýna “Kalty” Kaltounková is the 2025 PWHL #1 draft pick—and she’s headed to the New York Sirens. The Czech standout lit up the NCAA with a record-breaking career st Colgate, but her story starts much earlier: skating at age three to keep up with her older brother. Kalty joins Laura to talk about her journey from youth hockey to a new era in pro women’s sports, how she plays on the edge, and why she’s ready to bring her grit—and insane shot—to the biggest sports market in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chelsea and England footballer Niamh Charles is fresh off an undefeated season—and gearing up for another shot at international glory at the Euros. She joins Laura to talk about what it really takes to stay on top: relentless prep, mental fitness, and those 1% performance gains that separate the good from the great. They get into the rise of women’s football, the electricity of the World Cup, and why Charles is building her brand around high performance (and really good coffee). From the Chelsea locker room to Wembley to wherever she's journaling with an oat flat white, Charles shares what it looks like when nothing is left to chance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sophie Goldschmidt didn’t grow up in snow sports—but now she’s leading them into a new era. As CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, she’s shaking up a traditionally insular space with entrepreneurial thinking, global strategy, and a clear mission: to turn Olympic-level athletes into household names. She talks to Laura about breaking through the four-year awareness cycle, creating premium brand partnerships, and how a chairlift ride might just be the best meeting in marketing. 02:28 Sophie's Journey in Sports 04:14 Leading US Ski and Snowboard 14:47 Expanding into Travel and Hospitality 23:48 Creative Content and Athlete Inspiration 26:43 Strategic Partnerships and Brand Collaborations 31:48 Challenges and Resilience of Athletes 34:38 Global Audience and Fan Engagement 37:55 Sponsorship and Financial SupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former WNBA President and Upshot League founder Donna Orender joins Laura to talk about why she’s launching a new pro league—and why the moment demands it. She shares lessons from her time leading the W, the structural gaps she’s aiming to fill, and what it takes to create community-rooted franchises that are more than just teams—they’re assets. 00:29 Meet Donna Orender 02:05 Donna's Early Love for Basketball 06:51 Building Belief and Overcoming Obstacles 10:40 The Hardest Job: Transforming the WNBA 17:00 Reflecting on Success and Future Endeavors 21:29 Introducing the Upshot League 24:18 Opportunities for Athletes and Coaches 27:45 Fundraising and Selling the Vision 34:45 Naming the Upshot LeagueSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As Co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences, David Levy is helping usher in the next era of sports media—just like he did at Turner. He joins Laura to talk about why sports still command top dollar in a fragmented media landscape, Unrivaled's innovative approach to sponsorship, and where he sees opportunity in the rapidly growing women's sports business. 00:39 Meet David Levy: Co-Founder of Horizon Sports and Experiences 02:18 The Evolution of Sports Media 06:39 The Business Case for Women's Sports 10:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Sports Broadcasting 20:01 The Rise of Unrivaled: A New Era in Women's Sports 20:37 Innovative Sponsorship Strategies 26:30 Expanding the League: Future Plans 33:57 The Business of Women's Sports: Insights and PredictionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There was no home for pro volleyball in the U.S.—so Katlyn Gao built one from the ground up: LOVB (A.K.A. League One Volleyball). She joins Laura to share how a personal mission became a national movement, why conviction matters more than consensus (or even fundraising), and what it takes to build something that lasts—and reshapes the future—in the world of women’s sports. 00:35 Meet Katlyn Gao: Visionary Behind League One Volleyball 01:25 Building a Pro League: Challenges and Strategies 02:58 The Youth Pipeline: Foundation of the League 05:54 Commercialization and Brand Building 13:54 Creating Cultural Relevance and Fan Engagement 23:02 Personal Stories and Motivations 27:00 Season One Highlights and Future PlansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you build a world-class women's football league on one of the sports' biggest stages? Zarah Al-Kudcy, Chief Revenue Officer at the Women's Professional League Limited (the organization behind England’s top women’s football leagues), joins Courtside to discuss how the WPLL is redefining how to build and expand the commercial opportunities for some of the most storied teams in football history. She and Laura dive into the WPLL’s goals, the power of historic club brands like Arsenal and Chelsea, growing a global fanbase, and why creating a distinctive identity for women’s football—not just mirroring the men’s game—is key to partnership development and long-term success. 00:00 Introduction: Soccer or Football? 02:08 The WPLL: Structure and Vision 04:25 Challenges and Opportunities in Women's Football 08:29 Media and Global Expansion 13:04 Brand Identity and Club Strategies 15:14 Commercial Partnerships and Growth 20:59 Player Involvement and Standards 23:10 Leveraging Global Competitions 26:45 Future Prospects and Final Thoughts 37:05 Conclusion and Credits See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Meg Linehan didn’t follow a path into women’s sports journalism—she carved it. Now Senior Writer at The Athletic, she joins Courtside to talk about breaking in before there was even a beat, the evolution of media access, and where today's brands and storytellers have an opportunity to grow. From locker rooms to leadership, this one’s a blueprint. 00:00 Meet Meg Linehan 03:07 Freelancing and the Path to The Athletic 10:05 The Future of Women's Sports Reporting 13:48 Bridging the Generational Gap in Women's Sports 19:51 Media Training and Resource Allocation 24:42 The Next Generation of Soccer Talent 26:07 Globalization and Competition in Women's Soccer 28:54 Balancing Brand and Reporting 30:57 Future of Women's Sports Coverage 33:01 Advertising and Authentic Partnerships 37:37 Predictions and Final ThoughtsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Sports Bra–a bar in Portland dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, and the first of its kind in the world–was never just about sports. In this episode, founder Jenny Nguyen shares the origin story of “the Bra” including building a business rooted in community, the fanbase beyond sports lovers, and why giving people a space to feel seen is part of her ultimate strategy for growth. 00:53 Meet Jenny Nguyen: Founder of The Sports Bra 03:01 Jenny's Journey: From Basketball Dreams to Culinary Passion 06:25 Discovering a New Path: From Pre-Med to Chef 14:12 Opening The Sports Bra 21:13 Impact of Creating a Unique Space 24:07 Expansion and Franchising Decisions 32:03 Dreams and Future Plans 35:44 Inspiring a New Market See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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