Latest news with #NCAAWomen'sFinalFour
Forbes
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
How Togethxr's ‘Everyone Watches Women's Sports' Is Changing The Game
Togethxr cofounders Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird—alongside media executive ... More Jessica Robertson—are leading a movement that's redefining women's sports, proving that Everyone Watches Women's Sports is more than a slogan—it's a cultural shift. 'No one watches women's sports' has long been a common narrative among mainstream media. A few short years ago, women's sports felt like an afterthought tucked behind men's leagues in media coverage and sidelined in sponsorships, treated more like a charity case than a cultural force. Games were played in half-empty arenas, and broadcast deals were minimal. But today, that narrative has been shattered. The stadiums are packed. The ratings are climbing, and a new generation of athletes and fans are rewriting the rules. At the forefront of this cultural shift is Togethxr, a media and commerce brand founded by four global sports stars—Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird—who teamed up with sports media veteran Jessica Robertson. These leaders didn't just observe the change; they helped ignite it with a simple, powerful mantra: Everyone Watches Women's Sports. 'It just felt like the right anthem,' Robertson states about the mantra, 'the right slogan for women's sports, the right attitude at the right time, and it's become not just now our company slogan and mantra, which we've carried through for the last couple of years, but this unifying anthem across all of sports.' The slogan was born from a revelation during the 2023 NCAA Women's Final Four in Dallas. 'That year broke audience and attendance records,' Robertson recalled. 'We looked at each other and said, 'You can't say no one watches women's sports anymore.' One of our colleagues replied, 'No—everyone watches women's sports.'' What started as an internal company mantra has grown into a cultural phenomenon that challenges outdated narratives and embraces women's sports for what they are: culturally relevant, exciting and good business. Togethxr's mission has resonated beyond words. Over the past year, women's sports have shattered viewership records. The 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship (March Madness) final between South Carolina and Iowa drew a record-breaking 18.9 million viewers, the most-watched college basketball game (men's or women's) on ESPN platforms, and the first time a women's final exceeded the men's in viewership. WNBA attendance rose by over 16%, and media coverage has expanded significantly, driven by fan demand and athlete star power. This momentum is only building as anticipation swells for this year's Women's March Madness Final Four tipping off tonight, with players like Paige Bueckers (UConn) and Lauren Betts (UCLA) as household names. Founder Alex Morgan and cofounder Jessica Robertson. 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' is a cultural ... More movement. The company has played a pivotal role in driving this momentum by creating meaningful partnerships with legacy brands. Since its launch, the company has built alliances with global names like Aflac, TJ Maxx, and most notably, Nike. 'When we launched 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' as a consumer product, it became a unifying anthem,' Robertson said. 'Nike, one of our long-time partners, saw the proof of concept and the community it inspired. Our missions aligned, and together, we've unlocked what global impact in women's sports can really look like.' These collaborations aren't just symbolic—they're strategic. They bring visibility, resources and cultural capital to women's sports, shifting the conversation from charity to smart, future-facing investment. As Robertson explains, 'Women's sports have often been treated as a cause or charity—the 'right thing to support.' But now, it's just really cool, really great business. If you're not into it, you're just dated.' Its trademarked slogan generated over $6 million in revenue in 2024 alone, including 20,000 units sold during just three days of March Madness. The brand's recent collaboration with Nike further cemented its influence with a co-branded apparel collection designed to elevate women athletes through fashion and cultural relevance. Beyond merchandise, the brand is telling more inclusive stories across platforms. The company's in-house production studio has developed a slate of premium scripted and unscripted content that is now streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime and FuboTV. In March, it expanded into publishing with its first book, Play It Forward, a collection of 25 inspirational stories celebrating women's voices and victories in sports. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Jessica Robertson, Cofounder, Togethxr speaks at the Fast Company ... More Innovation Festival at Convene on September 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo byfor Fast Company) For companies looking to follow in Togethxr's footsteps and build a true movement—not a moment or a moral cause—Robertson offers three key pieces of advice: Looking ahead, Togethxr is planning an exciting lineup of activations for the 2025 NCAA Women's Final Four, including a co-branded launch event with Nike in Tampa, a youth athlete day of play and a high-profile event with Aflac featuring major athletes. They'll also host a live taping with sports icons Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, and Diana Taurasi, showing that storytelling remains a core part of their strategy. Robertson's ultimate vision? 'I want Togethxr to be the most influential brand in sports,' she said. 'We're not just telling stories. We're creating the future of sports.'
Wall Street Journal
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Wall Street Journal
The College Basketball Star Who Received an NBA Education
Tampa, Fla. When you're a 6-foot-7 female basketball player, you have some obvious advantages. It sure helps when you tower over everyone else on the court. But as UCLA center Lauren Betts has discovered, it also comes with a specific problem: There's almost no one who can match up with you in training. Back when Betts was a teenager, she settled on a solution. In addition to working out with the best women players she could find, she honed her game by practicing against a small and exclusive group of people who think a 6-foot-7 basketball player is nothing out of the ordinary. She trained with NBA players. Growing up in the Denver area, Betts played on two different teams coached by former pro basketball players. The lessons she learned from them are starting to pay off. Now averaging 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game, Betts has led UCLA into its first-ever NCAA Women's Final Four and emerged as the most dominant inside player in the women's game. In high school, Betts played on an elite team led by 6-foot-10 Keith Van Horn, the 1998 NBA all-rookie team member with the New Jersey Nets. Before that, in eighth grade, she trained for more than a year with Ervin Johnson, the 6-foot-11 center who played for four NBA teams over 13 years. Those experiences helped transform her from a reluctant, contact-averse athlete into a powerful force. 'It's incredible, right—two NBA dudes?' said Lauren's mom, Michelle Betts. 'Who gets that lucky?' In seventh grade, Betts already was approaching her full height and was painfully self-conscious. On the court, she had a rudimentary game of layups and put-backs, but little else, her mother recalled. Johnson, who was working as a Denver Nuggets ambassador and coaching an area girls' team, recruited Betts from another squad. When the two of them met, Betts would hunch her shoulders and avoid eye contact. 'She'd probably get mad at me saying this: She felt so bad at blocking people's shots,' Johnson recalled. 'I said, 'No, don't feel bad. That's what you're supposed to do. You can't help that you're taller.'' Johnson taught Betts to run the floor hard and post up in transition before the defense got set. To finish with her right hand and her left. To hold the ball high—otherwise, he said, 'Those little guards are going to get it.' Johnson didn't call fouls in practice. He wanted Betts to get used to contact. In games, Johnson said, 'she used to come to me and say, 'They're grabbing and holding me.' I'd say, 'Well, you've just got to get used to it. That's what they do in the paint.'' It was a tough education, but Johnson praised Betts's parents for letting him be that way. Michelle played volleyball for Long Beach State. Andy Betts was a second-round 1998 NBA draft pick who played more than a decade in Europe. 'We find people that we trust, and we let them do what we entrusted them to do,' Michelle said. 'He's always been fantastic with her.' When Johnson decided to retire from youth coaching, Michelle was distraught. ('I remember crying in my bathroom,' she said.) His advice: Send her to Keith. At the time, Van Horn was coaching with Denver-area youth club Colorado Premier. The No. 2 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Van Horn also worked to make Betts comfortable with pushing and shoving. Her mother still has a video of him bumping Lauren with pads as she backs into the basket. But Van Horn was a different kind of big—a lanky outside shooter. He encouraged Betts to extend her range. 'I have really pushed her to get comfortable catching on the perimeter, shooting from the perimeter and making passes from the perimeter,' Van Horn said. This season, Betts's assists have nearly tripled, to 2.8 per game. Johnson said he admires Betts's huge strides. Most of all, she's become more comfortable in her body and confident on the court. Betts's shouting, celebratory foot-stomp after she drew a foul in the Bruins' Elite Eight win over LSU has become a signature moment of the tournament. In that game she had 17 points, six blocks—and no apologies. 'He basically taught me everything I knew in the post,' Betts said of Johnson. 'My footwork would not be where it is without him. He really taught me everything inside.' Write to Rachel Bachman at
Axios
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend: NCAA Women's Final Four, Fred Armisen and more
🏀 Tampa hosts the NCAA Women's Final Four April 4–6, with free events all weekend — from a GloRilla concert at Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday to a team practice at Amalie Arena that same day. Find more info here. 🎤 Catch comedian and former SNL cast member Fred Armisen live at the Tampa Theatre on Friday at 7pm as part of his "Comedy for Musicians But Everyone is Welcome tour." Tickets start at $35.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa International Airport celebrates first nonstop flight to South America
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Travelers departing from Tampa International Airport can now visit a new international destination. A new flight from Avianca will take Tampa passengers to and from Bogota, Colombia. Airport officials said the route is TPA's first nonstop service to South America and the first to a new continent in nearly 50 years. Amalie Arena transforms for NCAA Women's Final Four On Monday, Tampa International Airport and Avianca celebrated the new flight with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a gate celebration for departing passengers. 'Avianca's new partnership with America's best airport, Tampa International Airport, sends a clear signal that Tampa Bay is a top-tier choice for discerning visitors from Colombia and around the globe,' said Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. 'This direct flight from Bogota connects Colombians to the tantalizing tastes, luxurious accommodations, electrifying attractions, and rich and diverse culture that make Tampa Bay and its treasures a 'must' for travelers ready to experience the extraordinary.' Flights from Tampa to Bogota, Columbia depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To check other nonstop flights from Tampa International Airport, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
TECO Line Streetcar extends hours ahead of Final Four weekend in Tampa
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— The TECO Line Streetcar extends operation hours ahead of the 2025 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena. As thousands of fans navigate downtown Tampa, The Hillsborough Transit Authority is offering easy, stress-free transportation during the event. The streetcar will extend service hours on Thursday and Sunday until midnight for the Final Four Weekend. Severe weather causes delays, cancellations at TPA TECO Line Streetcar extends hours ahead of Final Four weekend in Tampa 'Had to flee orphanages': Tampa nonprofit rescues 2 children from Haiti as gang violence deepens Route one will also offer rare-free service every 15-30 minutes that provides a connection from downtown to Armature Works and Tampa Heights, according to HART. The streetcar hours are: Thursday, April 3: 7:00 a.m. until midnight Friday, April 4: 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5: 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. Sunday, April 6: 8:30 a.m. until midnight The streetcars will operate every 15-20 minutes throughout the weekend with services near Amalie Arena. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
