Latest news with #Togethxr
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alex Morgan rejoins the San Diego Wave as a minority investor
Alex Morgan is now a minority investor in the San Diego Wave FC, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club announced Tuesday. The news comes eight months after Morgan, a two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and former Wave captain, announced that she was retiring and pregnant with her second child. Morgan played her last game for the Wave on Sept. 8 and announced the birth of her newborn, Enzo, on March 31. Advertisement 'San Diego is where I've built my home, where I am raising my children, and found a purpose beyond my playing career,' said Morgan, who was the San Diego club's marquee signing in 2021 ahead of its expansion season. 'I believed in Wave FC before a single match was played, and I still believe this club has the power to change the future of women's sports. I'm proud to invest in that future and not just as a player, but now as an investor.' Claiming an equity stake in the club she recently helped usher into the league is a flex attainable for only a select few retired players, and from a business perspective, the investment is an on-brand portfolio enhancement for Morgan. In 2021, she co-founded the media and commerce company Togethxr, along with fellow Olympians Simone Manuel, Chloe Kim and Sue Bird. Known for its viral 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' t-shirts, Togethxr champions and expands access to women's sports. Two years later, Morgan established her eponymous foundation to fight for gender equity in and beyond sports in San Diego County, and in 2024, she co-founded Trybe Ventures with her husband, Servando Carrasco, where she serves as managing partner. It was through her venture capital firm that Morgan also invested in Unrivaled, a new women's professional basketball league that wrapped its inaugural season earlier this year. According to the Wave's controlling owners, the Leichtman-Levine family, Morgan's newfound investment in the club is a reflection of her confidence in its mission — no doubt an invaluable endorsement for a team that underwent turbulence on and off the field last season and is looking to steady itself this year. Advertisement 'Alex has always fought to positively impact this game beyond the pitch,' said Lauren Leichtman of Morgan's investment. 'She used her platform to lead, to advocate, and to build something meaningful in San Diego. Her decision to invest is not only a continuation of her leadership but also a reflection of her belief in what we are building.' The Wave had a stellar start in the NWSL as the first team in league history to reach the playoffs in its expansion year. Morgan won the Golden Boot that season, tallying 16 goals. In 2023, the Wave won the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the season. But on June 24, 2024, former head coach Casey Stoney was abruptly fired, and star players like defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Jaedyn Shaw left the team. Morgan announced her retirement last September. Then, in October, five former Wave employees filed a lawsuit against the club and the NWSL, alleging that the team and ex-president Jill Ellis created a hostile work environment. Advertisement In the months since, Ellis stepped down from her role with the Wave and picked up a new one as FIFA's Chief Football Officer. In January, the club hired ex-Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall as head coach. Three years after its inception, the Wave roster looks virtually unrecognizable, featuring a slew of international players from France, Nigeria, Colombia and Bosnia. With four wins, two draws, and two losses, they currently sit fourth in the league table. Last season, they finished 10th. The Wave's next home game is, somewhat ironically, against the 11th-ranked North Carolina Courage on Sunday, March 25 — the same fixture and location of Morgan's last match before retiring, in which the Wave fell 4-1. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. San Diego Wave, NWSL, Sports Business 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Alex Morgan rejoins the San Diego Wave as a minority investor
Alex Morgan is now a minority investor in the San Diego Wave FC, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club announced Tuesday. The news comes eight months after Morgan, a two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and former Wave captain, announced that she was retiring and pregnant with her second child. Morgan played her last game for the Wave on Sept. 8 and announced the birth of her newborn, Enzo, on March 31. Advertisement 'San Diego is where I've built my home, where I am raising my children, and found a purpose beyond my playing career,' said Morgan, who was the San Diego club's marquee signing in 2021 ahead of its expansion season. 'I believed in Wave FC before a single match was played, and I still believe this club has the power to change the future of women's sports. I'm proud to invest in that future and not just as a player, but now as an investor.' Claiming an equity stake in the club she recently helped usher into the league is a flex attainable for only a select few retired players, and from a business perspective, the investment is an on-brand portfolio enhancement for Morgan. In 2021, she co-founded the media and commerce company Togethxr, along with fellow Olympians Simone Manuel, Chloe Kim and Sue Bird. Known for its viral 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' t-shirts, Togethxr champions and expands access to women's sports. Two years later, Morgan established her eponymous foundation to fight for gender equity in and beyond sports in San Diego County, and in 2024, she co-founded Trybe Ventures with her husband, Servando Carrasco, where she serves as managing partner. It was through her venture capital firm that Morgan also invested in Unrivaled, a new women's professional basketball league that wrapped its inaugural season earlier this year. According to the Wave's controlling owners, the Leichtman-Levine family, Morgan's newfound investment in the club is a reflection of her confidence in its mission — no doubt an invaluable endorsement for a team that underwent turbulence on and off the field last season and is looking to steady itself this year. 'Alex has always fought to positively impact this game beyond the pitch,' said Lauren Leichtman of Morgan's investment. 'She used her platform to lead, to advocate, and to build something meaningful in San Diego. Her decision to invest is not only a continuation of her leadership but also a reflection of her belief in what we are building.' Advertisement The Wave had a stellar start in the NWSL as the first team in league history to reach the playoffs in its expansion year. Morgan won the Golden Boot that season, tallying 16 goals. In 2023, the Wave won the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the season. But on June 24, 2024, former head coach Casey Stoney was abruptly fired, and star players like defender Naomi Girma and midfielder Jaedyn Shaw left the team. Morgan announced her retirement last September. Then, in October, five former Wave employees filed a lawsuit against the club and the NWSL, alleging that the team and ex-president Jill Ellis created a hostile work environment. In the months since, Ellis stepped down from her role with the Wave and picked up a new one as FIFA's Chief Football Officer. In January, the club hired ex-Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall as head coach. Three years after its inception, the Wave roster looks virtually unrecognizable, featuring a slew of international players from France, Nigeria, Colombia and Bosnia. With four wins, two draws, and two losses, they currently sit fourth in the league table. Last season, they finished 10th. The Wave's next home game is, somewhat ironically, against the 11th-ranked North Carolina Courage on Sunday, March 25 — the same fixture and location of Morgan's last match before retiring, in which the Wave fell 4-1.
CNBC
06-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Former LPGA golfer Michelle Wie West invests in women's sports company Togethxr
Former LPGA golf star Michelle Wie West is taking on a bigger role in growing women's sports — from off the course. On Tuesday, Wie West announced she has signed on as the latest athlete investor in Togethxr, the company behind the popular "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" slogan. Togethxr aims to increase investment in and media coverage of women's sports, among other goals. Wie West, the now 35-year-old Stanford grad, was the youngest player to ever qualify for an LPGA event at the age of 12. Since her playing career ended in 2023, she has turned her attention to her other passions, like investing in women's sports. "I'm in the perfect space right now," Wie West told CNBC of her life after golf. "I feel like I'm in a place where I can make a difference. I have the time and space to do so." Michelle Wie West of the United States plays her shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the 78th U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on July 06, 2023 in Pebble Beach, California. The investment in Togethxr isn't the only recent agreement Wie West has reached. Wie West signed a multi-year deal as Mizuho brand ambassador and tournament host for the Mizuho Americas Open earlier this week. The tournament will take place at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey starting on Thursday. Mizuho's new sponsorship agreement will raise the 2026 tournament purse to $3.25 million, one of the largest outside of the major championships. "Golf is so important and I'm very passionate about getting more women into the game because golf is such an amazing way to open doors in the business space," she said. Wie West also spoke to CNBC about the future of golf, how the sport can be intimidating to learn and how she's working with partly simulated professional golf league TGL to one day bring women into the fold. Watch the full interview above.
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.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nike, TOGETHXR to partner on 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' collection
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Jessica Robertson, Cofounder, Togethxr speaks at the Fast Company Innovation Festival at Convene on September 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo byfor Fast Company) Everyone watches women's sports. Including Nike. The sportswear giant and TOGETHXR are partnering on a merchandise collection featuring the now ubiquitous slogan championing women's sports. The collection will include T-shirts, hoodies and baseball hats, and will be available through Nike and TOGETHXR as well as at Dick's Sporting Goods. "TOGETHXR was created to amplify the voices of women athletes and to show the world that women's sports are not just something to be watched, but something to be centered and invested in," Jessica Robertson, TOGETHXR's chief content officer and co-founder, said in a release Friday. Advertisement "This partnership with Nike allows us to take our mission to the next level," Robertson added. "We will not only create access to new and exciting products on a global scale, which we know women's sports fans so greatly seek, but will also build a future where women's sports receive the respect, resources and investment they truly deserve.' Frustrated with the lack of coverage of women's sports they saw throughout their respective careers, Sue Bird, Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim and Simone Manuel created TOGETHXR with Robertson in 2021. A commerce and media company, it was meant to amplify the stories and voices of women athletes, and offer merchandise that was missing in the mainstream market. "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" became TOGETHXR's tagline, a rebuttal to the common refrain by naysayers who tried to dismiss the growing popularity of women's sports. TOGETHXR began producing merchandise with the slogan in 2023, and it took off last year when South Carolina coach Dawn Staley wore one of the shirts during a game. Jason Sudeikis was often seen in "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" gear as he sat courtside during last year's NCAA tournament and WNBA season. Steph Curry, Shaq and actress Aubrey Plaza also were seen in gear with the slogan. "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" merchandise has already generated more than $6 million in revenue, TOGETHXR said, a number sure to grow under the new partnership. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nike, TOGETHXR partner on 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' gear
