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JWS Fundraise: Meet our Investors

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Just Women’s Sports has raised $3.5 million in seed fundraising. These are the investors who made it happen.

Will Ventures

Will Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that leverages the power of sport to shape the future across health, media, and consumer.

Brian Reilly (co-founder and managing partner at Will Ventures): Prior to founding Will Ventures, Brian served as Vice President at Blue Star Innovation Partners, where he was responsible for deal sourcing, due diligence and execution of growth equity investments. In addition to his investment expertise, Brian has deep technology experience, gained as a Founding Member and the Director of Product and Research at the Sports Innovation Lab, the premier sports technology research and advisory firm, and as a product manager at MC10, where he was responsible for the development and commercialization of next-generation sports, fitness and healthcare wearables and software systems for big data storage and machine-learning. Brian earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and was a member of the college’s varsity football team. He is from East Windsor, New Jersey.

“It’s hard to believe that the founders of ESPN struggled to convince investors that a 24/7 sports network was a major opportunity,” said Reilly. “We expect to look back at the opportunity in women’s sports and feel the same way. There’s nearly a 50/50 gender split when it comes to sports participation, but only ~4% of coverage is dedicated to women’s sports. That gap represents a venture-scale opportunity, and we’re confident that Just Women’s Sports is uniquely positioned to seize it.”

35Ventures 

Co-founded by two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman, Thirty Five Ventures incorporates the duo’s business entities across sports, tech, media, philanthropy and more. Recent Thirty Five Ventures initiatives include The Boardroom, a multi-platform sports business/culture-focused vertical, the basketball-themed scripted series “SWAGGER” with Imagine Entertainment and Apple, an equity partnership with premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, and the Durant Center, a state-of-the-art educational and leadership facility in Durant’s hometown in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“We’re excited about this investment in Just Women’s Sports not only because we recognize the huge opportunity for growth in the space, but because Haley is exactly the kind of founder we want to be in business with,” said Rich Kleiman. “She uniquely understands what’s missing in the conversations around women’s sports, and she’s also building her business with incredible knowledge and foresight.”

OVO Fund 

OVO Fund is a seed stage venture capital firm that provides funding and support to startups at the earliest stages. They partner with exceptional teams with real technology looking to build transformative yet capital efficient businesses. OVO Fund leverages an extensive network of industry veterans to provide focused value-added capital to our entrepreneurs. Prior to this round, OVO Fund also invested in JWS pre-seed.

Supernode Global

Community + Capital for startups that are shaping the future of how we learn, work, play and communicate. Supernode Global is focused on the digital content ecosystem, supporting early-stage startups building or using technology in the creation, distribution, or monetisation of digital content.

Drive by DraftKings

Drive by DraftKings is a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests in SportsTech and Entertainment. Drive is unique among investment firms as a fully independent and highly strategic venture capital partner. Together with founders pushing the frontier of new markets and categories, their mission is to ‘drive’ the future of sports, gaming and media by supporting people with the ‘drive’ to unlock their full potential and chase big ideas.

“Despite women making up 40% of all participants in sports, they only receive 4% of sports media coverage, which leaves a massively undervalued and untapped industry ripe for growth, support and opportunity,” said Meredith McPherron, Drive by DraftKings CEO and Managing Partner. “Just Women’s Sports has taken an early leadership role in promoting equality in sports and bringing visibility to the exciting success and stories behind exceptional female athletes. We’re so pleased to have them join our portfolio.”

Jim Quagliaroli

Co-founder of Silversmith Capital Partners, Jim Quagliaroli, has served on the board of 20+ tech companies. Jim partners with passionate founders of growing SaaS companies focused on product leadership. His software investments are targeted on supporting competitive, team-oriented CEOs who want to invest in aggressive go-to-market initiatives to drive growth. He lives with his wife, son, and daughter in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he roots for  the Celtics, is a rabid EPL fan, and has learned that he is a better coach than player. A recipient of the John P. Reardon ’60 Award, given annually to Harvard’s top male scholar athlete, Jim has sports running through his blood. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Harvard Varsity Club (HVC) since 1997, and currently serves on the board of Friends of Harvard Soccer (FHS).

Arike Ogunbowale

Arike Ogunbowale is a professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings. At the University of Notre Dame, Arike hit back-to-back game winners to lead her team to the National Championship in 2018. With Dallas, Arike is the reigning WNBA scoring champion and an All-WNBA First Team selection. Internationally, Arike has competed with USA Basketball on multiple levels and has accumulated five USA Basketball medals (four gold and one silver). She has been nominated for ESPYs (2018, 2019) and took home one of those ESPY nominations for her buzzer beater to win the NCAA title.

“I’m a huge sports fan, and I know from being a fan of women’s sports how much we need a place that puts everything behind promoting and covering our sports,” Arike said. “Just Women’s Sports is the clear leader in women’s sports coverage, so I’m excited to be part of what they’re doing. There are great things ahead.”

Elena Delle Donne

Elena Delle Donne is a professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics, whom she led to their first-ever WNBA title in 2019. A two-time WNBA league MVP, Elena is the only player in WNBA history to join the exclusive 50-40-90 shooting club. Drafted by the Chicago Sky with the second overall pick in 2013, Elena spent her collegiate career at The University of Delaware, where she was a two-time All-American.

“I’m so excited for what Haley is building with JWS. I believe in her and her vision for this company and platform,” Elena said. “We know fans of women’s sports are an underserved audience, and there’s a huge opportunity for growth. The fact that this is the first female-led media company that is fully VC funded is amazing. I’m beyond thrilled to be part of what they’re doing.”

Said Amanda, Elena’s wife: “I am really excited for Elena and I to expand our portfolio with something we care so much about. There is a tremendous lack of coverage of women sports and women in general. We want to do everything we can to continue to give women the platform they deserve.  We feel JWS is the best company for us to partner with and do so. Really excited to be part of the JWS family!”

Hilary Knight

Hilary Knight is one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s ice hockey. As a member of Team USA, Knight has won an Olympic gold medal, two Olympic silvers, and eight gold medals at the IIHF World Championships. In 2019, she helped found the PWHPA, a group of professional players who are working to create a more sustainable future for women’s hockey.

“I’m so excited to join the Just Women’s Sports team to help expand a platform that will change the way women’s sports are covered,” Hilary said. “As we work to build sustainable professional leagues and bring the stories of incredible athletes to the forefront, we also need consistent in-depth coverage of our games so that fans can be fans all year round. JWS has laid a foundation, and with these investments and more, they’re going to change the game for women’s sports.”

Kelley O’Hara

Kelley O’Hara is a professional soccer player, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, and Olympic gold medalist. She currently plays as a defender for the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women’s national soccer team. She is also the host of the Just Women’s Sports podcast, where she sits down with the world’s biggest athletes to discuss the untold stories behind their success.

“I’m excited to double down on my partnership with Just Women’s Sports,” O’Hara said. “We’re long overdue for a platform to exist that covers the world class athletes competing out there and the amazing stories behind them. As a professional soccer player, I’ve experienced firsthand how important visibility is for women’s sports and in order to grow the game for everyone, we need investment like this.”

Sam Mewis

Sam Mewis is a professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Manchester City and the United States women’s national team. Voted the Best Women’s Player in a poll conducted by ESPN FC in 2021, Mewis has won three NWSL championships, an NCAA title, and the 2019 World Cup with the USWNT. Alongside Lynn Williams, she also co-hosts Snacks, a new podcast from Just Women’s Sports.

“It’s been amazing to be part of the Just Women’s Sports team as the co-host of our podcast, Snacks,” Mewis said. “The team’s vision of what women’s sports coverage can and should be is inspiring. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to play a role in both helping expand our show lineup and investing the resources necessary to grow the platform.”

Kleiner Perkins Scout Fund 

For five decades, Kleiner Perkins has partnered with intrepid founders to build iconic companies that make history. Today, they continue that legacy, investing in founders with bold ideas that span industries and continents, partnering with them from inception to IPO and beyond to maximize the potential of their ideas.

USC’s McKenzie Forbes: From Gap Year to the NCAA Tournament

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate McKenzie Forbes. 

Here are five things to know from our conversation with the graduate transfer from Folsom, California.

#1 Inspired by USC’s Head Coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, McKenzie wants to be a basketball coach or work in the front office in the future.

When weighing in on what makes a good coach, McKenzie said x’s and o’s are important but “Coaching is a lot of relationship managing and people managing. I think you have to be a good people person and be able to build those relationships, but also in that same breath, you can’t be afraid to have people dislike you in moments. I think that’s a big part of leadership.”

#2 McKenzie says the trajectory of her career changed when she made the decision to transfer from Cal to Harvard.

 In order to transfer, she was forced to take a gap year and spend a lot of time in the gym. “I completely transformed my body and, going into the Harvard season, felt like I was a completely different player. Going to Harvard and playing in a more mid-major conference, I had the ball in my hands a lot more than I might have if I transferred to another Power 5. It really developed other parts of my game.”

#3 How does McKenzie think USC will do in the Women’s College Basketball Tournament?

“I’m not going to give a typical interview answer. I want a Final Four. We have that potential and capability. Like why not? Why not us? I think we have all the pieces.”

#4 Her older brother, Marcus, was her biggest mentor growing up.

“He was basically my trainer from Elementary school on until he went to college.”

#5 Fun facts about Forbes:

She can juggle and she was the quarterback of her Pop Warner football team. “I was slow but I could throw it!”

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

Christen Press back training with Angel City FC

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Christen Press #23 of Angel City FC waves to fans following a game between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Christen Press continues to inch her way back to a return, having returned to training with her club team Angel City. 

Angel City FC coach Becki Tweed said on Wednesday that Press is back with the team full-time as she continues to make her way back from an ACL injury. While she’s still working on rehab, her being back with the team gives staff a better picture of her progress. 

"Christen [Press] is back with us full time which is amazing,” she said. “Having her in and around the team every day, continuing to work hard on rehab ... she's in a space where being in with the team is really important to her and her progression as well.”

The status update comes days after Press posted videos to social media that featured her doing lateral movement in cleats on grass. 

“Look out world she’s on the move !” Press captioned it. 

Press has been sidelined with an ACL injury since 2022, which caused her to miss the 2023 World Cup. She’s since had four separate surgeries to help repair her ACL.

Press told The Athletic a month ago that she’s been “relentless” in her optimism with her recovery despite it being a “slow process.”

“I have a bit of relentless optimism,” she told The Athletic. “I never, ever doubted that I would make it back on any of the timelines I’ve been on."

"Every single time I’ve heard, ‘You have to have surgery,’ I’m completely shocked,” she said. “When somebody asks me how it’s going, I’m like, ‘It’s going great. And it was going great every time. So I don’t know what to tell you anymore!’”

Sophia Smith re-signs with Portland on record deal

(Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports)

Sophia Smith is now the NWSL’s highest-paid player. 

The Portland Thorns announced on Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a new contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the team did reveal that Smith is now the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis.

It’s the latest in what has been a series of record-breaking contracts in the NWSL offseason. 

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. While Smith’s contract is shorter and not worth as much over the long-term, the annual worth is higher. 

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world-class talent and one that we are excited to have contribute to the team’s continued success,” said head coach Mike Norris in a statement. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

In just four seasons in the NWSL, Smith has led the Thorns to five trophies – including the 2022 NWSL championship – while winning league and championship MVP in 2022. In 61 appearances with Portland, she has 34 goals – including a brace to start this season against Kansas City. 

She’s also a member of the USWNT, having scored 16 goals in 44 international appearances.  Set to become a free agent at the end of this season, she told ESPN she “thought of all the options” but ultimately Portland felt like the right decision.

"There is no place like Portland," Smith said in a small roundtable interview that included ESPN. "I don't believe there's an environment like Portland to play in and it's a city that's so special to me and a city that I feel like I've grown up in almost and become who I am."

She also told ESPN that the team’s new ownership “changes everything.” The club is now led by the Bhathal family, who bought the club after Merritt Paulson was forced to sell it following his part in the NWSL’s abuse scandal. 

"Since I've been here there has been a lot of things going on with this club -- a lot of not-great things going on with this club -- and I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction, and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” Smith said. 

"Their vision for this club is so exciting, and you can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be and continuing to push the standard in women's soccer globally.”

Caitlin Clark offered $5 million to compete in Ice Cube’s league

IOWA CITY, IOWA- MARCH 25: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as time runs out in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round match-up in the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, he confirmed on social media Wednesday after the offer leaked.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on social media. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

While there has yet to be a women's player in the league, both Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie have been part of the league as coaches and won championships.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

Ice Cube, whose name is O’Shea Jackson, says that the offer was made with the intention that Clark be able to compete in the WNBA “offseason.” Clark is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft in April. But it’s unclear how the scheduling of the two leagues would work. 

The 2024 Big3 season is set to tip off on June 15, with 10 games spanning through mid-August. The WNBA regular season, meanwhile, begins on May 14 and ends on Sept. 19.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Jackson said that the league has yet to hear back from Clark. 

“We just need an answer, as soon as they are ready to give it to us,” he said. “It’s always 50-50 till we get a no. At the end of the day, it’s a generous offer.”

The offer – as well as the confusion on Jackson’s part about the timing of the WNBA season – caused some current WNBA players to react. 

"It's funny cause I be seeing his son at W games.. they don't talk?" wrote former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard

"So no other women's basketball player has came to mind in the last 7 years?" wrote Lexie Brown, adding that she'd support if Ice Cube wanted to build a women's iteration of the league. She later discussed it on the Gils Arena Show, noting that his reasoning of wanting to “uplift and support WNBA players and women athletes” is a “cop out.”

Kalani Brown, meanwhile, told Clark to "take that money" and start a women's Big3.

WNBA salaries has been a talking point in recent months as more collegiate stars declare for the league. WNBA stars have often made more money playing abroad than they have in the WNBA. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, with a rookie salary of $76,535 for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1-4) that rises to $97,582 by her fourth season. But she also has an NIL valuation of almost $3.5 million.

Diana Taurasi famously skipped the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian club, who paid her more to sit out than she would have made in the W. Her contract with the club was reportedly near $1.5 million per year.

Jackson also seemed to suggest that his league could be an alternative to going abroad

“America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet,” he wrote. Although it’s unclear whether or not the rapper intends to make offers to additional WNBA players. 

While the league does hold prioritization rules in its CBA, those typically apply only to players playing in overseas leagues. It’s unclear whether or not that would prevent Clark’s participation in the Big3 league.

WNBA players that don’t want to go overseas currently have the option of playing in Athletes Unlimited, which competes in the WNBA offseason.

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