Hot Cakes & Hot Takes: 5 Key Articles of the Week
Women’s sports receive 4% of media coverage. Just 4% in a time where the US Women's soccer team
has won back to back world cups, the top female ice hockey players are fighting for a sustainable
professional league, and the W.N.B.A is wrapping up their season. Female athletes deserve more than
the 4% of coverage they receive.
has won back to back world cups, the top female ice hockey players are fighting for a sustainable
professional league, and the W.N.B.A is wrapping up their season. Female athletes deserve more than
the 4% of coverage they receive.
We hope to raise awareness to their important, meaningful and critical stories each Sunday by
highlighting impactful articles of the week. While you Sunday brunch with your hot cakes, read
our hot takes:
highlighting impactful articles of the week. While you Sunday brunch with your hot cakes, read
our hot takes:
The NHL has hired its FIRST ever female pro scout, Cammi Granato. She is the former captain of the
USA women's hockey team, has a gold medal from the 1998 Winter Olympics, has been inducted into
the International Hockey Hall of Fame (2008), the US Hockey Hall of Fame (2009), as well as the
Hockey Hall of Fame (2010). She is more than qualified for the position.
USA women's hockey team, has a gold medal from the 1998 Winter Olympics, has been inducted into
the International Hockey Hall of Fame (2008), the US Hockey Hall of Fame (2009), as well as the
Hockey Hall of Fame (2010). She is more than qualified for the position.
When she was asked “why women traditionally have not gone into scouting, Granato said:
"I think we could probably ask that question about so many things in sports. Maybe even more
than sports. Why? There isn't really an answer besides they weren't considered. Right now, I feel
there is this energy and momentum and you're seeing women in different positions getting jobs they
are qualified for, but never got the opportunity for." This is monumental for the industry and is cracking
the door slightly open for women athletes at the National Hockey League. There needs to be more
opportunities for women in professional sports. This is the first step in shattering the glass ceilings in
professional sports. Congrats to Cammi on this huge career move.
"I think we could probably ask that question about so many things in sports. Maybe even more
than sports. Why? There isn't really an answer besides they weren't considered. Right now, I feel
there is this energy and momentum and you're seeing women in different positions getting jobs they
are qualified for, but never got the opportunity for." This is monumental for the industry and is cracking
the door slightly open for women athletes at the National Hockey League. There needs to be more
opportunities for women in professional sports. This is the first step in shattering the glass ceilings in
professional sports. Congrats to Cammi on this huge career move.
The US Women’s National Soccer (USWMNT) team is fighting for equal pay, and treatment by the
US soccer federation. The women have presented that if they were to play in and win 20 national team
matches, they would earn US$99,000 — just 38 per cent of the US$263,320 that a man would receive
for the same accomplishment.
US soccer federation. The women have presented that if they were to play in and win 20 national team
matches, they would earn US$99,000 — just 38 per cent of the US$263,320 that a man would receive
for the same accomplishment.
Furthermore, there are inequities around playing, training and travel conditions. The women receive
less investment in long-term player development, promotional budgets and very limited merchandising
opportunities. They have been consistently called upon to not only win but dominate their sport with less
given to them.
less investment in long-term player development, promotional budgets and very limited merchandising
opportunities. They have been consistently called upon to not only win but dominate their sport with less
given to them.
These women are fighting for something greater than themselves. For far too long women have been
told that they are not profitable in sports so they can’t possibly be paid as much. The USWMNT is changing the narrative.
told that they are not profitable in sports so they can’t possibly be paid as much. The USWMNT is changing the narrative.
We are inspired by the USWMNT courage and ability to say enough is enough pay up. However,
we wonder with the olympics coming up next year, if there is no resolution will they boycott? We will
keep you updated as the lawsuit continues.
we wonder with the olympics coming up next year, if there is no resolution will they boycott? We will
keep you updated as the lawsuit continues.
The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and Professional Women’s Hockey Players
Association (PWHPA) are at a stand still. On one side of the argument it’s understandable where
the players are coming from in that they are trying to grow the game for a sustainable future. They
are looking to guarantee that little girls can dream of playing in this league and then in 10-15 years
play in it themselves. Surely, there is a lot of nobility and sacrifice in that. It is hard not to root for the
sustainability and equality of players.
Association (PWHPA) are at a stand still. On one side of the argument it’s understandable where
the players are coming from in that they are trying to grow the game for a sustainable future. They
are looking to guarantee that little girls can dream of playing in this league and then in 10-15 years
play in it themselves. Surely, there is a lot of nobility and sacrifice in that. It is hard not to root for the
sustainability and equality of players.
However, on the other hand you have Rylan and the NWHL who have fought day in and day out to
make the league happen in the first place. With the collapsing of the CWHL this past spring it certainly
looked that there would FINALLY be 1 sustainable league. It’s a major gamble on the PWHPA side
that this is the right time to do this. Should they have given one league a chance and then conducted
the strike? It would be hard not to take this personally at the NWHL. To be honest, were not sure that
it isn't personal.
make the league happen in the first place. With the collapsing of the CWHL this past spring it certainly
looked that there would FINALLY be 1 sustainable league. It’s a major gamble on the PWHPA side
that this is the right time to do this. Should they have given one league a chance and then conducted
the strike? It would be hard not to take this personally at the NWHL. To be honest, were not sure that
it isn't personal.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. We aren't sure at what point the NWHL became
the enemy of the players in the league, but it certainly seems like some of the players will never return
to the league. The players hope the NHL or USA hockey will step up and support a professional
women’s league. In order to have a sustainable future this does need to happen, but couldn’t the
NWHL be that future? We will follow this closely, as like the NWHL and PWHLA have said it’s all for
#futureofthegame. They both want the same goal, is there a way for them to work together to get there?
the enemy of the players in the league, but it certainly seems like some of the players will never return
to the league. The players hope the NHL or USA hockey will step up and support a professional
women’s league. In order to have a sustainable future this does need to happen, but couldn’t the
NWHL be that future? We will follow this closely, as like the NWHL and PWHLA have said it’s all for
#futureofthegame. They both want the same goal, is there a way for them to work together to get there?
Currently there are 12 W.N.B.A teams, 50% of each team is owned by the W.N.B.A corporation
and the other 50% is owned by the NBA Owners. This works out to N.B.A. ownership of about
70 percent of the league. However, the women in the W.N.B.A are still severely underpaid as the
NBA claims that they lose money on the league.
and the other 50% is owned by the NBA Owners. This works out to N.B.A. ownership of about
70 percent of the league. However, the women in the W.N.B.A are still severely underpaid as the
NBA claims that they lose money on the league.
“A W.N.B.A. team’s salary cap is just under $1 million; the maximum salary for a player is $117,900,
a figure that has changed little to account for star power or experience. (Sue Bird, a guard on the Storm
and one of the league’s biggest names, says she has had a total of about a 1 percent raise over her 1
7-year career, less than the cost-of-living increase in Seattle.) It is believed the league’s revenue is
about $70 million, which would mean the players are getting less than 20 percent; N.B.A. players
get 50 percent of their league’s revenue” (Tingley).
a figure that has changed little to account for star power or experience. (Sue Bird, a guard on the Storm
and one of the league’s biggest names, says she has had a total of about a 1 percent raise over her 1
7-year career, less than the cost-of-living increase in Seattle.) It is believed the league’s revenue is
about $70 million, which would mean the players are getting less than 20 percent; N.B.A. players
get 50 percent of their league’s revenue” (Tingley).
The W.N.B.A is falling victim to leagues in europe being willing to pay top talent more money.
They need the NBA to support them and pay them what they deserve, which considering Lebron
James makes about 35 million a year, they can spare a dollar or two to the women.
They need the NBA to support them and pay them what they deserve, which considering Lebron
James makes about 35 million a year, they can spare a dollar or two to the women.
Furthermore, to progress the W.N.B.A to the next level they need to increase their exposure
through television. Currently, ESPN covers 16 of their 204 games in a season and after that teams
are on their own for local broadcasting stations. They need their games to be shown in the living
rooms across America.
through television. Currently, ESPN covers 16 of their 204 games in a season and after that teams
are on their own for local broadcasting stations. They need their games to be shown in the living
rooms across America.
The W.N.B.A has withstood the test of time so far, but they are also fighting for equal pay and treatment.
What will be the catalyst to get the NBA to step up?
What will be the catalyst to get the NBA to step up?
There has been a change in the atmosphere and we aren't just talking about global warming!
Typically women’s sports have accounted for only .4% of sponsorship spending but this rapidly
changing due to the increase in demand for professional women’s sports.
Typically women’s sports have accounted for only .4% of sponsorship spending but this rapidly
changing due to the increase in demand for professional women’s sports.
First off, if you are going to have a victory tour in stadiums across America you are going to need beer!
Thus, when Budweiser announced it would become the first official beer sponsor of the USWMNT
victory tour people were ecstatic. Furthermore, “their #WontStopWatching tagline implied a deeper
understanding of the issues at hand and how they might be able to best leverage their power to affect
change” (Lebel).
Thus, when Budweiser announced it would become the first official beer sponsor of the USWMNT
victory tour people were ecstatic. Furthermore, “their #WontStopWatching tagline implied a deeper
understanding of the issues at hand and how they might be able to best leverage their power to affect
change” (Lebel).
“Procter and Gamble, an official sponsor of U.S. Soccer, urged the governing body to “be on the right
side of history” in a full-page ad in the New York Times while simultaneously announcing a US$529,000
donation in support of closing the gender pay gap” (Lebel).
side of history” in a full-page ad in the New York Times while simultaneously announcing a US$529,000
donation in support of closing the gender pay gap” (Lebel).
There are many other major brands like VISA, Lunar Bar, Fox Sports, and Nike who are stepping up
and advocating for equal pay and treatment. What does this mean for the future? Brands have the
power to greatly influence the support for womens sports across all leagues through their advertisements, and social media. It also means that consumers have the power to influence the success of the brand
depending on the brands stance surrounding social movements.
and advocating for equal pay and treatment. What does this mean for the future? Brands have the
power to greatly influence the support for womens sports across all leagues through their advertisements, and social media. It also means that consumers have the power to influence the success of the brand
depending on the brands stance surrounding social movements.
Food For Thought:
The US Women’s Soccer Team, the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), the NWHL (National
Women’s Hockey League), the PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association) and
W.N.B.A are all fighting for similar causes. Yes they report to different structures, but ultimately they
all want the same thing: a platform for professional women’s sports. They support each other through
tweets and social media, but have they ever actually done something on a major platform to fight for this?
It would be interesting to see the leaders of each organization band together and fight for the exposure
and sustainability they each long for. Is there a way for them all to collectively join the fight together?
How does it look like? Does it all start with brands bridging the gap?
Women’s Hockey League), the PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association) and
W.N.B.A are all fighting for similar causes. Yes they report to different structures, but ultimately they
all want the same thing: a platform for professional women’s sports. They support each other through
tweets and social media, but have they ever actually done something on a major platform to fight for this?
It would be interesting to see the leaders of each organization band together and fight for the exposure
and sustainability they each long for. Is there a way for them all to collectively join the fight together?
How does it look like? Does it all start with brands bridging the gap?
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