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 Influences
03:35 The Coach Close Basketball Method
06:28 Achievements and Reflections on Awards
09:11 Mental Conditioning and Player Development
13:13 Challenges and Lessons from the Final Four
17:43 Navigating NIL and Financial Conversations
23:50 Future of Women's College Basketball

UCLA WBB head coach Cori Close joins Laura to talk about a culture that outlasts banners and awards&mdash;sweeping the sheds, nurturing the roots, and why &ldquo;coaching people&rsquo;s hearts&rdquo; 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&mdash;and how gratitude, discipline, and &ldquo;uncommon&rdquo; choices turn talent into titles.
 01:18 Coach Cori Close's Journey and Early Influences 03:35 The Coach Close Basketball Method 06:28 Achievements and Reflections on Awards 09:11 Mental Conditioning and Player Development 13:13 Challenges and Lessons from the Final Four 17:43 Navigating NIL and Financial Conversations 23:50 Future of Women's College Basketball

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.

Women&rsquo;s sports aren&rsquo;t just growing&mdash;they&rsquo;re booming. And Courtside is where you&rsquo;ll get the inside track on the deals, disruptors, and dollars driving the industry forward.&nbsp;Hosted by Laura Correnti, award-winning media executive and founder of Deep Blue Sports &amp; Entertainment, this podcast goes beyond the scores to spotlight the power players, trends, and investments shaping the future of this billion-dollar business.&nbsp;From groundbreaking sponsorships to media rights battles and the investors betting big, Courtside delivers the play-by-play on how women&rsquo;s sports are changing the game. Whether you&rsquo;re an industry insider, investor, athlete, or a fan ready to see women&rsquo;s sports thrive, this is your front-row seat to the action: Courtside.

Courtside with Laura Correnti

Broom & Shovel Leadership: Cori Close on Building an Uncommon Program

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e75e207e-173e-4c4a-8e6d-b35c0022dd89/transcript

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, Women's Sports had its own main stage. And Courtside was holding court, talking to mega star athletes and entrepreneurs like Allyson Felix and Sue Bird; massive brands like Catalyst, Athlos, and Sequel; and teams like Man City and the New York Liberty. Everyone came together to offer proof points of the Courtside thesis: that women's sports is a massive opportunity for any brand, the fandom is the bomb, and no one needs to be convinced that we matter anymore.

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, Women's Sports had its own main stage. And Courtside was holding court, talking to mega star athletes and entrepreneurs like Allyson Felix and Sue Bird; massive brands like Catalyst, Athlos, and Sequel; and teams like Man City and the New York Liberty. Everyone came together to offer proof points of the Courtside thesis: that women's sports is a massive opportunity for any brand, the fandom is the bomb, and no one needs to be convinced that we matter anymore.

Away Game: Courtside Live at Cannes!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/93e9bdd6-e1f8-45d9-8e25-b48701342505/transcript

We take a look back at a huge through line of the Courtside show: how important it is to pay attention to how we're developing health infrastructure around all athletes. You can make the business case for it; the human case is obvious. With the influx of attention, money, and partners pouring into women's sports, we highlight the people who know what to do with it.

We take a look back at a huge through line of the Courtside show: how important it is to pay attention to how we're developing health infrastructure around all athletes. You can make the business case for it; the human case is obvious. With the influx of attention, money, and partners pouring into women's sports, we highlight the people who know what to do with it.

Game Tape: A Courtside Review of Athlete Health

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a9f2a0cd-276a-4e64-9904-b458001538f1/transcript

Yael Averbach West grew up the lone girl on a boys' soccer team in Montclair, New Jersey, went on to wear the UNC kit and earn USWNT caps, and now runs one of the NWSL's most decorated clubs as two-time champion GM of NJ/NY Gotham FC. She joins Laura for a Jersey-girl conversation about the grit it took to get here — and the vision it takes to stay on top. They dig into how the women's professional game has transformed from survival mode to sold-out stadiums, why winning isn't enough if no one knows your players exist, what Gotham actually needs from commercial partners, and what it means to build a club culture that reflects the community that raised you.

 

00:00 Welcome Back to Courtside 

01:00 Growing Up Soccer in Jersey: The Boys Team Decision 

04:45 UNC and Finding Her People 

07:30 From the WPS to the NWSL: Surviving to Thriving 

11:00 What's Actually Changed for Players (and What Hasn't) 

15:30 Building the Gotham Standard: Infrastructure, Facilities, and Player Care 

21:00 ACL Injuries, Data, and Making Insights Actionable 

23:30 Connecting the On-Field Product to Commercial Growth 

28:30 How the GM Role Has Evolved 

31:00 What Gotham Actually Needs from Partners 

33:00 The Season Ahead and Citi Field Announcement

Yael Averbach West grew up the lone girl on a boys' soccer team in Montclair, New Jersey, went on to wear the UNC kit and earn USWNT caps, and now runs one of the NWSL's most decorated clubs as two-time champion GM of NJ/NY Gotham FC. She joins Laura for a Jersey-girl conversation about the grit it took to get here &mdash; and the vision it takes to stay on top. They dig into how the women's professional game has transformed from survival mode to sold-out stadiums, why winning isn't enough if no one knows your players exist, what Gotham actually needs from commercial partners, and what it means to build a club culture that reflects the community that raised you.
&nbsp;
00:00 Welcome Back to Courtside&nbsp;
01:00 Growing Up Soccer in Jersey: The Boys Team Decision&nbsp;
04:45 UNC and Finding Her People&nbsp;
07:30 From the WPS to the NWSL: Surviving to Thriving&nbsp;
11:00 What's Actually Changed for Players (and What Hasn't)&nbsp;
15:30 Building the Gotham Standard: Infrastructure, Facilities, and Player Care&nbsp;
21:00 ACL Injuries, Data, and Making Insights Actionable&nbsp;
23:30 Connecting the On-Field Product to Commercial Growth&nbsp;
28:30 How the GM Role Has Evolved&nbsp;
31:00 What Gotham Actually Needs from Partners&nbsp;
33:00 The Season Ahead and Citi Field Announcement

Yael Averbach West on Building a Dynasty at Gotham FC

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5d86cbfa-e716-4c36-98ba-b44a0043e160/transcript

Broom & Shovel Leadership: Cori Close on Building an Uncommon Program

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