Former WNBA President and Upshot League founder Donna Orender joins Laura to talk about why she’s launching a new pro league—and why the moment demands it. She shares lessons from her time leading the W, the structural gaps she’s aiming to fill, and what it takes to create community-rooted franchises that are more than just teams—they’re assets.

 

00:29 Meet Donna Orender

02:05 Donna's Early Love for Basketball

06:51 Building Belief and Overcoming Obstacles

10:40 The Hardest Job: Transforming the WNBA

17:00 Reflecting on Success and Future Endeavors

21:29 Introducing the Upshot League

24:18 Opportunities for Athletes and Coaches

27:45 Fundraising and Selling the Vision

34:45 Naming the Upshot League

Former WNBA President and Upshot League founder Donna Orender joins Laura to talk about why she&rsquo;s launching a new pro league&mdash;and why the moment demands it. She shares lessons from her time leading the W, the structural gaps she&rsquo;s aiming to fill, and what it takes to create community-rooted franchises that are more than just teams&mdash;they&rsquo;re assets.
&nbsp;
00:29 Meet Donna Orender
02:05 Donna's Early Love for Basketball
06:51 Building Belief and Overcoming Obstacles
10:40 The Hardest Job: Transforming the WNBA
17:00 Reflecting on Success and Future Endeavors
21:29 Introducing the Upshot League
24:18 Opportunities for Athletes and Coaches
27:45 Fundraising and Selling the Vision
34:45 Naming the Upshot League

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

Building the Opportunity League: Donna Orender on The Upshot

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/faf21590-0849-4015-93ad-b2eb00dd2996/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

Laura joins the Possible NOW Podcast with Christian Muche to discuss why women’s sports isn’t charity—it’s business. Drawing on her career identifying white space and turning it into opportunity, Laura unpacks the myths keeping advertisers on the sidelines, how athletes are redefining ownership through their own media platforms, and why the next billion-dollar growth story in sports will be led by women.

 

02:08 Laura's Early Love for Sports
04:17 The Transferable Skills from Sports to Leadership
08:34 The Business Case for Women's Sports
17:08 The Impact of Media and Athlete Platforms
25:11 Innovative Sponsorship Models
31:35 Future Visions and Partnerships
37:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Laura joins the Possible NOW Podcast with Christian Muche to discuss why women&rsquo;s sports isn&rsquo;t charity&mdash;it&rsquo;s business. Drawing on her career identifying white space and turning it into opportunity, Laura unpacks the myths keeping advertisers on the sidelines, how athletes are redefining ownership through their own media platforms, and why the next billion-dollar growth story in sports will be led by women.
&nbsp;
02:08 Laura's Early Love for Sports 04:17 The Transferable Skills from Sports to Leadership 08:34 The Business Case for Women's Sports 17:08 The Impact of Media and Athlete Platforms 25:11 Innovative Sponsorship Models 31:35 Future Visions and Partnerships 37:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Courtside Away Game: Laura Correnti on Possible Now with Christian Muche

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/24ebf755-93ee-4236-8a54-b38c0015724e/transcript

Building the Opportunity League: Donna Orender on The Upshot

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