If you know nothing else about women’s hockey, you probably know Hilary Knight. The 5-time Olympic medalist has played the most games in U.S. Women’s Hockey history. She has also served as the captain of two PWHL teams and is one of the reasons the league exists in the first place. In 2019, Hilary was among several players who vowed to boycott any North American league that was not financially sustainable. In 2022, the players entered into a partnership with Mark Walter and Billie Jean King to launch the PWHL. Four years later, the league is selling out games at MSG and accepting a $100 million investment. 

In this episode of The Deal, Hilary details for Jason and Alex the process of starting a league where players were partners from the jump and why Mark Walter and Billie Jean King were the right people to work with. She also explains how the momentum from this year’s Olympics bled into the PWHL season and why Heated Rivalry is one of the best things to ever happen to hockey. Finally, she shares her hopes for her post-playing career (spoiler alert! she wants to own a team) and the responsibility of being the face of her sport. Plus, Alex shares a business idea and tells Hilary why she reminds him of NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill.

If you know nothing else about women&rsquo;s hockey, you probably know Hilary Knight. The 5-time Olympic medalist has played the most games in U.S. Women&rsquo;s Hockey history. She has also served as the captain of two PWHL teams and is one of the reasons the league exists in the first place. In 2019, Hilary was among several players who vowed to boycott any North American league that was not financially sustainable. In 2022, the players entered into a partnership with Mark Walter and Billie Jean King to launch the PWHL. Four years later, the league is selling out games at MSG and accepting a $100 million investment.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Deal, Hilary details for Jason and Alex the process of starting a league where players were partners from the jump and why Mark Walter and Billie Jean King were the right people to work with. She also explains how the momentum from this year&rsquo;s Olympics bled into the PWHL season and why Heated Rivalry is one of the best things to ever happen to hockey. Finally, she shares her hopes for her post-playing career (spoiler alert! she wants to own a team) and the responsibility of being the face of her sport. Plus, Alex shares a business idea and tells Hilary why she reminds him of NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill.

When sports, business and culture collide, there’s often a deal to be made. Join Alex Rodriguez and Bloomberg correspondent Jason Kelly as they get the inside track from corporate titans, sports champions and game-changing entrepreneurs on investing, strategy, reinvention and the ones that got away. The Deal is a Bloomberg Podcasts and Bloomberg Originals series that’s passionate, relaxed, insightful and inspirational. If you think you know these icons, prepare to be surprised.

Hosts:

Alex Rodriguez is chairman and chief executive of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm that backs startups and partners with global companies across real estate, sports and entertainment. While best known as a fourteen-time All-Star and World Series champion with the New York Yankees, Rodriguez is now an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx sports teams and an on-air analyst for Major League Baseball.

Jason Kelly is the chief correspondent of Bloomberg Originals. During his two decades at Bloomberg, Kelly has served as executive editor of Bloomberg Television, hosted Bloomberg Businessweek on television and radio, and also hosted Power Players and Next in Sports series. He’s also the author of two books, The New Tycoons, about the global private equity industry, and Sweat Equity, an inside look at the business of fitness.

When sports, business and culture collide, there’s often a deal to be made. Join Alex Rodriguez and Bloomberg correspondent Jason Kelly as they get the inside track from corporate titans, sports champions and game-changing entrepreneurs on investing, strategy, reinvention and the ones that got away. The Deal is a Bloomberg Podcasts and Bloomberg Originals series that’s passionate, relaxed, insightful and inspirational. If you think you know these icons, prepare to be surprised.
Hosts:
Alex Rodriguez is chairman and chief executive of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm that backs startups and partners with global companies across real estate, sports and entertainment. While best known as a fourteen-time All-Star and World Series champion with the New York Yankees, Rodriguez is now an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx sports teams and an on-air analyst for Major League Baseball.
Jason Kelly is the chief correspondent of Bloomberg Originals. During his two decades at Bloomberg, Kelly has served as executive editor of Bloomberg Television, hosted Bloomberg Businessweek on television and radio, and also hosted Power Players and Next in Sports series. He’s also the author of two books, The New Tycoons, about the global private equity industry, and Sweat Equity, an inside look at the business of fitness.

The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly

The PWHL is Just Getting Started With Hilary Knight

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/362396f5-203f-4505-8e9f-b48101023557/transcript