In the latest episode of Sporticast, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss the biggest sports business stories of the week, including NWSL’s partnership with crypto lender Voyager Digital.
A deal announced last year included funding for league cash and NWSL players, but Voyager filed for bankruptcy last month before those accounts were funded. NWSL recently sent a letter to players stating that it is unclear when or if that money will appear. The league also said it would consider sharing some of the cash received in the first year of the contract before Voyager enters Chapter 11.
Crypto companies have pledged to spend billions of dollars on sports over the past year. The decline of many cryptocurrencies and the bankruptcy of several prominent lenders/trading platforms has created new uncertainties for many of these transactions.
The host also discusses two key pieces of last week’s NFL news. First, the league is appealing Deshawn Watson’s six-game suspension. This is the first major test of the league’s new disciplinary system. Meanwhile, the NFL has fined Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross $1.5 million for a first-round draft pick after an investigation found the team was unlawfully contacting Tom Brady. but there was no evidence that he bribed the coach into losing the game.
Finally, the two discuss XFL retaining PJT partners and considering potential capital raises ahead of next year’s debut season.
(You can subscribe to Sporticast in the following ways: apple, Google, Spotify Or any other place where you can get podcasts. )