Women’s sports are surging. Participation is climbing, purses are growing, arenas are selling out, and today, we’re spotlighting the people and ideas powering that momentum: from the LPGA and USGA, fast-rising leagues like the PWHL, tech-forward formats like TGL, and iconic brands like the Harlem Globetrotters.

You’ll hear from the following guests:

• (0:40) Danette Leighton, Women’s Sports Foundation
• (5:52) Liz Moore, LPGA
• (13:19) Mollie Marcoux Samaan, former LPGA Commissioner
• (20:06) Jon Podany, USGA
• (24:05) Amy Scheer, PWHL
• (27:18) Jon Kropp, TGL
• (30:44) Jayne Bussman-Wise, PWHL
• (35:06) Keith Dawkins, Harlem Globetrotters

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the current boom in women’s sports is decades in the making: “five generations” of Title IX turning access into audience and investment
• How the U.S. Women’s Open doubled its purse to $12M in just three years and landed prime-time coverage at Pebble Beach
• PWHL’s breakout with sold-out arenas (including a rapid 19,000 seat sellout), single-entity agility, and expansion to eight teams
• How TGL’s tech format lets men and women compete side by side, and why expansion to new venues is next
• The Globetrotters’ co-ed future, from Lynette Woodard’s trailblazing role to today’s strategy that treats inclusion as smart audience growth

Resources and Links:

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

The Cleveland Cavaliers EVP & CIO Mike Conley turned the Cavs’ digital channels from a cost center into a multimillion-dollar revenue engine. And that shift laid the groundwork for their boldest move yet: standing up a 24/7 sports network inside the organization.

With RSN economics wobbling, Mike explains how the Cavs built optionality and formed a joint venture with Gray Media to launch Rock Entertainment Sports Network after a six-week sprint—so the club could produce live events, original programming, and distribute across both linear and streaming footprints. That mix already reaches ~2.4M Ohio households!

You’ll also hear Mike’s tactical thoughts around why every team needs media DNA, what a club-side broadcast stack looks like now, where in-house production makes sense (and where it doesn’t!) and how governance and culture drive execution.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How the Cavs and Gray Media stood up Rock Entertainment Sports Network before the ’24-’25 season to protect against RSN volatility
• The omnichannel footprint behind 2.4M households: OTA (22.1 NE Ohio), Spectrum/Charter, NCTC, plus new signals in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton
• Why broadcast now sits with IT/BI under the CIO, moving to IP video and Dante audio, and what that unlocks
• The early Cavs mandate to shift web from PR to revenue, from $900K to $6.7M in two years
• Mike’s honest view on going in-house, and lessons from peers like the Pelicans, Suns, Jazz, Rangers, and Stars

Resources and Links:

Connect with Mike Conley on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

What does it take to turn the world’s most famous marathon into a year-round digital platform?

Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, is leading the charge, launching an app with 210K+ downloads in its first few months, building an in-house content studio, and forging global partnerships that could redefine what it means to be a “major.”

Drawing on a career that’s spanned ESPN’s control rooms to NBC’s direct-to-consumer pivots, Rob shares how those lessons are shaping NYRR’s tech roadmap and growth strategy. He also pulls back the curtain on serving 200,000+ youth, managing 40 races a year, and navigating unprecedented demand for NYC Marathon spots, all while keeping community impact at the core.

Plus, you’ll hear how storytelling through projects like Final Finishers is helping NYRR capture the emotional heart of the sport.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Rob’s front-row view of ESPN’s evolution, and what today’s rights holders should copy (and avoid) as direct-to-consumer finally goes all-in.
• How NYRR turned a race-day utility into a year-round product with 210,000+ downloads since March
• NYRR’s approach to redesigning registration, adding Strava-powered virtuals, and expanding member value
• Why NYRR invested in an in-house studio (East 89th Street Productions) to own its narrative, create sponsor-friendly assets, and showcase runners’ most emotional moments
• Sydney’s addition, Cape Town and Shanghai on track, and why a nine-star medal might be coming (plus what that means for runners and host cities)

Resources and Links:

Connect with Rob Simmeljkaer on LinkedIn.

Learn more about the New York Road Runners on their website and tune in to their podcast, Set the Pace, co-hosted by Rob.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

Mollie Marcoux Samaan has led some of the most complex and high-stakes organizations in sports, and she’s done it with vision, grit, and results, all while challenging the status quo.

As the former LPGA Commissioner, Princeton Athletic Director, and EVP at Chelsea Piers, Mollie shares how she helped grow average player earnings at the LPGA by over 100%, navigated the global logistics of women’s golf, and pushed for a more athlete-centered approach that balances performance, mental health, and long-term sustainability. She also breaks down why women’s sports are finally reaching a tipping point and what still needs to happen to keep momentum going.

This conversation also explores the complexity of modern college athletics, where NIL, the transfer portal, and billion-dollar football programs are reshaping the landscape in real time.

Mollie offers a candid perspective on why Ivy League schools are staying true to their values, and why now, more than ever—we need sports to develop not just elite athletes, but resilient, confident leaders.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Mollie doubled average player earnings to over $1 million at the LPGA by negotiating marquee tournament purses and improving performance infrastructure
• Why Ivy League schools are opting out of “pay for play” and why they view athletics as a co-curricular, not commercial, enterprise
• The tech gap holding back women’s sports, including the missing scaffolding that’s essential to building fandom, improving storytelling, and growing revenue
• What new leagues like PWHL, Athletes Unlimited, and League One Volleyball can learn from legacy organizations like the LPGA
• Why 94% of women in the C-suite were athletes, and how sports build confidence, resilience, and leadership

Resources and Links:

Connect with Mollie Marcoux Samaan on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Women Leaders In Sports on their website.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

Jean Manuel Jimenez has helped grow soccer in one of the toughest U.S. markets without a stadium, a team legacy, or a roster of stars. As SVP of Commercial Partnerships at Mediapro, he shares how he’s brought bold ideas to life at the intersection of tech, culture, and sports, from launching Inter Miami CF to redefining how fans engage with emerging leagues.

Mediapro is transforming soundstages into next-gen sports venues, including for Unrivaled, a 3v3 women’s basketball league, and the rapidly growing sport of padel. These aren’t massive stadiums, but they’re engineered for intimacy, intensity, and innovation.

You’ll also hear why reaching the US Hispanic market isn’t about language - it’s about cultural fluency. Jean breaks down how food, music, values, and storytelling play a much bigger role in driving connection than translation alone.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Mediapro is powering padel and women’s 3v3 basketball with immersive studio venues that rival traditional arenas
• Jean’s journey launching Inter Miami CF from the ground up as Employee #4, without a stadium, AND still winning a Telly Award
• Jean’s perspective on why reaching US Hispanics in sports is more about culture than language
• Behind the scenes of building the Wayfair Arena and the Pro Padel tour logistics
• How to time partnerships with up-and-coming leagues and why the future of sports broadcasting might not be inside traditional stadiums

Resources and Links:

Connect with Jean Jimenez on LinkedIn and learn more about Mediapro on their website.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

The Harlem Globetrotters are approaching their 100th anniversary, and President Keith Dawkins is here to unpack the high-stakes strategy behind reintroducing the Globetrotters to a new generation, and the urgency driving it.

Keith brings his deep background in media, from Viacom to Nickelodeon, to explain why the Globetrotters can’t rely on a tour-only model in today’s content-saturated world. With a looming centennial in 2026, Keith is leading a massive repositioning effort, expanding into TV, licensing, and digital media to meet audiences where they are. He candidly shares how they’re addressing generational disconnects, signing elite athletes like Alexis Morris, and leveraging nostalgia without getting stuck in the past.

You’ll also hear how the Globetrotters are doubling down on social impact, inclusion, and family entertainment. This episode is packed with lessons on staying relevant and leading with purpose.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why Keith believes the Globetrotters were at risk of fading from public consciousness - and how they’re turning it around
• How the Globetrotters returned to TV after 40 years and reached 1.5M weekly viewers
• What it REALLY takes to be a Globetrotter - even NCAA champions and WNBA draft picks often struggle to make the cut
• Why co-ed teams and signing elite women athletes is core to the brand’s future
• Keith shares his evolution from “maker to suit” and why curiosity is the ultimate superpower for leadership

Resources and Links:

Connect with Keith Dawkins on LinkedIn and learn more about the Harlem Globetrotters on their website.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

What happens when you combine PGA Tour superstars, a massive custom-built golf simulator, and real-time team competition, all under one roof?

You get TGL, a next-generation indoor golf league that’s redefining the sport. In this episode, Dave sits down with Jon Kropp, VP of Digital Media at TGL, who shares how this new format came to life and why it’s captivating fans, athletes, and tech partners.

Jon was one of the earliest employees at TGL and shares how he helped develop new content pipelines for the league while working with partners like ESPN, SiriusXM, and FanDuel.

Jon also discusses what it means to operate like a startup while managing a high-stakes product watched by millions. He opens up about radar tracking and their shape-shifting green that allows real-world finishing shots on a virtual course.

TGL might just be the model for the future of fan engagement.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How TGL built a real-life putting surface with over 500 actuators that change shape mid-match
• Jon’s team of 30+ content creators and the struggle to keep up with the pace of play
• Jon’s thoughts on what’s next for TGL: more teams, more venues, and the potential inclusion of women’s competitions powered by tech-enabled parity
• How the TGL team approached testing, simulation, and infrastructure buildout for a brand-new format

Resources and Links:

Learn more about TGL on their website and follow @tglgolf on Instagram.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.

What happens when you invite 30 employees from every corner of a sports organization to talk about what frustrates them most at work - and then actually build AI solutions around it?

At the Portland Trail Blazers, it sparked an AI transformation that’s saving hours, surfacing sales leads, and bringing fans closer to the brand.

In this episode, Christa Stout and David Long share how they’ve embedded innovation into the DNA of the Blazers not just through flashy tech, but by empowering their people. From internal tools like “David Detractor” and “Kelly Kindness” to reimagined hiring processes and game-day feedback loops, they’re here to break down how they’re turning day-to-day inefficiencies into scalable wins.

You’ll also hear how their collaborative approach with the NBA and other teams is accelerating progress across the league, why AI success hinges more on behavior change than code, and how personal stories remind them what the work is really about.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How the Blazers formed a 30+ person cross-functional AI committee to co-create AI tools that addressed their pain points
• Why tools like David Detractor and Kelly Kindness are transforming post-game surveys into sales opportunities and deeper fan connection
• The framework the Blazers use to evaluate EVERY AI use case: drive revenue, cut costs, improve productivity, or elevate the customer experience
• How a fully automated hiring packet generator is shaving weeks off job posting workflows
• How a 12-year-old fan’s Pride Night experience became a defining moment for the Blazers

Resources and Links:

Connect with Christa Stout and David Long on LinkedIn.

Christa and David referenced these tools: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Qualtrics, and Zapier.

Learn more about Next League on our website and LinkedIn. We are leading sports organizations into the digital future.