We hope you had a great July 4th holiday! Here’s a quick version of Sports Industry Weekly, as we share insights from the most significant business headlines in the sports industry like:

💰 The majority ownership group of the 18-time NBA Championship-winning Boston Celtics franchise is preparing to put the team up for sale.

💸 NIL celebrates its 3rd anniversary as student-athletes continue to capitalize on monetization opportunities across the sports ecosystem.

🏀 Caitlin Clark has been announced as a 2024 WNBA All-Star, securing the top spot in votes across the entire league.

⚽️ Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay (Dean of USC’s Annenberg School) are nearing a deal to purchase control of Angel City FC of the NWSL.

☘️ In 2002, Wyc Grousbeck led the Boston Basketball Partners group in purchasing the Boston Celtics for $360 million. After winning two NBA championships, Grousbeck is planning on selling a majority interest in the historic franchise. Team valuations have surged over the years, with recent sales including the Phoenix Suns at $4 billion, the Milwaukee Bucks at $3.5 billion, and the Dallas Mavericks also at $3.5 billion.

🏈 Texas Tech University and adidas launch a 10-year partnership as the collaboration comes as part of adidas’ evolving work with their signature athlete and Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes. The Three Stripes brand will become the school’s official footwear, uniform, and apparel provider and will also feature Mahomes' new Gladiator logo, marking the first time an adidas athlete partner's logo has been featured on official collegiate apparel.

👯‍♀️ Twin athlete-creators and University of Miami Basketball stars Haley and Hanna Cavinder signed an NIL deal with Under Armour. The twins have become some of the most successful NIL student-athletes, securing brand partnerships with UA, Slate Milk, and Seoul Juice. They have also co-founded Hustle Beauty, showcasing their entrepreneurial spirit.

3️⃣ NIL turns three after college athletes earned the right to monetize their name, image, and likeness on July 1, 2021. NIL marketplace Opendorse predicts the industry to be valued at $1.67 billion this upcoming academic year. University collectives provide over 80% of all NIL compensation as Football and Men’s Basketball lead the way for highest-earning sports.

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🇺🇸 Three-time gold medalist Kevin Durant and 2020 gold medalist A'ja Wilson debuted Team USA’s official basketball jerseys for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Both the men's and women's teams are currently ranked No. 1 in the world by FIBA. The men's team's tournament will begin July 28 when it takes on Serbia while the women will open up tournament play on July 29 against Japan.

🗳 Indiana Fever stars Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston led fan votes for this year’s WNBA All-Star Game. A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Angel Reese rounded out the rest of the top five fan votes. The league’s fans made up 50 percent of the vote, while players and media each accounted for 25 percent. The WNBA All-Stars will compete against the U.S. women's national team All-Stars on July 20th in Phoenix.

⚽️ Angel City FC of the NWSL is said to be valued at a league-high $250 million and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay are close to purchasing a controlling share of the franchise. The team’s current largest ownership stake is held by Serena Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Iger is under contract with Disney, which holds NWSL media rights through 2026, but his term ends a year before the NWSL’s $240 million media rights deals expire in 2027.

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