Naomi Osaka is World’s Highest-paid Female Athlete
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is the highest-paid female athlete of the past year with $55.2 million in total earnings, per the latest estimates from Sportico. The 23-year-old tennis phenom earned $5.2 million in on-court earnings and $50 million in endorsements, which places her No. 15 among all athletes overall.
Angel City FC Strikes Inaugural Deal with Christen Press
The NWSL’s newest team announced its first signing on Monday, USWNT standout Christen Press. The LA native expressed her excitement for the opportunity to bring the women’s game to her home city with Angel City FC. The contract makes her one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Paralympic Games Begin in Today in Tokyo
Over 3,500 athletes will disabilities from all over the world will take to their respective sports today in Tokyo for a shot at gold medal glory. Paralympians will compete across 540 events — includingbadminton and taekwondo for the first time. The games take place through Sept. 5.
College Football Alliance Announcement Expected Today
The Big Ten, Pac-12, and ACC are expected to formally announce details of an alliance today that stands to alter the playing field in college football. While details are sparse as of this writing, The Athletic reports that the trio will work together on various issues relating to the expansion of the college football playoff and NCAA governance.
Bills, Gov. Officials Progress in Stadium Talks
A bid to build a new NFL stadium in the Buffalo area gained momentum Monday as multiple parties involved met to begin negotiations on what it will take to bring Bills fans a new billion-dollar venue, reports Tim Graham of The Athletic. representatives from ownership entity Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE), the State of New York, and Erie County all met at Highmark Stadium to discuss the future of the 49-year-old Orchard Park facility, as well as whether a proposal from PSE to build a $1.4B stadium next door makes sense.
Dapper Labs Lands Contract With La Liga
La Liga, the top flight of Spanish soccer, has signed a deal with NBA Top Shot creator blockchain technology company Dapper Labs to generate similar NFT collectibles and experiences beginning in June 2022. Although the details of the deal are not yet known, it is expected to resemble Dapper Labs’ pact with the NBA and NBPA, which includes a revenue-sharing clause for transactions on the secondary market.
Caesars Bets on Arizona with College Football Bowl Deals
Caesars Entertainment upped the ante, becoming the first sportsbook to partner with a college football bowl game. The Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl, both to be held in Arizona, will feature Ceasars-sponsored pregame parties and on-site lounges. Legal sports betting is set to begin in Arizona on Sept. 9.
Braves Become First MLB Team to Ink NIL Deals
The Atlanta Braves have added two athletes to their roster — and neither will ever see any action on the baseball diamond. The team emerged as the first MLB team to ink a NIL deal, signing Georgia Tech quarterback Jordan Yates and University of Georgia gymnast Rachel Baumann, who will each receive a stipend, Braves gear, and commissions for any tickets sold via their social media platforms.