Daniel Libit

Get the 🔎 out. Here's the latest @sportico.bsky.social valuations for all 154 team in the big five U.S. leagues:

🔴 NFL - $7.13 billion average
🟠 NBA - $5.51 billion average
🟢 MLB - $2.82 billion average
⚫️ NHL - $2.1 billion average
🔵 MLS - $767 million average

Iowa Women’s Hoops Revenue Fell Back to Earth Post-Caitlin Clark In fiscal year 2025, the Hawkeyes relinquished their short-lived status as the top ticket-revenue powerhouse in women’s college basketball.

NEWS: Iowa women’s basketball ticket sales dropped by 27% in FY25, following the departure of Caitlin Clark, per school's latest NCAA financial disclosure obtained by @sportico.bsky.social.

Story from me and @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social 👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

i was told people only care about the name on the front of the jersey.

Iowa Women’s Hoops Revenue Fell Back to Earth Post-Caitlin Clark In fiscal year 2025, the Hawkeyes relinquished their short-lived status as the top ticket-revenue powerhouse in women’s college basketball.

NEWS: Iowa women’s basketball ticket sales dropped by 27% in FY25, following the departure of Caitlin Clark, per school's latest NCAA financial disclosure obtained by @sportico.bsky.social.

Story from me and @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social 👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

So @daniellibit.bsky.social also pointed this out, but I don't really get why many of this year's MFRS reports say DO NOT SHARE this information with the CSC. Brother, this is a public document! The CSC is gonna get it anyway!

WHAT IS NORTHWESTERN STATE HIDING (poorly)!?!?!?

Nebraska Keeps Raising the Net on Women’s Volleyball Spending The Nebraska Cornhuskers spent more than $7 million on its women's volleyball program in FY25, ahead of its women's basketball program at $6.3 million.

🏐SCOOP: Nebraska Volleyball set new spending ($7M) and ticket revenue ($3.2M) records in FY25.

The Huskers’ tix sales last fiscal cycle exceeded those of 39 FBS public football and 71 men’s basketball programs in FY24. Story w/ @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Ex-CEO of Chicago Public Media saw $900,000 payout in 2024, IRS filings show

The nonprofit owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ paid its outgoing CEO more than $900,000 in 2024, new tax filings show, as it engaged in staff cuts and other measures to deal with declining revenue.

Whittingham’s Michigan Gig May Cost Grandkids Free Utah Tuition Whittingham’s decision to accept a new coaching job at Michigan rather than retire comes with consequences for his progeny.

Here's a fun one: Had Utah been Kyle Wittingham's last job, his 11 grandkids would all have been able to attend the University of Utah for free.

His taking the Michigan job appears to have terminated that benefit. More from @daniellibit.bsky.social at Sportico 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Leadership Perks: Riley Gaines Scored Big Bonus From Nonprofit Gaines, the former Kentucky swimmer turned OutKick commentator, banked $474,313 from the conservative political organization in 2024.

NEW: Riley Gaines, the former collegiate swimmer turned right-wing media figure, made $474,313 last year from the conservative nonprofit org, the Leadership Institute. More striking than her total comp was the way it was structured.

For @sportico.bsky.social 👇

www.sportico.com/business/med...

SPORTICO: “Riley Gaines received $474,313 in compensation last year from the Leadership Institute, according to the conservative organization’s most recent tax filing… a staggering $420,155 (89%) classified as bonus or incentive compensation…” www.sportico.com/business/med...

LSU Is on Hook for Kiffin’s Ole Home. But What Did It Really Cost Him? Per the term sheet, LSU has agreed to cover up to $500,000 in losses on the sale of new football coach Lane Kiffin's house in Oxford, Miss.

Lane Kiffin’s deal with LSU contains the unusual clause that the school will reimburse him up to $500,000 if he sells his home in Oxford, MS for anything less than what he bought it for. But what did he actually buy it for?

I investigated👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

UPDATE: 🤔 bsky.app/profile/dani...

First Riverside Abuse Trial Nears—and Evidence Takes Center Stage As the case brought by former Riverside Hawks basketball player Daryl Powell against the church nears its trial date, the parties dispute evidence.

Next month will have the first trial involving one of the 27 former Riverside Hawks basketball players accusing Riverside Church of failing to protect them from coach and alleged sexual abuser Ernest Lorch.

@lukecyphers.bsky.social and I have an update for @sportico.bsky.social:

Leadership Perks: Riley Gaines Scored Big Bonus From Nonprofit Gaines, the former Kentucky swimmer turned OutKick commentator, banked $474,313 from the conservative political organization in 2024.

NEW: Riley Gaines, the former collegiate swimmer turned right-wing media figure, made $474,313 last year from the conservative nonprofit org, the Leadership Institute. More striking than her total comp was the way it was structured.

For @sportico.bsky.social 👇

www.sportico.com/business/med...

LSU Is on Hook for Kiffin’s Ole Home. But What Did It Really Cost Him? Per the term sheet, LSU has agreed to cover up to $500,000 in losses on the sale of new football coach Lane Kiffin's house in Oxford, Miss.

Lane Kiffin’s deal with LSU contains the unusual clause that the school will reimburse him up to $500,000 if he sells his home in Oxford, MS for anything less than what he bought it for. But what did he actually buy it for?

I investigated👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Since moving to FBS in 2012, UMass has had the worst football team in the country... by a lot

Tonight, the 0-11 Minutemen have their last chance to avoid a winless season

The top 100 most valuable sports teams in the world are collectively worth $554 billion 💰, per @sportico.bsky.social

The list comprises:
• All 32 NFL teams 🏈
• All 30 NBA teams 🏀
• 14 MLB teams ⚾️
• 10 global soccer clubs ⚽️
• 9 NHL teams 🏒
• 5 F1 franchises 🏎️

Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.

UMass has been FBS's worst football team since it moved up in 2012. Its struggles include spilled hydraulic fluid, a failed stint at an NFL stadium 90 miles away, and unmet "pie-in-the-sky" projections.

Now the school is doubling down. More w/ Daniel Libit 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.

NEW: UMass jumped to FBS in 2012 with big expectations. The experiment has gone so poorly that even prof emeritus Nelson Lacey — once an important backer of the move — now thinks the school should consider dropping back down. w/ @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Sunk-Cost Football: UMass’ Faltering Quest to Belong in the FBS UMass bought the promise of big-time football in 2011, when it joined the FBS. Fourteen brutal years later, the Minutemen are doubling down.

These struggles, and others happening right now, is why I teach--how many more institutions will chase the DI dream in the era of "opting-in" and ultimately damage their institution's financial standing?
h/t @daniellibit.bsky.social @sportico.bsky.social

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Fan-Fueled FOIA: An Oregon State GoFundMe Redefines Donor Access The Belligerent Beavs podcast raised thousands in two days to secure OSU athletics records, showing how fans are reshaping public information.

NEW from @sportico.bsky.social's @daniellibit.bsky.social:

Fan-Fueled FOIA: An Oregon State GoFundMe Redefines Donor Access

#GOBEAVS

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Apple, MLS Deal Will End in 2029 With Revised Payment Structure MLS and Apple's streaming rights agreement will now end three and half years early, letting the league explore new partners after the 2026 World Cup.

SCOOP: @jacobfeldman.bsky.social and I got details of MLS's
revised Apple deal

- Ends in June 2029 (3.5 years early)
- Apple gave up 2027 opt-out
- MLS gets: $200M in 2026, $107M for 2027 "sprint" season, $275M in final two seasons

Via @sportico.bsky.social 👇
www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...

Conference USA Accuses La Tech of Hiding the Ball in Public Records Suit Conference USA is seeking actual damages amounting to millions in a public records suit it has filed against the University of Louisiana System.

🚨 SCOOP: Conference USA has filed a public records lawsuit in Louisiana accusing its departing member, Louisiana Tech, of withholding documents showing when it decided to jump to the Sun Belt. Story for @sportico.bsky.social 👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Australian Hooper Can Play at Idaho State Over NCAA Objections Idaho State forward Caleb Van De Griend has a unique path to Division I men's basketball. A judge has ruled he can play over the NCAA's objections.

Attorney Darren Heitner scores a big win for his client, Idaho State forward Caleb Van De Griend, who sued the NCAA for eligibility. Judge awards a restraining order to let him play. His play in Australia complicated his status but judge says he can play. I have more for @sportico.bsky.social:

Colleges Hide Athlete Pay Data Behind ‘Competitive Harm’ Nebraska, like other public FBS schools, won’t disclose even top-line totals of its House v. NCAA distributions, claiming that info is a trade secret.

NEW: In first 3 months of House v. NCAA era, Colorado spent $7.7M on athlete rev share and Kentucky spent $1.5M, per public records obtained by @sportico.bsky.social.

But the bigger story might be why Nebraska and most others won’t reveal their totals. My column👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Cam Colvin, Ex-Oregon Football Player, Faces Federal Fraud Charges A self-proclaimed billionaire, Colvin is charged with defrauding business and romantic partners out of more than $1.25 million.

SCOOP: Former college/peo football player Cameron Colvin has been charged w/ federal fraud & transactional money laundering. He was arrested by FBI this week. @sportico.bsky.social previously reported on Colvin's exploits as a self-proclaimed billionaire.👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

NWSL Takes First Step Into Federal Lobbying Arena With Hogan Lovells The NWSL is paying top dollar to global law firm Hogan Lovells for “government relations advice” from former Sen. Norm Coleman.

Sportico reporting that the NWSL is paying global law firm Hogan Lovells for “government relations advice” from former Sen. Norm Coleman (MN-R). “The league has paid the global law firm $130K since May,” per @daniellibit.bsky.social.

www.sportico.com/leagues/socc...

Cam Colvin, Ex-Oregon Football Player, Faces Federal Fraud Charges A self-proclaimed billionaire, Colvin is charged with defrauding business and romantic partners out of more than $1.25 million.

SCOOP: Former college/peo football player Cameron Colvin has been charged w/ federal fraud & transactional money laundering. He was arrested by FBI this week. @sportico.bsky.social previously reported on Colvin's exploits as a self-proclaimed billionaire.👇

www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...

Inside Blueprint’s New Model: NIL Rev-Share Deals With Schools The NIL collective operator is now establishing multimedia rights-style agreements with Oregon State and other institutions.

What I’ve come to expect, but typically only @daniellibit.bsky.social delivers. You’ll need about half an hour to unpack all the interesting stuff in this one.
www.sportico.com/leagues/coll...