Sportico

How Lewis Hamilton Earned an F1-Record $100 Million in 2025 Lewis Hamilton had a brutal season on the track in 2025, but his Ferrari salary and huge sponsor portfolio helped him earn an F1-record $100 million.

Hamilton got 30% of his earnings last year away from the track.

NFLPA report card grades 👀

Grambling Scores ‘G’ Trademark as UGA, Packers Give Blessing The USPTO approves the "G" trademark for Grambling State after the school, Green Bay Packers and Georgia figured out a way each could use a similar G.

G-force, The Three AmiGos, 3G

These three teams are getting along despite similar logos 🤝

How Lewis Hamilton Earned an F1-Record $100 Million in 2025 Lewis Hamilton had a brutal season on the track in 2025, but his Ferrari salary and huge sponsor portfolio helped him earn an F1-record $100 million.

Year 1 at Ferrari did not go well for Lewis Hamilton on the track, failing to make a podium for the first time in his F1 career.

But off the track, it was a banner year for his bank account.

From @kbadenhausen.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/personalitie...

Joe Tsai Exits, Carlos Vela Joins LAFC in $1.25B Stake Sale The billionaire owner of the Brooklyn Nets is selling his stake in the Los Angeles-based MLS club, while a local legend and two others are coming in.

SCOOP: Nets owner Joe Tsai and Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan have sold their stakes in LAFC at a $1.25 billion valuation.

Three new LPs are in, including a club legend. With @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

NWSL Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Angel City FC to Chicago Stars Check out Sportico's full NWSL team values ranking list, from Angel City FC to the Chicago Stars.

Gotham FC's valuation is up 119% over the past 18 months 🤯

Here are @sportico.bsky.social's most recent valuations for the WNBA and NWSL. #WNBA #NWSL

🟠 WNBA -- $269 million average
🔵 NWSL -- $184 million average

FanDuel Sports President Mike Raffensperger to Leave Company Raffensperger is making a personal decision to depart, according to multiple sources.

EXCLUSIVE: Significant leadership change at FanDuel, as Mike Raffensperger is set to depart.

Dundon Sells 12.5% of Hurricanes at $2.66 Billion Valuation Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has sold 12.5% of the NHL team at a $2.66 billion valuation. It comes as he's buying the NBA's Trail Blazers.

SCOOP: Tom Dundon has agreed to sell 12.5% of the
Hurricanes at a $2.66 billion valuation. Comes as he leads a group buying the Trail Blazers for $4.25B.

More at @sportico.bsky.social 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Here's a look at @sportico.bsky.social's average franchise valuations for different sports leagues ⬇️

NFL 🏈 teams are worth $7.13 billion on average

NWSL ⚽️ teams are worth $184 million on average

Angel City remains the most valuable NWSL franchise.

But it now has company in the $200+ million club 👀

2026 NWSL valuations here: www.sportico.com/valuations/t...

Ex-NBA Advisor Convicted of Defrauding Jrue Holiday, Others Investment advisor Darryl Cohen was convicted by a Manhattan jury of defrauding Jrue Holiday and other NBA players insurance, non-profit schemes.

The financial advisor who defrauded Jrue Holiday and other NBA players was convicted by a Manhattan jury.

The scheme involved inflated prices for insurance policies and donations that went to build athletic training facilities at the advisor's house.

I have details for @sportico.bsky.social:

WNBA Stoppage Wouldn’t Be Filled by Red-Hot Unrivaled League WNBPA union leaders Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart face off in Unrivaled's 3-on-3 final Wednesday. Then they'll keep negotiating a new WNBA labor deal.

Unrivaled's second season concludes Wednesday. WNBA labor uncertainty awaits.

@jacobfeldman.bsky.social breaks down the state of women's basketball at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/bask...

Marc Lasry Invests in NWSL’s NC Courage at $155M Valuation Billionaire Marc Lasry is buying a stake in the NWSL's North Carolina Courage via his Avenue Sports Fund. The deal values the club at $155 million.

The NWSL's North Carolina Courage are selling a minority stake for $40 million 💰

Marc Lasry Invests in NWSL’s NC Courage at $155M Valuation Billionaire Marc Lasry is buying a stake in the NWSL's North Carolina Courage via his Avenue Sports Fund. The deal values the club at $155 million.

SCOOP: Marc Lasry's fund is buying a large chunk of the NWSL's North Carolina Courage. He's putting in $40M at a $155M pre-money valuation.

This comes two years after Lasry tried to buy the whole team. More via @sportico.bsky.social 👇
www.sportico.com/business/tea...

NIL Tax-Exempt Laws Face Challenges From Fake NIL, Student Claims Mississippi and other states are exploring laws that would exempt NIL earnings from taxes. Those laws could face regulatory and legal challenges.

Mississippi and other states are pursuing tax law changes to exempt NIL earnings from state income taxes. Sounds great, except there are legal & regulatory complications that might throw a wrench in the plans.

Robert Raiola, CPA, and and I explain for @sportico.bsky.social:

Chinese Billionaire Buys Miami Dolphins Stake at $12.5B Valuation Chinese phone magnate Lin Bin is buying a 1% stake in the NFL's Dolphins at a record valuation of $12.5 billion.

Lin Bin, the co-founder of smartphone giant Xiaomi, has bought a 1% stake in the holding company that owns the Miami Dolphins and other assets at a $12.5 billion valuation.

From @soshnick.bsky.social, @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and me at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

The WBC Is Testing the Edges of Trump’s Immigration Policy While athletes are mostly exempted from Donald Trump’s travel bans, fans from restricted countries hoping to attend the WBC aren’t as lucky.

While athletes are mostly exempted from Trump’s travel bans, fans from restricted countries hoping to attend the World Baseball Classic in the U.S. aren’t as lucky.

A look at how the administration's immigration policy impacts sports at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/base...

The Richest Owner in U.S. Sports Quietly Expanded His Sports Empire Rob Walton, who also owns the Denver Broncos, wrote a nine-figure check for a 10% piece of the Arizona Diamondbacks two years ago.

Rob Walton bought the Broncos in 2022 for a then-record $4.65B, outbidding the pack by $400M.

He's quietly continued that spending spree, picking up 10% of the DBacks in 2024.

With @ebennovywilliams.bsky.social and @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/business/tea...

Duke Union Risk Memo Warned of Kara Lawson, Lacrosse Players A confidential report prepared for Duke University in March 2022 outlined the potential risks the school faced when it came to athletes unionizing.

EXCLUSIVE: In 2022, Duke hired law firm for confidential “athletics unionization risk assessment,” per memo seen by @sportico.bsky.social.

Memo flagged:

• WBB Coach Kara Lawson’s outspokenness
• Limited NIL engagement
• Lacrosse players’ “sense of entitlement”

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

Navy Baseball Player Accuses NCAA of Harming Active-Duty Readiness Brock Murtha, who is seeking a fifth year of eligibility this season, has framed his legal fight for an NCAA waiver as a matter of national security.

NEWS: Navy baseball player Brock Murtha is seeking a federal court’s injunction to allow him to play this current season, after NCAA denied his eligibility waiver. He is framing his lawsuit in terms of national security.

Story for @sportico.bsky.social 👇

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

Caesars May Lose Rockets Bets If Fertitta’s Company Takes Over Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, could expand his gaming portfolio by acquiring Caesars. But it would create operational hurdles.

A major sportsbook and an NBA team?

The Houston Rockets owner could have both.

Baseball Antitrust Exemption Lives as SCOTUS Declines Review The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday passed on chance to review a case involving baseball's antitrust exemption, as 'stare decisive' likely a key reason.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday passed on the chance to review the controversial baseball antitrust exemption.

The exemption has been around 104 years and isn’t going anywhere unless Congress and the President step in.

My @sportico.bsky.social legal column: www.sportico.com/law/analysis....

NWSL’s Dash Relaunch Sale Process After Last Year’s Talks Fell Apart The Houston Dash owners tried to sell the NWSL team to RHC Group. Now, after pushback from the league, they're putting the team back on the market.

The NWSL's Houston Dash are restarting their sale process.

I(O)U: Cignetti’s Revised Indiana Deal to Pay Over $100M Guaranteed After leading Indiana to its first national title, head football coach Curt Cignetti has become the second-highest-paid college football coach.

Indiana has committed to pay its national championship-winning head football coach $105.6 million over the next eight seasons 💰

Duke Union Risk Memo Warned of Kara Lawson, Lacrosse Players A confidential report prepared for Duke University in March 2022 outlined the potential risks the school faced when it came to athletes unionizing.

A confidential report prepared for Duke University in March 2022 outlined the potential risks the school faced when it came to athletes unionizing.

Jack Hughes’ ‘Lost’ Olympic-Winning Puck Has Been Found The puck from Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal in the gold medal game at the 2026 Olympics is in safe hands.

Hey, Jack Hughes. We found your puck. Story with @soshnick.bsky.social at @sportico.bsky.social: www.sportico.com/leagues/olym...

Netflix Says No to Warner Bros. After Price War, Beltway Concerns If approved by regulators, David Ellison's latest megabucks acquisition will give Paramount the richest sports portfolio this side of ESPN.

An absurd bidding process became too much for Netflix.

They're out 👋

Alysa Liu had 355,000 Instagram followers on the day of the opening ceremony

She now has 6 million, surpassing Eileen Gu! 🇺🇸⛸️📈

MLS to Allow Teams to Sell Ads on Lower Back of Jerseys MLS teams will be allowed to sell lower-back jersey space to sponsors, the fourth place on the kit that can include partners.

More ads on MLS jerseys.