Wave Sports & Entertainment is reaching new heights in podcasting, and not just with Jason and Travis Kelce’s hit show.

The digital content company behind shows like the Kelce brothers’ New Heights (which was acquired by Wondery for $100 million, but which Wave still produces) and Carmelo Anthony’s 7PM in Brooklyn has been riding a wave of interest in sports podcasts. But, like a handful of other companies in the past year or so, the Wave team realized there was some white space to be filled: podcasts by and for women’s sports communities.

That’s not just because of the growing interest in women’s sports among fans—women were already tuning in to Wave’s existing talk shows in a noticeable way.

“What does this slate look like in [terms of] success as we continue to scale?” Tunde St. Matthew-Daniel, Wave’s EVP of original content, told Marketing Brew. “We knew for talk shows, the woman audience is there. We’d seen that on our existing shows as well, even the ones that were male-led.”

Since last fall, Wave, which was recently named one of Time’s most influential companies of 2025, rolled out three new shows—Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, WNBA star Cameron Brink’s Straight to Cam, and House of Maher featuring Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher and her sisters. All three saw near-immediate advertiser interest: Each show had seven figures in brand deals before any of the content went live, Ryan Jann, head of strategy and revenue, told Marketing Brew.

The no-brainer

When the Wave team decided to get more women behind the mic, they started by keeping it in the family and reached out to Kylie Kelce, a field-hockey coach and wife to Jason Kelce. One of Kylie’s guest appearances on New Heights resulted in a particularly high-performing episode, according to Jann, so giving her a show of her own was “a no-brainer,” St. Matthew-Daniel said.

After its release last winter, Not Gonna Lie reached No.1 on the podcast charts, topping even Joe Rogan’s podcast, and the show, which has landed high-profile guests including Michelle Obama and Kate Hudson, has continued on to average over 26 million social views a week, according to Wave.

The show has also attracted brands like Dunkin’, which saw over 132 million social impressions for a campaign that ran in episodes and on social, per Wave, and Hasbro, which partnered with Not Gonna Lie to announce that Peppa Pig character Mummy Pig was pregnant via a mock-interview segment.

Kristin McKay, SVP and GM of global brands, fashion and preschool, at Hasbro, told us that the timing and brand fit of that campaign “could not have been more perfect.” Kylie was pregnant with her fourth child at the time, and her family are fans of Peppa Pig, McKay said—plus, the crossover between sports and parenting content allowed the Peppa Pig brand to stretch a bit beyond its usual audience reach, she added.

The campaign earned attention from lifestyle and entertainment outlets that “don’t typically cover preschool brands,” and it ultimately generated over 13 billion impressions with over 700 earned media placements, McKay said, making it one of the most “widely talked-about announcements we’ve ever made.”

The straight talker

After Not Gonna Lie took off, Wave rolled out Straight to Cam, the show hosted by Brink, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, and Sydel Curry-Lee, a former college volleyball player and Stephen Curry’s sister. Like Kylie, Brink had also previously engaged with Wave as a guest on one of its shows (in her case, Paul George’s Podcast P), and St. Matthew-Daniel said his team started proactively discussing a show with her after that. They also had a sense that a WNBA-related show might perform well, since Wave had partnered with the league a few years ago to create content under Wave’s Buckets basketball vertical, Jann said.

“We knew women’s sports worked with the audience that we were reaching on social,” he said. “That, along with different marketers and advertisers looking to spend around women’s sports and female-led hosts that touch the sports audience…was a big business reason that we wanted to pursue some more female hosts.”

Straight to Cam saw about 10 million views during the week of its debut alone, with sponsors including Anthropologie and AI search engine Perplexity signing on. Brink shares WNBA and basketball insights on the show, but her stories stretch beyond the W, St. Matthew-Daniel said, and Wave’s social strategies help amplify those stories beyond the podcast.

“We have a great muscle for building new audience pipelines via these social channels,” Jann said. “Straight to Cam is on YouTube for an hour a week, but our team is so good at clipping that out…to drive consistent consumption across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, wherever it might be.”

The yappers

Some hosts are social experts themselves, like Maher and her sisters, who host Wave’s most recently released women’s sports show, House of Maher. That’s part of the reason Wave wanted to work with them, despite having no previous relationship, St. Matthew-Daniel said.

Maher, who has an Olympic bronze medal in rugby sevens, is “one of the most marketable young athletes” in the country, he said, and she has 5 million followers on Instagram and another 3.6 million on TikTok.

“What really stood out to us was less of the athlete stuff, as remarkable as that is, and more of the human side of her and how much she connects with people of all different backgrounds,” St. Matthew-Daniel said. “Her social content at the time showed that.”

There’s plenty of rugby talk on the show, he added, but it largely centers around the Maher sisters’ dynamic, making it as much of a “yap session” as it is a sports podcast. Within two weeks of its release, House of Maher saw over 11 million views across social platforms, and the show landed Samsung as a launch partner with a $1.6 million deal, Jann told us.

The primarily women audiences for the three shows mark a shift from the company’s previous work, but it’s one that the Wave team plans to continue leaning into, St. Matthew-Daniel said. In other words, expect to see more content in the women’s sports space, as well as non-sports content like pop culture and comedy shows, to come.

“It’s got to be shows that we believe in, that are going to have a community and an audience that love them, as well as the business upside,” he said.

July 14, 2025

RCD Espanyol becomes the first European club to adopt hDrop; additional teams in football, basketball, cycling and endurance sports now piloting the world’s most accurate reusable sweat biosensor.

Barcelona, Spain (July 14, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — hDrop, the company behind the leading wearable sweat and hydration biosensor for sports, today announced its official entry into the European market through a distribution agreement with From Minus Zero (from@fromminuszero.com). The partnership will make hDrop’s reusable sweat sensor available to professional teams, amateur athletes and retail consumers across Europe.

hDrop enables athletes to measure real-time sweat rate, sodium loss and potassium loss, then translates those data into personalized hydration strategies that improve in-competition performance and accelerate recovery.

RCD Espanyol leads early adoption

LaLiga club RCD Espanyol is the first European team to integrate hDrop into its daily training workflow. By monitoring individual sweat profiles, the club’s sports science staff is tailoring electrolyte replacement protocols for each player. hDrop thanks Espanyol’s medical and nutrition teams for their collaboration and support.

World-class accuracy backed by science

• hDrop is the world’s most accurate wearable sweat sensor, delivering 92 percent accuracy on sweat-loss measurement and 87 percent accuracy on sweat sodium loss from preliminary independently validated data.
• Independent validation studies are under way at leading sports-science institutes, with peer-reviewed results expected later this year.

Designed for athletes, built for sustainability

Unlike single-use patches, hDrop is the only sweat sensing wearable that is fully reusable in the market, pairing a skin-safe sensor with a companion mobile app. Athletes receive:

1. Pre-competition planning: personalized hydration and electrolyte intake guidelines based on historical sweat profiles.
2. In-session monitoring: live feedback on fluid and sodium losses to prevent performance-limiting dehydration.
3. Post-session analysis: comprehensive reports to fine-tune training and recovery protocols.

Multi-sport pilots and retail rollout

Beyond football, elite programs in basketball, cycling, athletics and triathlon are testing hDrop this summer. European retail points of sale will be announced in the coming weeks, making the technology accessible to recreational athletes who demand professional-grade insights.

Quotes

Adria Abella Villafranca, CEO of hDrop
“Our mission is to give every athlete the same precision hydration data that historically was limited to lab testing, providing the highest accuracy in the market. Partnering with From Minus Zero accelerates that vision across Europe.”

Curro Genova, From Minus Zero
“hDrop’s accuracy lets us personalize hydration for each player in real time, reducing cramp risk and improving late-match performance. We are ready to onboard more retailers and sport teams interested in the technology.”

About hDrop

hDrop is a sports-technology company dedicated to advancing human performance through biosensing. Its flagship product is a reusable wearable that measures sweat rate, sodium and potassium loss with laboratory-level accuracy, delivering actionable hydration insights to athletes of all levels.

About From Minus Zero

From Minus Zero is a European distributor specializing in performance-enhancing sports technologies. The company partners with innovators worldwide to bring cutting-edge products to professional teams and consumers across Europe.

Large Implications for Aging Research and Monitoring Abilities

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new study shows that a novel online assessment (here) provides a valid scientific measure of the cognitive abilities of older adults related to living independently. The self-administered assessment can be completed in four minutes on most internet-connected devices (phones, tablets, computers) — with large implications for monitoring and improving cognitive aging. The assessment was developed by Posit Science, the maker of BrainHQ brain training exercises and assessments, and it was examined as part of an NIH-funded study in collaboration with university-based researchers.

“This is a game-changer in our ability to monitor and manage successful aging,” observed Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science. “Maintaining the ability to live independently is one of the greatest concerns about growing older, yet it’s rarely measured because of a lack of easily accessible tools. It can take a long time to schedule an office visit for a full battery of neuropsychological tests, and few people do so. Now, here’s a new tool you could use as a brain fitness tracker — to permit ongoing monitoring.”

The study examined whether a very short, self-administered, online test could provide a quick look at the “executive function” cognitive abilities of older adults. Executive function includes key cognitive building blocks (such as planning, flexibility, and inhibitory control), which underpin the goal-directed behaviors needed to maintain independent living.

“Clinician-administered batteries of cognition are the preferred source for insight into cognitive aging — especially to assist with diagnostic decisions,” said Dr. Mahncke. “We were looking for a brief, self-administered assessment that might be used, after an in-person examination (as it was in this study), for relatively quick, and perhaps more frequent, monitoring purposes.”

The study, conducted at McGill University, was designed to assess the usability and validity of Freeze Frame, a cognitive assessment available on the BrainHQ platform, in predicting executive function performance in healthy older adults. Performance on Freeze Frame was analyzed in relation to self-reported demographic variables and to neuropsychological function, using NIH-EXAMINER, a widely adopted measure of executive function.

Freeze Frame is designed to measure inhibitory control (a critical component of executive function), which is the rapid ability to suppress impulsive reactions in favor of task-relevant actions in rapidly changing environments — to support cognitive flexibility, working memory, and goal focus.

繼續閱讀

The global sports technology industry stands at a critical crossroads where innovation meets environmental responsibility. While technological advancements have revolutionized athletic performance, fan engagement, and sports management, they have also introduced complex environmental challenges that demand urgent attention. The modern sports ecosystem generates a carbon footprint equivalent to a medium-sized country, yet it simultaneously offers unprecedented opportunities for sustainable solutions through the intelligent application of green technologies.

Environmental Challenges of Modern Sports Technology:

• Data Centres: Powering live streams, VR replays, and real-time analytics for millions, these facilities consume vast resources. A single centre can use 3-5 million gallons of water daily (a small city’s need). Streaming in 4K generates 300-700 grams of CO2 per hour, while mobile viewing increases emissions tenfold versus broadband.

• Equipment Manufacturing: Traditional gear relies heavily on non-recyclable plastics and petroleum-based composites. A typical bicycle helmet combines polycarbonate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and nylon, destined for incineration after 3-5 years. E-waste from smart equipment adds further disposal complexities.

• Device Footprint: While a single smartphone generates ~8 kg CO2e during use, the cumulative impact of billions of devices globally is immense. Mains-powered equipment like TVs (595-545 kg CO2e) contributes significantly during operation

Green Innovations & Sustainable Solutions in Sports Tech

Despite the challenges, sports tech pioneers are driving impressive sustainability solutions:

• Renewable-Powered Venues: Solar adoption has exploded. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway leads with nearly 40,000 panels. Crucially, while only 3 venues used solar pre-2008, nearly 80% of current solar sports facilities were built between 2010-2015.

• Sustainable Materials: Bio-based plastics from corn, sugarcane, and algae are replacing petroleum derivatives. Recycled polyester from plastic bottles conserves resources. Advanced composites using bamboo, flax, or hemp offer structural integrity with lower environmental impact.

• Smart & Efficient Infrastructure: AI-driven systems optimize stadium energy use for lighting, heating, and cooling. LED technology drastically cuts consumption. 3D printing enables custom-fit equipment with minimal material waste.

• Digital Alternatives: VR training reduces the need for travel and resource-intensive facilities. Virtual fan engagement cuts travel emissions. Shared viewing (home or venue screens) remains the lowest-carbon option per fan.

• Circular Economy Initiatives: Programs like Project Re-Bounce divert equipment from landfills through reuse and waste-to-energy. Manufacturers focus on durability, creating gear lasting 5-10 times longer, reducing supply chain emissions.

Data Centres and Digital Consumption Challenges

The hidden environmental cost of sports digitalization lies in data centre operations that power modern sports experiences. Data centres supporting sports streaming consume enormous resources, with typical facilities using 3-5 million gallons of water daily, equivalent to a small city’s needs. These centres operate 24/7 to provide real-time analytics, streaming services, and global content delivery, contributing to accelerating energy consumption as billions of devices join the Internet of Things.

Streaming quality directly impacts environmental footprint, with 4K content producing 300-700 grams of CO2 per hour, depending on infrastructure efficiency. Mobile data transmission increases carbon footprint by at least ten times compared to broadband connections, with watching a complete game via mobile data generating emissions equivalent to driving ten miles in an average car. The rapid emergence of hyperscale data centers has literally doubled energy consumption to 100 terawatt-hours annually.

However, innovative solutions are emerging to address these challenges. Edge computing brings processing closer to users, reducing latency and energy consumption through distributed infrastructure. Advanced cooling systems and energy-efficient server technologies minimize environmental impact while maintaining performance standards. Some data centres are adopting renewable energy sources and implementing comprehensive sustainability frameworks.

Market Trends Toward Sustainability

The sports equipment market is experiencing significant shifts toward sustainable products driven by consumer demand and environmental awareness. Companies are developing equipment using bio-based resins from soybeans, castor oil, and algae that offer comparable performance to petroleum-based alternatives while reducing environmental impact. Sustainable composite materials derived from bamboo, flax, and hemp maintain structural integrity while promoting environmental responsibility.

The integration of green technologies into composite materials has led to innovations producing more durable and high-performing equipment. Manufacturers focus on creating long-lasting products that reduce global carbon footprints through extended lifecycles, with some equipment lasting 5-10 times longer than standard alternatives. This approach reduces not only product carbon footprints but also supply chain emissions from manufacturing to consumer delivery.

Recycling programs are expanding to address end-of-life equipment disposal challenges. Project Re-Bounce, operating across British Columbia, diverts sports equipment from landfills through waste-to-energy facilities while promoting reuse opportunities for equipment in donation-quality condition. These programs demonstrate how systematic approaches can address both immediate disposal needs and long-term environmental goals.

How Sustainable Sports Technology Can Transform Indian Sports and the Sports Ecosystem

Addressing India’s Environmental and Sports Development Challenges

India’s sports industry faces unique sustainability challenges due to rapid urbanization, pollution pressures, and climate change impacts that make environmental considerations not just global expectations but national imperatives. The country’s sports ecosystem relies heavily on materials and processes that, while effective, often come at significant environmental cost. Cricket bats crafted from willow, hockey sticks made from wood or composites, and equipment dependent on synthetic materials exemplify this reliance on forest-sourced and fossil fuel-derived materials.

India’s sports technology market, valued at USD 442.4 million in 2024 and projected to reach USD 1,479.2 million by 2033 at a 13.32% CAGR, provides substantial opportunities for sustainable technology integration. The broader sports technology sector is expected to reach Rs 49,500 crore by 2029, growing at a 13% CAGR, demonstrating sufficient market scale to support major sustainability initiatives.

Leveraging India’s Innovation Capabilities for Green Sports Technology

India’s position as a technology and manufacturing hub creates unique opportunities for developing cost-effective, sustainable sports solutions. The country’s expertise in information technology, combined with growing manufacturing capabilities through initiatives like “Make in India,” positions it to lead in sustainable sports technology development. Local manufacturers could adapt proven green technologies for Indian market conditions while maintaining affordability for price-sensitive consumers.

The integration of applied physics, engineering, and material science into sports equipment manufacturing could help India set global sustainability benchmarks. Advanced materials research can develop sustainable substitutes for traditional equipment while maintaining or enhancing performance characteristics. For instance, bamboo composite cricket bats or biodegradable synthetic materials for various sports equipment could revolutionize Indian sports manufacturing.

Indian startups and research institutions could pioneer innovative solutions like 3D-printed custom equipment that minimizes material waste, smart textiles that enhance performance while reducing environmental impact, and energy-efficient manufacturing processes powered by renewable energy. The country’s strong IT ecosystem enables the development of smart sports technologies that optimize resource consumption and reduce environmental footprints.

Creating Sustainable Sports Infrastructure

India’s expanding sports infrastructure development provides opportunities to integrate sustainability from the ground up. The government’s Khelo India program and investments in sports facilities through the Sports Authority of India create foundations for implementing green building standards, renewable energy systems, and sustainable facility management practices.

Smart stadium technologies adapted for Indian conditions could optimize energy consumption in the country’s diverse climate zones while reducing operational costs for sports organizations. Solar power systems are particularly viable given India’s abundant sunshine, while rainwater harvesting and waste management systems can address local environmental challenges.

Virtual and augmented reality training systems could democratize access to high-quality coaching while reducing travel requirements for athletes across India’s vast geography. These technologies enable world-class training experiences in remote areas without requiring expensive physical infrastructure or travel to major sporting centres.

Supporting Circular Economy Development

India’s growing focus on circular economy principles aligns well with sustainable sports technology development. The country could establish comprehensive sports equipment recycling programs that address both domestic waste and create economic opportunities. Given India’s large sports equipment manufacturing sector, implementing extended producer responsibility frameworks could drive innovation in sustainable design and end-of-life management.

The development of refurbishment and upcycling programs for sports equipment could create employment opportunities while reducing waste. Community-based programs that collect, repair, and redistribute sports equipment could support grassroots sports development while promoting environmental responsibility.

India’s textile recycling capabilities, which already demonstrate a 69% recycling rate compared to less than 20% globally, provide a foundation for expanding circular practices into sports textiles and equipment. Clusters like those in Panipat, Tirupur, and Ludhiana could integrate sports equipment recycling into existing circular ecosystems.

Building Environmental Awareness Through Sports

Sports’ cultural significance in India creates powerful opportunities for environmental education and behavior change. Athletes and sports organizations can serve as environmental ambassadors, promoting sustainable practices among millions of fans and participants. Cricket’s massive following, for instance, could drive significant environmental awareness if the sport embraces sustainability initiatives.

Digital platforms and apps could engage fans in environmental challenges related to sports consumption, from tracking carbon footprints of stadium visits to participating in equipment recycling drives. The integration of environmental metrics into fantasy sports and gaming applications could gamify sustainability while educating users about environmental impacts.

The path forward requires coordinated action across government, industry, and sports organizations to create a comprehensive, sustainable sports technology ecosystem. India’s combination of technological capabilities, manufacturing capacity, and sports enthusiasm positions it to lead global efforts in sustainable sports technology while supporting domestic sports development goals.

The Path Forward

The sustainability dilemma in sports technology represents both a challenge and an opportunity. While digital transformation and technological advancements have increased environmental impacts through data centres, manufacturing, and electronic waste, these same technologies offer unprecedented solutions for reducing the overall environmental footprint of sports. Solar-powered venues, sustainable materials, virtual training systems, and smart energy management demonstrate technology’s potential for positive environmental impact.

The future of sports technology lies in embracing circular economy principles, developing renewable energy infrastructure, and creating intelligent systems that optimize resource consumption. As environmental awareness grows and regulations tighten, sports organizations that proactively adopt sustainable technologies will gain competitive advantages while contributing to global climate goals.

For India specifically, the opportunity to lead sustainable sports technology development aligns with broader national objectives around environmental protection, technological innovation, and sports excellence. By integrating sustainability into sports technology from the outset, India can build a sports ecosystem that serves as a global model for environmental responsibility while supporting the country’s athletic ambitions.

Democratizing Sports Science Access

The affordability of Indian wearable brands creates unprecedented opportunities to democratize access to sports science tools across the country’s diverse sporting ecosystem. With 47% of respondents in India, China, and Indonesia purchasing wearables in the past 12 months, significantly higher than the global average of 28%, there is clear demand for accessible performance monitoring technology. This high adoption rate, combined with competitive pricing from domestic manufacturers, makes advanced sports monitoring capabilities available to athletes at all levels, from grassroots programs to elite training centers.

Stock Market Today: Indian markets, NIFTY 50 and SENSEX, opened lower today, Monday, July 14, 2025. This follows a weekend closure, with the last trading day being Friday, July 11, 2025. Adding to global market uncertainties, the ongoing Trump tariff war is driving demand for safe-haven assets like gold, impacting broader market sentiment.

NIFTY 50 opened at 25,145.50 points today. It shows a dip of 4.35 points or 0.02% dip from its previous close of 25,149.85 points on July 11.

The SENSEX also opened lower, at 82,370.00, representing a 130.47 point (0.16%) decrease from its previous close of 82,500.47 on July 11.

ALSO READ: Stock Market update: Nifty50 And Sensex Open In Green

This week’s stock benchmarks have been influenced by a mixed signal from global politics and daily domestic factors.

Market sentiment is being shaped by several key factors, including the ongoing Q1 earnings season. Major companies like HCL Tech, Rallis India, and Nelco are scheduled to announce their financial performance reports today, July 14, 2025.

Investors are also keenly watching key macroeconomic indicators, particularly India’s June CPI and WPI inflation data, both expected to be released today, July 14, 2025. These releases will provide deeper insights into pricing trends and could influence the RBI’s monetary policy perspective. Global trade uncertainties also continue to keep investors on edge.

Stock prices are expected to fluctuate significantly throughout the day, making the market unpredictable as investors react to these various triggers.

ALSO READ: Markets Fall After 4-Day Rally Dragged By Bank Stocks; Sensex Drops 452 Points

NIFTY 50 and SENSEX Trading Lower During the Day
As of the current time (mid-morning on July 14, 2025), both the NIFTY 50 and the SENSEX are trading in the red, reflecting continued caution.

The NIFTY 50 is trading below its key support levels, and the Sensex is also experiencing selling pressure. Technical indicators suggest short-term weakness, with analysts pointing to further support levels if the downward trend continues. The broader market sentiment remains low, with a focus on corporate earnings and upcoming stats data.