Leaders Sport Business Podcast

Leaders Sport Business Podcast


Direct from Cannes: Harnessing the energy around women’s sport with LOVB and Unrivaled

June 20, 2025

Katlyn Gao, CEO of LOVB (League One Volleyball) and Alex Bazzell, President and Co-Founder of Unrivaled Basketball join Leaders’ Editorial Director James Emmett to discuss why women’s sport was top of the agenda in Cannes this year.

 

Gao charts the story so far for LOVB as it builds its own brand – and looks to attract brands - and considers the prominent role of the league’s athletes in its storytelling approach.

 

Bazzell lays out the plan to build 3x3 women’s basketball property Unrivaled into sport’s next billion dollar league franchise. He reviews the first year and reveals where he's looking for inspiration as Unrivaled grows.

 

James also chats to Deirdre Lester, CEO of western sports media and entertainment company Teton Ridge, which is transforming the way cowboy culture and rodeo is packaged up and delivered to consumers.