THE·TEAM
THE·TEAM is a global sports, music, and entertainment talent representation and marketing firm serving professional athletes, musicians, brands, and entertainment talent across 28 countries, currently in an active sale process following a 2026 leadership transition and rebrand from Wasserman.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What THE·TEAM does
THE·TEAM (formerly Wasserman Group, rebranded March 2026) is a global sports, music, and entertainment company providing talent representation, marketing services, and live event production. Founded in 2002 by Casey Wasserman and headquartered in Los Angeles, the firm operates across 28 countries and 70+ cities on six continents with approximately 4,000 employees. It represents elite professional athletes across all major US sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, NWSL, WNBA) plus global football, rugby, cricket, cycling, golf, action sports, and Olympic/Paralympic disciplines; music artists; entertainment personalities; and digital creators. Named mega-deal credentials include 30+ #1 overall draft picks, 200+ Emmy award-winning clients, and 130 Olympic/Paralympic medal winners since 2010, with landmark contracts negotiated for athletes such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($375M), Giancarlo Stanton ($325M), Josh Allen ($330M), and Connor McDavid ($100M).
Revenue is generated through commission-based representation contracts (approximately US$956 million in maximum commissions against US$9.52 billion in playing contracts managed), supplemented by marketing and sponsorship facilitation, event operations (including the Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, and CME Group Tour Championship), and brand partnership deal-making. The company monetizes across talent representation commissions, marketing services, event operations, and content/IP development, serving both individual talent clients and enterprise brand clients. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed, with commission rates negotiated per representation agreement.
Ownership is approximately 60% Providence Equity Partners (acquired late 2022), 25% founder Casey Wasserman (now Chairman, stepped back from operations), and 15% management. The company's legal entity is THE.TEAM: SME, LLC. The firm has executed a sustained M&A program (8+ acquisitions since 2022 including CSM Sport & Entertainment, Volante Sports, Provisions Golf, GG11, and several live-events businesses) and is currently in an active sale process initiated February 2026 following reputational controversy, with reported bid valuations of $3-5 billion from suitors including United Talent Agency, Permira, WIN Sports Group, and an Alexis Ohanian-led consortium. Day-to-day operations are led by President Mike Watts.
THE·TEAM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE·TEAM
- Legal name
- THE.TEAM: SME, LLC
- Website
- https://the.team
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- THE·TEAM is a global sports, music, and entertainment talent representation and marketing firm serving professional athletes, musicians, brands, and entertainment talent across 28 countries, currently in an active sale process following a 2026 leadership transition and rebrand from Wasserman.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE·TEAM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Talent Representation Services
- NAICS
- Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Athlete Talent Agencies (Contract Negotiation & Career Management) (MPAKAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors) (MPAKALAA), Event & Tournament Sponsorship (Title/Presenting Sponsors, Official Suppliers) (MPAKALAB), Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE)
Keywords
Where THE·TEAM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices20 records
Markets served
THE·TEAM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Talent Representation Commissions: THE·TEAM generates revenue through commission-based representation of athletes, musicians, and entertainment talent. The company negotiates contracts and deals on behalf of clients and earns a percentage of contract values and endorsement deals.
- Marketing & Sponsorship Services: Revenue from marketing services, sponsorship deal facilitation, and brand partnership development for talent, brands and properties.
- Event Creation & Management: THE·TEAM produces and operates golf events including Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, and CME Group Tour Championship. Revenue generated from event operations, sponsorships, and hospitality.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
THE·TEAM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
THE·TEAM is a global sports, music, and entertainment company providing talent representation and marketing services. The company negotiates playing contracts, endorsement deals, brand partnerships, and sponsorships on behalf of professional athletes, musicians, entertainers, creators, and keynote speakers, while also offering brand partnership development, marketing strategy, event creation and management, content development, broadcast media, and rights sales services to corporate brands and sports properties. Its offerings are organized across specialized divisions covering every major global sport, music, entertainment, and live events, supported by 3,200+ employees in 70+ cities across 28 countries.
Product overview
THE·TEAM is a leading global sports, music, and entertainment company offering talent representation and marketing services. The company's portfolio includes core divisions for Sports & Media Talent Representation, Music Talent Representation, Entertainment Talent Representation, and Creator Representation, along with specialized sub-brands: The Collective (women's sports/music focus), LIVE·TEAM (live events), DIGITAL·TEAM (digital/social services), NEXT GEN·TEAM (future talent), RIGHTS SALES·TEAM (sponsorship/rights), PREMIUM ACCESS·TEAM (hospitality), CYCLING·TEAM, GOLF·TEAM, RUGBY·TEAM, CRICKET·TEAM, and SPEAKERS·TEAM. The company also provides Marketing Services, operates golf events (Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational), and offers live event creation and management. THE·TEAM operates across 28 countries in 70+ cities with 3,200+ employees, representing talent in every major global sport, music artists, and entertainment figures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Collective: A women-focused division advancing the power of women in sports, music and entertainment.
- LIVE·TEAM
- CYCLING·TEAM
- GOLF·TEAM
- RIGHTS SALES·TEAM
- DIGITAL·TEAM
- NEXT GEN·TEAM
- PREMIUM ACCESS·TEAM
Products and services
- Sports & Media Talent Representation THE·TEAM's core talent representation service for athletes, broadcasters, coaches, sport executives, and speakers across all major global sports, spanning dedicated divisions including baseball, basketball, NFL, hockey, soccer, golf, cycling, rugby, cricket, Olympics/Paralympics, and action sports. Services include contract negotiations, endorsement deals, brand creation, NIL representation, IP licensing, performance analytics, public relations, and broadcast media.
- Music Talent Representation Global music talent representation services including artist services, brand partnerships, casino and college bookings, content development, corporate and special events, event creation and management, fairs and festivals, social impact programming, symphony bookings, and tour marketing, pricing, and ticketing services for music artists across all genres.
- Entertainment Talent Representation Entertainment talent representation services for performers, creators, and entertainment personalities, supporting deal negotiation, brand partnerships, content opportunities, and broader entertainment industry representation.
- Creators Representation Representation services for digital creators and influencers, particularly in the golf content space, providing deal negotiation, brand partnerships, content monetization, and career development for digital-first talent.
- Marketing Services Comprehensive marketing services including brand strategy, sponsorship activation, case study development, and marketing support for brands and sports properties seeking sports and entertainment-driven marketing campaigns.
- LIVE·TEAM (Live Events) Live events division providing event creation and management, branded experiences, branding and signage, mass participation events, and live broadcast services for artists, brands, and sports properties globally.
- DIGITAL·TEAM Digital services division focused on social media management, content creation, and digital strategy for talent and brands, supporting audience growth and digital monetization.
- NEXT GEN·TEAM Division focused on representing and developing future and emerging talent in sports, music, and entertainment, including collegiate athletes and emerging professionals.
- RIGHTS SALES·TEAM Rights sales division handling sponsorship, media rights, and commercial partnership sales for sports properties, leagues, and brands.
- PREMIUM ACCESS·TEAM Premium access and hospitality services for sports events and entertainment properties, offering premium experiences to corporate and consumer audiences.
- The Collective Women-focused division providing dedicated representation and marketing services for female talent across sports, music, and entertainment, including dedicated research on women's sports growth.
- Baseball Division Representation Baseball talent representation services including contract negotiations, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) representation, brand building, medical network coordination, community activism, post-career broadcasting, and coaching/front office placement for MLB players and college athletes.
- GOLF·TEAM Golf talent representation with athlete marketing, endemic partnerships, media services, philanthropy, event creation (including PGA TOUR and LPGA events such as Valero Texas Open, World Wide Technology Championship, Grant Thornton Invitational, and CME Group Tour Championship), and brand consulting.
- CYCLING·TEAM Global cycling representation and brand partnerships (formerly Squadra Sports Management). Provides career management, commercial partnerships, and legal advice for professional cyclists, headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium.
- CRICKET·TEAM Cricket talent representation serving elite cricket players with full-management services including commercial, media, social media, public relations, and post-career planning.
- RUGBY·TEAM Rugby union and rugby league talent management across global markets with services including player representation, commercial and media, social media, public relations, the RUGBY·TEAM Intelligence analytics platform, and post-career support.
- SPEAKERS·TEAM Keynote speakers bureau representing athletes, authors, artists, entertainers, coaches, executives, and thought leaders for speaking engagements at conferences and events worldwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ #1 overall picks in MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, NWSL and WNBA Drafts
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use THE·TEAM
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
THE·TEAM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
THE·TEAM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Desert RootsminorLIVE·TEAM acquired Desert Roots, a branding and signage business, expanding live events and experiential marketing capabilities.
- Breeders' CupcoreTHE·TEAM and Breeders' Cup joined forces to accelerate commercial partnerships, leveraging THE·TEAM's sales and partnership development expertise for horse racing event.
- GG11coreTHE·TEAM acquired significant stake in GG11, a football talent representation business, expanding global football capabilities.
- Provisions GolfcoreTHE·TEAM acquired Provisions Golf, representing YouTube golf influencers Grant Horvat and the Bryan brothers. Deal brings Provisions founders Joe Gilliland and Josh Morgan into THE·TEAM as senior VPs of creators, bridging traditional golf with digital creator space.
- The CollectivecoreTHE·TEAM's women-focused division The Collective advances the power of women in sports, music and entertainment. Partners with RBC on women's sports research and provides dedicated services for women athletes.
- Sport SignageminorLIVE·TEAM acquired Sport Signage, a leading branding business, expanding live events branding capabilities.
- Unik Sports ManagementcoreWasserman acquired Spanish women's soccer agency Unik Sports Management, with founder and CEO Carlota Planas joining as VP of global women's football, expanding women's football representation in Spain.
- RBC (Research Partnership)coreRBC partnered with THE·TEAM and its women-focused division The Collective to release Part 2 of 'The New Economy in Sports' research report examining investment opportunities in women's sports. THE·TEAM contributed data and insights on women's sports growth trends.
- Long Haul ManagementminorTHE·TEAM acquired Long Haul Management, expanding its sports and entertainment representation services.
- Volante SportscoreTHE·TEAM acquired UK's leading women's football agency Volante Sports to expand global women's football practice. Acquisition adds notable players and positions THE·TEAM as a key player in sports talent representation.
- CSM Sport & EntertainmentcoreTHE·TEAM completed acquisition of CSM Sport & Entertainment, expanding sports and entertainment marketing capabilities.
- Jet Sports ManagementcoreTHE·TEAM acquired Jet Sports Management, a baseball talent agency, appointing founder B.B. Abbott as EVP and Managing Executive, Baseball. Acquisition strengthens THE·TEAM's baseball division and global sports services.
- O'Melveny & Myers LLPminorIndependent investigation by outside counsel O'Melveny & Myers LLP cleared Casey Wasserman of wrongdoing regarding Epstein/Maxwell connections, finding his relationship did not extend beyond publicly documented interactions.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
THE·TEAM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Creative Artists Agency (CAA): The largest direct competitor to THE·TEAM in sports, music and entertainment talent representation. Both agencies represent elite athletes, musicians, and entertainers across global markets with similar commission-based business models and broad service offerings. CAA's recent acquisition of ICM Partners expanded its scale further.
- WME (William Morris Endeavor / Endeavor / TKO Group Holdings): Direct peer representing talent across sports, entertainment and music with IMG as a sister brand under TKO Group Holdings. Competes head-to-head for elite clients and major sponsorship deals, and like THE·TEAM operates a global platform with a parent company providing capital and strategic direction.
- United Talent Agency (UTA): Direct peer in talent representation across entertainment, sports, and creators. Notably a reported bidder in THE·TEAM's 2026 sale process (backed by EQT), making it both a competitor and a potential acquirer of scale.
- Excel Sports Management: Sports-focused direct peer representing elite athletes in MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and golf. Bidding in THE·TEAM's sale process backed by Goldman Sachs, demonstrating its position as a comparable scale player in athlete representation.
- Octagon: Sports marketing and talent representation firm that directly competes across athlete representation, sponsorship activation, and event management. Part of Interpublic Group, providing capital backing similar to THE·TEAM's PE ownership.
- Roc Nation: Sports and entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z that directly competes for elite athlete clients (e.g., record-setting NWSL deals) and music talent. Represents a newer, well-capitalized entrant into the same talent representation space.
- Agency for the Performing Arts (APA): Talent and literary agency representing artists across music, film, television, sports, and publishing. Comparable in multi-vertical service offering and similar in serving both individual talent and brand clients.
Broad incumbents
- IMG: Global sports and entertainment representation, events, and licensing company operating as part of TKO Group Holdings. Broader portfolio than THE·TEAM (including college licensing, fashion events, and media production) but overlapping in athlete representation and sports marketing.
Emerging players
- Range Media Partners: Newer entrant in talent representation founded in 2020, representing athletes, musicians, and creators with a tech-forward model. Competes directly for emerging talent and represents a credible alternative for clients seeking a different cultural fit.
- Independent Artist Group (IAG): Multi-discipline talent agency formed from the merger of Artist Management Group and others, representing athletes, musicians, actors, and creators. Direct competitor at the intersection of sports and entertainment representation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE·TEAM social profiles
Digital presenceTHE·TEAM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE·TEAM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
THE·TEAM subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
THE·TEAM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE·TEAM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE·TEAM
What does THE·TEAM do?
THE·TEAM is a global sports, music, and entertainment company providing talent representation and marketing services. The company negotiates playing contracts, endorsement deals, brand partnerships, and sponsorships on behalf of professional athletes, musicians, entertainers, creators, and keynote speakers, while also offering brand partnership development, marketing strategy, event creation and management, content development, broadcast media, and rights sales services to corporate brands and sports properties. Its offerings are organized across specialized divisions covering every major global sport, music, entertainment, and live events, supported by 3,200+ employees in 70+ cities across 28 countries.
Is THE·TEAM a public or private company?
THE·TEAM is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was THE·TEAM founded?
THE·TEAM was founded in 2002. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is THE·TEAM based?
THE·TEAM is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE·TEAM make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Talent Representation Commissions are the primary driver. The others are marketing & Sponsorship Services and event Creation & Management.
Who are THE·TEAM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Creative Artists Agency (CAA), WME (William Morris Endeavor / Endeavor / TKO Group Holdings), United Talent Agency (UTA), Excel Sports Management, Octagon, Roc Nation and Agency for the Performing Arts (APA). IMG is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Range Media Partners and Independent Artist Group (IAG).
Does THE·TEAM have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE·TEAM.
What industry is THE·TEAM in?
THE·TEAM's product category is Talent Representation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAMAA, Full-Service Athlete Talent Agencies (Contract Negotiation & Career Management), with a secondary code of MPAKALAA, Athlete & Team Sponsorship Deals (Official Partners, Jersey/Kit Sponsors). Its NAICS code is 7114 and its SIC code is 7311.