Sportsish
Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media company that produces editorial articles, podcasts, vodcasts, and live events centered on women's sports. Founded in 2021, it serves female sports fans and monetizes through brand partnerships, an ESPN creator licensing deal, and content co-production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNew City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sportsish does
Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media company founded in 2021 by Lily Shimbashi, daughter of Utah sports legend Dave Checketts. The company operates a multi-format content platform — including an editorial news section, an interactive sub-brand ("Extra Ish") featuring personality quizzes and watch party guides, a podcast/vodcast hosted by three-time Olympian Libby Trickett, and the "Bestie Bowl" live event franchise — all centered on women's sports and female athletes. The platform targets female sports fans, a demographic that mainstream sports outlets serve with only 9% of coverage, and Sportsish's editorial tone ("Not Your Boyfriend's Sports News") is designed to humanize athletes and integrate pop-culture crossover (e.g., Taylor Swift fandom, WNBA coverage, athlete profiles).
Sportsish monetizes primarily through three revenue streams: (1) brand partnerships and sponsored content with major advertisers including Nike, Adobe, Maybelline, Taco Bell, and Dick's Sporting Goods; (2) a two-year creator licensing deal with ESPN under which founder Lily Shimbashi contributes content across the network's social platforms for major events such as NFL Honors, the NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup Final; and (3) content co-production and live event activation through partnerships such as a three-series deal with podcast/vodcast studio Deadset Studios. Distribution is multi-channel, spanning the company's owned properties (sportsish.com, Instagram, Spotify podcast, newsletter), ESPN's social platforms, and TOGETHXR's ecosystem (which includes Amazon Prime and FuboTV distribution and 4 million social media followers).
The company was bootstrapped by its founder for several years before generating its first revenue in January 2025 and securing its first external equity investment from TOGETHXR — a women's sports media company co-founded by elite athletes Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel, and Chloe Kim — in January 2026. Sportsish is privately held with 1-10 employees and remains founder-controlled, retaining independent editorial voice while leveraging partner infrastructure for distribution and production scale.
Sportsish firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sportsish
- Legal name
- Sportsish
- Website
- https://thesportsish.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media company that produces editorial articles, podcasts, vodcasts, and live events centered on women's sports. Founded in 2021, it serves female sports fans and monetizes through brand partnerships, an ESPN creator licensing deal, and content co-production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sportsish industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Media
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Brand Strategy & Creative Services (Design, Content, Social) (MPAKAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Branded Content (Team/League/Brand Integrations) (MPADAEAI), Social/Creator-Led Sports Live Streaming & Watch-Alongs (MPAKAOAI)
Keywords
Where Sportsish is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sportsish business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Brand Partnerships and Advertising: Sportsish generates revenue through sponsored content and brand partnerships with major advertisers including Nike, Adobe, Maybelline, Taco Bell, and Dick's Sporting Goods. The company attracts premium brands seeking access to female sports fans.
- Creator/Influencer Licensing Deals: Founder Lily Shimbashi signed a two-year deal with ESPN to serve as a full-time creator, contributing content across ESPN's social platforms. This represents a direct revenue stream from a major media network.
- Content Co-Production and Live Events: Sportsish produces multi-series podcast/vodcast content with partners (e.g., Deadset Studios) and executes live events such as the 'Bestie Bowl' franchise around major sporting events including the Super Bowl, generating revenue through content licensing and event activation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Sportsish product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media brand that produces editorial articles, interactive quizzes and watch-party guides, a podcast/vodcast, and live event franchises centered on women's sports and female athletes. The platform publishes content through its own website, Instagram, Spotify, an email newsletter, and through partner platforms including ESPN, Amazon Prime, and FuboTV. Its commercial purpose is to give consumer brands (Nike, Adobe, Maybelline, Taco Bell, Dick's Sporting Goods) direct access to the female sports-fan demographic through sponsored content and brand partnerships.
Product overview
Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media company offering a multi-format content platform. The core offerings include: (1) a News Section delivering articles and athlete profiles focused on women's sports, (2) an Extra Ish sub-brand featuring interactive personality quizzes and watch party content, (3) a Podcast/Vodcast hosted by Olympic athletes distributed via Spotify, and (4) the Bestie Bowl live event franchise. The company monetizes through brand partnerships with Nike, Adobe, Maybelline, Taco Bell, and Dick's Sporting Goods, and distributes content through ESPN social platforms, Amazon Prime, and FuboTV via Togethxr partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- News Section Digital sports news coverage focused on women's sports and female athletes, featuring articles, analysis, and recurring athlete profile series such as Women Wednesday with Sabrina Ionescu. Targeted at female sports fans seeking coverage that centers women's sports and female athletes.
- Extra Ish Interactive entertainment content sub-brand featuring personality quizzes (e.g., "What Iconic College Football Moment Are You?"), watch-party guides (e.g., Wimbledon, Rugby World Cup), and pop culture x sports crossover features. Targeted at female sports fans seeking lighter, shareable sports entertainment.
- Sportish Podcast / Vodcast Podcast and vodcast hosted by three-time Olympian Libby Trickett and community sports advocate Georgie Trickett, featuring athlete guests (including Ash Barty) and distributed via Spotify. Targeted at female sports fans and broader sports followers; co-produced with Deadset Studios.
- Bestie Bowl Live event franchise debuting around the Super Bowl, providing on-the-ground coverage of major sporting events and community activations as part of the TOGETHXR partnership. Targeted at female sports fans attending major sporting moments and the brand partners seeking premium sponsorship inventory.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sportsish filled a market gap where mainstream outlets gave women's sports only 9% of coverage.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sportsish
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sportsish technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sportsish partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.
- Deadset StudioscoreAward-winning podcast/vodcast production house Deadset Studios signed a 3-series deal with Sportish to co-produce three seasons of content, including associated live events, vodcasts, and community activations. The first series, powered by the Australian Sports Commission and featuring guests including Wimbledon winner Ash Barty, launched on 4 March 2026 with both podcast and video episodes.
- Australian Sports CommissionsupportingThe Australian Sports Commission is powering the first series of the Sportish/Deadset Studios co-production, featuring guests including Wimbledon winner Ash Barty, as part of an effort to promote Australian sports and athletes through engaging digital content.
- ESPNcoreESPN is finalizing a two-year deal with Lily Shimbashi to serve as a full-time creator for the network, contributing content across ESPN's social platforms covering major events including the NFL Honors red carpet, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Final. The deal is part of ESPN's broader strategy to recruit influencers and reach younger, female audiences.
- TOGETHXRcoreTOGETHXR, a women's sports media company co-founded by elite athletes including Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel, and Chloe Kim, announced a strategic partnership and equity investment in Sportsish. The partnership includes a new series in development, on-the-ground coverage at major sporting events, and the 'Bestie Bowl' franchise debuting around the Super Bowl. Sportsish retains its independent voice while gaining access to TOGETHXR's infrastructure and distribution capabilities.
- Amazon PrimesupportingTOGETHXR has partnerships with platforms including Amazon Prime and FuboTV, through which Sportsish content is distributed as part of the broader women's sports media ecosystem.
- FuboTVsupportingTOGETHXR has partnerships with platforms including Amazon Prime and FuboTV, through which Sportsish content is distributed as part of the broader women's sports media ecosystem.
- NikemajorSportsish has attracted brand partnerships with major consumer brands seeking to reach female sports fans. Nike is among the brand partners Sportsish has worked with, leveraging the platform's female-forward sports audience.
- AdobemajorAdobe is a brand partner of Sportsish, utilizing the platform to connect with female sports fans through content integrations and branded collaborations.
- MaybellinemajorMaybelline has partnered with Sportsish as a brand advertiser seeking to engage female sports fans through culturally relevant content and platform integrations.
- Taco BellmajorTaco Bell is a brand partner of Sportsish, collaborating on content activations that connect the food brand with female sports audiences.
- Dick's Sporting GoodsmajorDick's Sporting Goods has partnered with Sportsish to reach female sports fans, aligning their sporting goods offerings with Sportsish's female-forward sports media content.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sportsish competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bleacher Report: Large digital sports media brand with strong social following and brand partnership business. Competes for the same digital advertiser budgets targeting younger, social-first sports audiences.
- ESPN: Dominant U.S. sports broadcaster and digital media property. Also a Sportsish commercial partner via the two-year creator deal; broader incumbent expanding into women's sports and creator-led content.
- Front Office Sports: Digital media company covering the business of sports, including women's sports industry growth. Adjacent editorial positioning with overlap in advertiser categories targeting sports fans.
- The Athletic: Subscription-based sports media company with deep team-focused coverage. Larger incumbent that has been expanding women's sports coverage, competing for the same advertiser attention and audience.
- SB Nation: Network of sports blogs and editorial sites owned by Vox Media. Broad incumbent with team-and-league coverage that competes for advertiser share in digital sports media.
Direct peers
- Just Women's Sports: Digital media company covering women's sports with newsletters, podcasts, and video content targeting female sports fans. Direct competitor for Sportsish's audience and advertiser dollars in the same whitespace.
- TOGETHXR: Women's sports media company co-founded by elite athletes (Alex Morgan, Sue Bird, Simone Manuel, Chloe Kim) that has taken a strategic equity stake in Sportsish. Closest peer by audience, mission, and content model, and a direct distribution partner rather than purely a competitor.
- The GIST: Female-led sports media brand producing newsletters, podcasts, and content aimed at women sports fans. Closely aligned target demographic, content format, and community-led GTM motion.
Emerging players
- Her Hoop Stats: Specialty media and data platform focused on women's basketball, covering the WNBA and college game. Partial overlap with Sportsish's women's sports editorial focus, narrower sport coverage.
- Torch & Trumpet: Emerging women's sports media brand producing digital content and community experiences for female sports fans. Comparable niche focus and creator-driven content model at an early stage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sportsish social profiles
Digital presenceSportsish financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sportsish leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sportsish funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sportsish M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sportsish
What does Sportsish do?
Sportsish is a female-forward digital sports media brand that produces editorial articles, interactive quizzes and watch-party guides, a podcast/vodcast, and live event franchises centered on women's sports and female athletes. The platform publishes content through its own website, Instagram, Spotify, an email newsletter, and through partner platforms including ESPN, Amazon Prime, and FuboTV. Its commercial purpose is to give consumer brands (Nike, Adobe, Maybelline, Taco Bell, Dick's Sporting Goods) direct access to the female sports-fan demographic through sponsored content and brand partnerships.
Is Sportsish a public or private company?
Sportsish is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sportsish founded?
Sportsish was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sportsish based?
Sportsish is headquartered in New City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sportsish make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Brand Partnerships and Advertising is the primary driver. The others are creator/Influencer Licensing Deals and content Co-Production and Live Events.
Who are Sportsish's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bleacher Report, ESPN, Front Office Sports, The Athletic and SB Nation. Direct peers are Just Women's Sports, TOGETHXR and The GIST. Emerging players are Her Hoop Stats and Torch & Trumpet.
Does Sportsish have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sportsish.
What industry is Sportsish in?
Sportsish's product category is Sports Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAKAF, Sports Brand Strategy & Creative Services (Design, Content, Social), with a secondary code of MPADAEAI, Sports Branded Content (Team/League/Brand Integrations). Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 7330.