Overview

The most significant MLS sports business news story this week is **Nationwide Mutual Insurance’s agreement to buy a 37% stake in the Columbus Crew at a $900 million valuation**, marking one of the largest single-team investments in league history [1]. Key details and context: - **Deal Structure**: Nationwide will acquire 30% of the stake from Haslam Sports Group and 7% from the Edwards family, the Crew’s founding owners [1]. - **Approval Status**: The transaction is pending approval from the MLS Board of Governors and is expected to close within weeks [1]. - **Strategic Impact**: The deal deepens Nationwide’s ties to both MLS and the NWSL, reflecting growing corporate confidence in U.S. soccer’s commercial value [1]. Other notable business developments surrounding this week include: - **MLS and Apple ending their exclusive broadcast deal early**, with all matches now included in a standard Apple TV subscription ahead of the 2028/29 season’s original conclusion [4]. - **MLS launching its largest-ever marketing investment** on the eve of the 2026 season to capitalize on the home-soil FIFA World Cup, which will cause a six-week league break [4]. - **Transfer activity driving club revenue**, including LA Galaxy’s sale of Gabriel Pec to Cruzeiro for a **club-record fee** and Columbus Crew’s transfer of Diego Rossi to CF Monterrey [5]. While Los Angeles FC remains the league’s most valuable club at **$1.15 billion**, the Columbus Crew transaction signals a new tier of valuation potential for mid-tier MLS franchises [8].

The most significant sports business news this week involving individual athletes centers on **Jalen Peterson** signing a historic rookie shoe deal, **Steph Curry** ending his 13-year partnership with Under Armour, and **OG Anunoby** launching a new crypto prediction market deal amid the NBA Finals. Here are the key stories broken down by sport: ### **NBA (Basketball)** * **Jalen Peterson’s Historic Rookie Deal:** The Jazz’s No. 2 pick signed with **Adidas** for a deal ranking as the **top-5 richest rookie shoe agreements in NBA history**, valued significantly higher than typical rookie contracts [1]. * **Steph Curry Leaves Under Armour:** After nearly **13 years**, the star split with Under Armour, ending one of the basketball world’s most enduring sneaker partnerships [4]. * **OG Anunoby’s Crypto Deal:** Minutes after putting the Knicks on the verge of their first championship in 53 years, the 28-year-old signed a deal to endorse **Crypto.com’s “OG Prediction Markets”** platform [1]. * **Kawhi Leonard Trade Held:** The trade of **Kawhi Leonard** to the Raptors remains on hold until the NBA completes its investigation into allegations of Clippers salary-cap circumvention [2][3]. * **Jersey Collectibles Boom:** **Jalen Brunson’s** NBA Finals Game 1 jersey sold for **over $1 million** at auction, cementing his status as a top collectible name [2]. ### **Golf** * **Wyndham Clark’s $4.5M Prize:** After winning the **2026 U.S. Open**, Clark received **$4.5 million** in prize money, a payout matching the 2026 Masters and backing up his 2023 major win [1]. ### **WNBA & Soccer** * **First-Ever Network Merch Deals:** **Kaleena Smith** and **Beckham Black** landed the **first-ever merchandising deals** with their network, marking a breakthrough for WNBA athlete branding [1]. * **OKC Soccer Investment:** **Mayfield**, **J-Dub** (likely referring to a specific player or duo, context suggests a star trio), and **McLaughlin-Levrone** invested in a **$1 billion OKC soccer project**, joining **Russell Westbrook** and **Jozy Altidore** in the ownership group [1]. * **Christian Pulisic Injury Impact:** The USMNT star suffered a **leg microfracture** against Belgium and will miss several weeks, creating urgency for team business planning during the World Cup [2]. ### **Other Notables** * **Nelly Korda’s History Run:** The LPGA’s biggest star is chasing history at the **Women’s PGA Championship**, with a career Grand Slam and Hall of Fame qualification on the line [1]. * **Rafael Nadal’s Retirement Confirmed:** Nadal confirmed he will **not return** to pro tennis, closing the chapter on his playing career while expanding into hospitality with his fourth Zel hotel [6]. * **Victor Wembanyama’s Bonus Forgone:** The Spurs star **forwent a potential $50 million bonus** to help the team’s finances, prompting the NBPA to call for system changes [2].