Jessica Hammond-Graf [#43]: Launching a Professional Women's Rugby League in the U.S.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Jessica Hammond Graf, President
of Women’s Elite Rugby - the first professional womens rugby
league in the US set to launch later this year. 


Built upon the strong foundation of the Women’s Premier League
and looking ahead to the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup to be
hosted in the U.S., WER aims to usher in the next stage of
evolution for world-class women's rugby and Jessica is the
perfect fit at the helm. A former US rugby 7's player, and
retired NCAA Division I Deputy Athletic Director, her career has
been dedicated to creating empowered women to lead in the
sporting world. 


In our conversation, we discuss turning women’s rugby in the U.S.
from pay-to-play to paid-to-play, selecting locations for the
initial teams, securing sponsors and media distribution, the
impact star players can have on a sport, and so much more. 


Timestamps


2:00 - Jessica's Journey


5:00 - The Creation of Women's Elite Rugby


6:00 - Women's Rugby in the U.S.


10:00 - Women's Rugby World Cup Momentum


13:00 - Securing Sponsorship and Investment as a Startup League


17:00 - Exploring Revenue Streams


20:00 - What Will WER Look Like in 2025?


24:00 - Being Player-First


27:00 - Owning a Slot on the Calendar


30:00 - Thinking About a Broadcast Strategy


33:00 - Ilona Maher and the Impact of a Super-Star Athletes


41:00 - The Future for WER





Additional Links


Women’s Elite Rugby pro league plans 2025 launch ahead of US
World Cups





Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn - Here


Connect with Andy on LinkedIn - Here