Kelley O'Hara, renowned ex-members of the US Women's National Team, embarks on a new venture by spearheading a talk show exclusively featuring women in sports.
In 2019, when women's sports received a minimal 4% of sports media coverage, Haley Rosen envisioned a platform exclusively for women's sports, full of excitement and joy. By 2020, Rosen brought this vision to life with the launch of Just Women's Sports (JWS), a digital-first fan destination that celebrates women athletes and the women's sports industry.
JWS sought to make being a woman's sports fan an enjoyable experience, promoting genuine "hype" through original programming, media, and editorial coverage. CEO & Founder Rosen commented, "We've been pushing the concept of 'hype not guilt' for women's sports since the beginning. These athletes are the best in the world, and ultimately, sports are entertaining. We don't want to rob people of a classic sports experience in women's sports."
Rosen's first major move as JWS CEO saw her teaming up with U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) star Kelley O'Hara to launch the "Just Women's Sports Podcast." O'Hara was eager to join, recognizing the potential in JWS's vision. The collaboration continued with various digital content like "The Players Pod" and "Fast Friends with Lisa Leslie", along with popular series such as "Kelley on the Street" and "1v1."
Breaking new ground, O'Hara and Rosen are now launching a weekly show dubbed "Sports Are Fun!" on JWS's New York City studio. The show will feature O'Hara as the main host and a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests, discussing the latest headlines in women's sports, from on-court drama to off-field shenanigans.
O'Hara excitedly shared her perspective on the show, "It's going to be like you're hanging out with us, talking about what's been blowing up in the group chat, and it's going to be all good vibes. We're going to make it as easy as possible for people to come across and be a fan of women's sports."
JWS views "Sports Are Fun!" as an essential step in the evolution of women's sports media, providing daily, regular coverage that keeps fans engaged and connected. The show is sponsored by TurboTax, marking their first major sponsorship of a women's sports show.
Retired professional soccer star O'Hara, who has an accomplished career featuring multiple World Cup victories, Olympic gold medals, and NWSL titles, also aims to contribute to the advancement of women's sports. O'Hara explains, "I feel a responsibility to stay close to the game, to continue contributing to moving it forward. We've made strides and we've made progress, but [women's sports] is nowhere near where we want it to be."
The inaugural episode of "Sports Are Fun!" will premiere on February 4th, 2025, on the JWS YouTube page and across all audio platforms, further driving exciting coverage of women's sports.
JWS, recognizing the importance of financial support in the growth of women's sports, has secured TurboTax as a sponsor for their new show, "Sports Are Fun". The financial backing from TurboTax will help JWS to continue promoting women's sports and making it an enjoyable experience for fans, as they believe that 'sports should be about money in business, not money being a barrier to enjoyment in sports'.
In an effort to attract a wider audience and make women's sports more accessible, JWS and Kelley O'Hara are planning to incorporate sports-related business discussions into the weekly show, 'Sports Are Fun'. They aim to showcase how the business side of sports, including sponsorships and financial growth, can contribute to the overall success and enjoyment of women's sports.
