This week I talked with sports journalist Frankie de la Cretaz, who writes at the intersection of sports and gender through their newsletter Out of Your League. They’re also the author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League.
When it comes to what happens in women’s sports around and on top of actual gameplay, Frankie is prolific. They’re also deft at threading the needle between the joy and legacy of women’s sports, while saying the quiet part out loud about things like the consequences of hypergrowth, corporate interests in the women’s game, and racism and homophobia in media coverage, just to name a few.
Here’s what we covered:
Frankie’s pivot from MLB reporter to women’s sports culture journalist
Telling the (very gay) story of the women behind the National Women’s Football League with their book Hail Mary
Inclusivity attracting fans rather than alienating them in women’s sports
The gentrification of the WNBA and what the Liberty need to do better
Misogynoir in ESPN's WNBA coverage
How fans can help keep the magic and safety of women’s sports alive
Frankie’s all-sport, all-gay starting 5
I could’ve talked to Frankie for hours, and the good news is they have a treasure trove of pieces that make me feel smarter about this space I love so much. All the links to keep in touch with their work are below. Enjoy!
Stay in touch with Good Sport NYC on Substack
Subscribe to Out of Your League
Follow Frankie on Instagram, BlueSky
