In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Digit Murphy, founder of United Women's Sports and a 40-year veteran of women's sports advocacy, to talk about what it really takes to grow women's sports from the ground up and why most people are approaching it the wrong way.

Digit has done it all: coached at Brown University for over two decades, built programs from worst to first, coached professional hockey teams in the US and internationally in China, and now works at the intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and AI to create real opportunity for women athletes. Her perspective on why women's sports shouldn't just copy the men's playbook is something every sports fan and business builder needs to hear.

Whether you're a sports fan, an entrepreneur looking at undervalued markets, or someone who cares about equity and opportunity, this conversation will shift the way you think about the business of women's sports.

🎙️ We dive into:

How being told "you can't play, but you can keep score" at age 9 became the catalyst for Digit's lifelong mission
Why she waited three years just to wear a jersey again and how that shaped everything
The journey from Cornell hockey recruit to 24 years coaching at Brown University
How Brown's women's hockey went from 11 Division I teams in the sport to nearly 40 during her tenure
The Title IX lawsuit at Brown and what side Digit was on (hint: the athletes)
Coaching professional hockey in Toronto, building a team in China, and preparing them for the 2022 Olympics
Why "shrink it and pink it" is the biggest mistake in women's sports
Her bold take on why checking shouldn't be in women's hockey OR men's hockey
How the PWHL adding checking is a step in the wrong direction
How Click AI is turning every woman athlete into a content creator with a brand deal pathway
Why brands are sleeping on a massive opportunity in women's sports NIL
The investment gap: what $5 million can do in women's sports vs. men's
Why women athletes with Ivy League degrees are making $30K a year as pros
How Slay Sports is raising capital and sourcing deals for women's sports properties

Digit brings decades of founder energy, coaching wisdom, and a real vision for how women's sports can thrive on its own terms, not as a lesser copy of what already exists.

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🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #WomensSports #DigitMurphy #WomensHockey #NIL #SportsEntrepreneurship #TitleIX #AIinSports #PWHL #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #WomenInBusiness

00:00 Introduction to Digit Murphy and Her Journey 02:44 The Impact of Early Sports Experiences 05:29 Transitioning from Player to Coach 08:19 Championing Change in Women's Sports 10:47 Building Opportunities in Women's Sports 13:29 The Role of AI in Women's Sports 16:06 Creating Unique Value in Women's Sports 18:39 The Future of Women's Sports and Sustainability 21:14 Engaging Brands and Investors in Women's Sports 23:57 The Importance of Representation in Sports 26:37 Conclusion and Future Aspirations 36:47 Introduction to the Podcast