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