Good morning, Broadsheet readers! An NFL star's commencement speech tells women to be homemakers, magician David Copperfield is accused of sexual misconduct, and a new study finds that brands are getting a return on their investment in female athletes. Have a thoughtful Thursday!
- Slam dunk. Brands are investing in female athletes like never before, from Skims' recent campaign with WNBA players like recently-retired Candace Parker and rookie Cameron Brink to Caitlin Clark's $28 million eight-year Nike deal. Even the WNBA pregame tunnel is now a fashion show where luxury brands can showcase their designs on players including A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
Those brands are getting a return on their investment, according to a new report. Parity, a platform that connects female athletes with brands, conducted a study in partnership with SurveyMonkey. They found people are 2.3 times more likely to purchase a product when it's endorsed by a female athlete, compared to another kind of influencer, Fortune is the first to report. For people who identify as fans of women's sports—even watching just a few times a year—that goes up to 2.8 times more likely.
