Jessi Miley-Dyer has been appointed as the new commissioner of the World Surf League (WSL), making history as the first woman to hold this position in the league’s history. Miley-Dyer, a former professional surfer, made the announcement during the “Winning: Women & Sports” event hosted by Sportico and SheMedia. She previously served as the chief of sport for the WSL and will now be at the helm of the league, aiming to continue pushing boundaries for gender equity.
Miley-Dyer highlighted the importance of equal prize money in sports and mentioned that the WSL was the first North American sports league to offer equal prize money. She emphasized the significance of this achievement, especially as a former professional athlete herself. She hopes to further the progress made in promoting gender parity within sports.
Referring to recent investments in women’s sports, Miley-Dyer emphasized that women’s sports are not a charity but a viable business proposition. She stressed the importance of investing in women’s sports for potential financial returns it can bring. She urged stakeholders not to view women’s sports as a charity case but as a valuable investment opportunity.
Rumors about Miley-Dyer’s future role in the WSL had circulated on social media after changes in her title were recently announced. However, with her appointment as commissioner, those rumors have been put to rest. Miley-Dyer, who hails from Sydney, Australia, is committed to promoting creative storytelling and engaging content through media strategies that align with ESPN’s new media rights deal with WSL.
The news of Miley-Dyer’s appointment coincides with other leadership changes in WSL such as Ryan Crosby taking over as CEO from Erik Logan who left last summer.
The league is undergoing transition with new leadership at its helm and renewed efforts to promote surfing globally while focusing on gender equity and innovative media strategies.
Miley-Dyer’s appointment marks an exciting period for WSL as they continue their journey towards promoting gender equality while driving financial success through smart investments and strategic partnerships.
