The Goal: As women's sports continue to experience unprecedented growth and visibility (as they rightfully should), at the same time, women athletes are experiencing injuries at an alarming rate. Through a partnership rooted in the insights that women basketball players are 8x more likely to tear an ACL, are 50% more likely to sprain an ankle, and have many other biomechanical differences affecting their bodies compared to their Male counterparts, UnitedHealthcare sought to shine a light on a critical issue that has often been overlooked: female athletes have historically been trained, conditioned, and supported using standards largely developed around men's bodies. From professional competitors to weekend rec league legends, women experience unique physical challenges, injury risks, and recovery needs that require dedicated research, training approaches, and healthcare resources.
The Execution: UnitedHealthcare partnered with the iHeart Women’s Sports Network to facilitate these conversations, raise awareness of these disparities, and ultimately help identify future ways to reduce these injuries, with the help of three of the network's most influential voices. The campaign featured podcast and custom content integrations with Good Game with Sarah Spain, hosted by award-winning sports journalist Sarah Spain; The Courtside Podcast with women's sports business leader Laura Correnti; and Fudd Around and Find Out, hosted by UConn star and No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Azzi Fudd. Yes, THE Sarah Spain, THE Laura Correnti, and THE Azzi Fudd!!!
Throughout these integrations, UnitedHealthcare became a facilitator and a meaningful part of conversations about women's athletic performance, injury prevention, recovery, and long-term health. The partnership extended beyond podcast integrations, with social-first content and short-form video clips distributed across each show's channels, amplifying the message and reaching audiences where they actively engage with women's sports content. By partnering with trusted voices who have helped shape the modern women's sports movement, the campaign created an authentic platform for education, awareness, and advocacy around the future of women's sports health.