Did Pregnancy Cost This Runner a Sponsorship Deal?

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Did Pregnancy Cost This Runner a Sponsorship Deal?

What’s going on: Emma Bates is no casual runner. A US marathon champion, Bates placed second at Chicago in 2021 and fifth at Boston in 2023. In December, she finished another 26.2 miles in Valencia, clocking 2:25:51 — while pregnant. That remarkable feat may now be the least talked about part of her story. Last month, Bates publicly shared her pregnancy and alleged she lost an endorsement deal with energy product company UCan as a result. The company disputes that, saying the partnership ended before it knew that she’s expecting. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Unlike some professional athletes, runners often rely on their sponsorships to make a living — there's no guaranteed salary and no real union safety net.

Tell me more: This isn’t the first dispute of its kind — but it puts the so-called “pregnancy penalty” back in the spotlight. In 2019, Nike announced maternity protections after an elite group of track stars, including seven-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix, told The New York Times that the company tried to cut their pay during or after pregnancy. Athletes across other sports have faced similar challenges and pushed for change. The WNBA just added protections for expecting players in trade situations. In cycling, the Life Time Grand Prix now guarantees athletes reentry after they give birth. As more and more competitors show they don’t have to choose between being a mom and their sport (hi, Sophia Wilson), it’s time for leagues and brands to rewrite their playbooks, too. 

Related: How Pregnancy Helped These Elite Athletes Redefine Endurance (CNN)

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Timeout...

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Are robots calling the MLB shots?

Sort of. The Automatic Ball-Strike system (ABS) — or “robot umpires,” as the kids call it — made its debut last month. The results speak for themselves: As of Tuesday night, 54% of the 286 calls were overturned, per The Athletic. One ump had this many in a single game. While most fans view ABS as a positive addition, many players and coaches don’t like the disruption it causes to the game’s flow (especially when those calls reverse inning-ending pitches). If you’re not a fan of ABS, don’t worry. The MLB still has a human umpire behind home plate at every game (even if they get caught with embarrassing hot mic moments).

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The Press Box

Laila Edwards really is that girl. She went from winning Olympic gold with Team USA women’s hockey to clinching a national championship with the University of Wisconsin — roughly a month apart. And she’s made some famous friends along the way (hi, Megan Thee Stallion and the Kelce brothers). Edwards joined Well Played to talk about her standout year, her dream celeb intro, and what’s next for the college senior. Watch the full interview here.

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