Jessi Miley-Dyer has recently been appointed as the new commissioner of World Surf League (WSL). The former professional surfer made her announcement at Sportico and SheMedia’s “Winning: Women & Sports” event. Miley-Dyer is making history as the league’s first woman commissioner, signaling a step forward in gender equity within the sports industry.
In her speech, Miley-Dyer emphasized the importance of recognizing women’s sports as high-yielding investment opportunities when given the proper support. She highlighted recent investments made in WSL and women’s sports in general, stressing that women’s sports are not a charity but rather a lucrative business opportunity.
Miley-Dyer’s promotion to WSL commissioner represents a significant milestone in her career, especially after removing “chief of sport” from her social media accounts sparked rumors among surfing fans. Born in Sydney, Australia, Miley-Dyer took on various roles within the organization before assuming her current position as commissioner. She is now focused on using creative storytelling and engaging content to promote the league.
As part of WSL’s ongoing leadership changes, Ryan Crosby was recently appointed as CEO after Erik Logan’s sudden departure from the league last year. Additionally, an exciting media rights deal with ESPN was agreed upon earlier this year, which will see ESPN+ streaming men’s and women’s championship tour competitions. The appointment of Jessi Miley-Dyer as the new commissioner signifies a new era for WSL, with a strong emphasis on gender equity and innovative approaches to growing the sport of surfing.
