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CAA Sports
When it comes to dealmaking, none stood out like the 10-year, $700 million contract that client Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was the talk of sports. CAA also signed Travis Kelce for off-the-field work, giving the agency a client whose profile soared leading to the Super Bowl. While it negotiated more than $1 billion in playing contracts for NBA clients, the agency also completed two of the largest contracts in NBA coaching history. A forward-thinking move saw CAA expand into women’s hockey by signing 18 players.
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Excel Sports Management
Excel signed Caitlin Clark, the biggest buzz-generating player in basketball, and secured marketing deals with brands, including Gatorade and Gainbridge. Other wins included signing the PGA Tour’s Max Homa and the LPGA’s Lydia Ko. Excel grew its presence in football by acquiring Rep 1 Football and now boasts a client list that includes not only current players, but retired stars such as Joe Montana and the Manning brothers. Overall, Excel manages more than $5 billion in active contracts.
New Balance
Klutch Sports Group
Klutch continued making moves to distinguish itself and elevate its presence in talent representation. It now represents 200 NBA and NFL clients and moved into baseball with the acquisition of Rep 1 Baseball. Founder Rich Paul launched a sportswear brand with New Balance, demonstrating his influence at the intersection of sport and fashion. In women’s sports, Klutch repped four WNBA All-Stars and helped create and publish a book for Finals MVP A’ja Wilson.
Under Armour
Octagon
Octagon describes 2023 as the most successful year in its 40-year history. High-profile moves included designing and securing the $1 billion contract for Steph Curry with Under Armour. The breadth of Octagon’s work was demonstrated by far-ranging moves such as guiding Simone Biles back to competition, securing endorsements for Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and negotiating a multiyear contract extension for Chris Fowler with ESPN.
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Wasserman
The agency scored 18 first-round selections across the NFL, MLB, NBA and NWSL last year, and boosted its NFL representation business by acquiring Caric Sports Management. Continued work with client Brittney Griner included lining up a feature documentary to chronicle the WNBA player’s ordeal in Russia. Wasserman took its entertainment and pop culture efforts to the next level with the acquisition of Brillstein Entertainment Partners of Hollywood and expanded opportunities with clients through the launch of a speakers division.
WME Sports
WME Sports
Another year, another round of big contracts for clients, including football stars Joe Burrow and Nick Bosa and Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self. The agency continued to represent some of the highest-paid and highest-profile female athletes, including Sabrina Ionescu, who became the first woman to lead a unisex line at Nike. WME grew by acquisition as well, buying all of BDA Sports and its strong class of NBA athletes. The move led to WME having the No. 1 class in the NBA Draft with the most lottery, first-round and overall picks of any agency.
