Jessi Miley-Dyer has been appointed as the new commissioner of the World Surf League (WSL). She is 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 the recent wave of 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 the 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.
The recent changes in Miley-Dyer’s title on social media had sparked rumors about her future role in the WSL. However, with her appointment as commissioner, those rumors have been put to rest. Miley-Dyer, who hails from Sydney, Australia, is the first person to hold the commissioner title since Kieren Perrow stepped down in 2019. She has been with the WSL since 2012 and is committed to promoting the league through creative storytelling and engaging content, especially following the new media rights deal with ESPN.
The news of Miley-Dyer’s appointment coincides with other leadership changes in the WSL. Ryan Crosby, former president of publishing at Riot Games, has taken over as CEO of the league, replacing Erik Logan who left the organization last summer. The WSL is undergoing a period of transition with new leadership at the helm and renewed efforts to promote the sport, especially focusing on gender equity and creative media strategies.