BetMGM announced the signing of softball phenom and MLB Network personality AJ Andrews as a brand ambassador and content creator.
Andrews has had a unique impact both on and off the field. As a player, Andrews led the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers to two Women’s College World Series appearances. But it didn’t stop there. She was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Bandits in 2015, and a year later, the outfielder made history with the Akron Racers by becoming the first woman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove award, an honor previously exclusive to the best defensive players in Major League Baseball. Andrews also earned the Rally Spike Award as the National Pro Fastpitch League’s stolen bases leader.
Off the field, Andrews works with non-profit organizations to help mentor and empower young women.
A Gold Glove and a Diamond personality 💎.
We are thrilled to welcome softball star and MLB Network personality @aj_andrews_ to the BetMGM family! pic.twitter.com/8ZFrZRRsrH
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 31, 2022
A Step Forward For Women And Sports Betting
BetMGM hit a home run by signing Andrews and adding a brand ambassador with her extensive resume. Female presence lacks throughout the sports industry from the ground up. Putting a spotlight on a strong woman like Andrews has the potential to encourage women who have followed her and looked up to her to get involved in betting. The addition of Andrews can help to eliminate the stigma that sports and sports betting is only for the male population.
Andrews’ partnership with BetMGM shines a deserving spotlight on women’s sports. For those just now discovering who Andrews is, I bet they’re now wishing they could have seen her compete in the Women’s College World Series — an event that is beyond underrated. Women’s sports have always been underappreciated, never receiving the appropriate amount of attention for the high-level talent and competition.
It’s not too late to give women’s athletics the recognition it deserves, and this year’s Women’s March Madness Tournament was proof of that. While it did not garner nearly as much attention or bet slips as the Men’s tournament, there was a major uptick in attendance and viewership, and according to DraftKings, the NCAA women’s championship game between South Carolina and UConn on Sunday, April 3, saw the biggest betting handle of the day, greater than any of the professional games offered on the wagering menu.
Some of this falls on the NCAA and its lack of advocacy women’s athletics. Sticking with the NCAA March Madness tournament, the men get their own CBS and Turner deals. The women’s tournament is packaged with 28 other NCAA championships.
While this year’s Women’s March Madness tournament was a step in the right direction, handle on women’s sports will continue to increase as exposure grows. A game’s visibility correlates to its betting interest. It’s time for the NCAA to evolve and share the love, in turn betting on women’s sports will become part of the norm, and BetMGM’s addition of AJ Andrews can help with that.
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