Houston Dash midfielder Kristie Mewis was named one of the world’s 50 most marketable athletes, according to sports business publication SportsPro.
The online outlet published its annual ranking of the 50 most marketable athletes on Tuesday, and Mewis was one of only two Houston-based athletes to make the list. Houston-native gymnast Simone Biles topped the list, while perhaps fittingly for a Houston star, Mewis came in at No. 34.
Female athletes saw a surge this year, led by Biles at the top of the list, with women accounting for 14 of the top 50 spots. The U.S. Women’s National Team, for whom Mewis has made 12 appearances and scored two goals this year, placed nine players among the top 50.
According to SportsPro, their scoring model powered by Zoomph defines marketability not just by the number of followers an athlete has or how many likes he or she may get on a post, but also by “the demographic makeup and consumer affinities of their audience.”
Zoomph tracked more than 7,000 athletes who are active on at least three of the four major social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok) between January and July to create an Athlete Influencer Score.
The overall Athlete Influencer Score is comprised of five weighted metrics: frequency (maximum 15), reach (maximum 60), engagement (maximum 50, fan demographic (maximum 75) and fan attractiveness (maximum 50). The maximum total score available is 250, with the athlete and his or her fans equally weighted at 125 each. For a full explanation of the methodology, please click here.
The Dash will welcome Mewis and her fellow Olympians back to BBVA Stadium this Sunday as they host Racing Louisville. That match is set for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative poster featuring Mewis and fellow U.S. Women’s National teamer Jane Campbell, England national team star Rachel Daly, and Canadian gold medalists Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince and Sophie Schmidt. Tickets are available starting at $7 at HoustonDash.com/Tickets.
