Whether you are part of the “Daddy Gang” or a long time follower of Barstool Sports, a name you have definitely heard before is Alex Cooper. Cooper is the frontwoman for the hit podcast Call Her Daddy that originated as part of the Barstool brand. She has her own history as a woman in sports as a former D1 midfielder at Boston University. Her content creation while in college opened the door to being the host of CHD on Barstool and sole owner as an entrepreneur.
She left the Boston University soccer team going into her senior season with no indicator of when she would be back on the pitch. On March 7, 2025, it was announced that Cooper would reunite with the female soccer world as one of her brands, Unwell Hydration, became the lead sponsor for the NWSL. The collaboration is a massive step for Cooper fiscally and personally; she is able to heal part of herself that misses the sport.
“I grew up my entire life playing soccer,” she said with the initial Instagram announcement. “It will always be a part of my identity and was a huge motivation when I was creating Unwell Hydration.” Cooper also took the time to recognize her ability to support female athletes as a former athlete herself. It is clear that this is an important initiative to her, making a huge mark in global sports.
Unwell Hydration managed to beat out other billion dollar hydration companies as the head sponsor. Now, Unwell will be present throughout the league with fan events at major games during the season. It was also announced by the NWSL that a “hype group of soccer fans” named Unwell FC is being launched as well. It seems that this is an effort to welcome more female soccer fans that are being connected to the league through Cooper’s branding and marketing.
Unwell and NWSL celebrated the news with a massive fan event at the 2025 Challenge Cup match between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit. Cooper attended, handing out 3,000 hats and hauling a Glambot with her. Women from all over came to meet Cooper and also watch the match—their ticket to the launch event was also a ticket to the game. It is an incredible gesture from Cooper to be intentional about getting fans in seats for the start of the 2025 NWSL season. Many of the “Daddy Gang” that showed up were given the first women’s soccer game of their lives!
I know I am excited to see how the NWSL fanbases grow from this deal. The league also has a major overhaul of support after the 2024 Paris Olympics after the Team USA Women’s National Team brought home the gold medal. Trinity Rodman, a member of the successful Olympic team and the Washington Spirit, has a personal relationship with Cooper and appeared on Call Her Daddy in December 2024. While Rodman did not appear on the lineup for the Challenge Cup, she was gearing up for the 2025 season with Washington. She appeared in the kickoff win against the Houston Dash.
Some of Cooper’s other former teammates were present and got to see her at the event. Worlds are colliding as these phenomenal women are supporting each other in their respective avenues. Everyone watches women’s sports and there is no such thing as too late to the game.
Alex with Kylie Strom, former BU teammate (left), and Trinity Rodman (right)
Photos: Instagram/@NSWL + @alexandracooper
I am a fan of Alex Cooper, her ability to brand herself so well and also her commitment to telling women’s stories. If you are unfamiliar with her and her podcast, a good place to start is Trinity Rodman’s episode of the show. My biggest hope is that Cooper and Unwell will help the NWSL thrive more than ever.
May female athletes, current and former, be able to support each other more and more as the years go by. This world is truly better when the girls are for the girls in every single avenue.
Thank you, Alex Cooper, for setting such a prominent example!
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