Women’s sports have gained tremendous popularity across many leagues, specifically the WNBA and NWSL. As the times continue to change, it is inevitable that women’s sports leagues will begin to catch-up to the prevalence of men’s leagues.
WNBA
When the WNBA was founded in 1996, there was only eight teams in the league. With sparing additions, there is now 13 teams, and by the start of the 2026-2027 season, there will be 15 teams. By 2030, there is expected to be 18 teams with new franchises in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
Most estimates claim that the WNBA has generated $300 million in revenue this past year, which is $100 million more than 2024. With a new $2.2 billion, 11-year media deal, the league will gain about an extra $200 million per year.
The WNBA was named the fastest growing league in professional sports in 2024, and they became the fifth-most popular sports league.
Star players such as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have brought more attention to the game, increasing viewership among games. Clark’s time at Iowa brought national attention to women’s basketball, which has carried over into her professional career. While the 2024 season averaged 1.19 million viewers per game, games that Clark competed in had an average of 2.45 million viewers per game.
NWSL
Similar to the WNBA, the NWSL is expanding their league. There is currently 13 teams, and there will be additional teams in Boston, Denver, and Atlanta by 2028.
Over four years, NWSL franchises have seen 33x growth, which is in part due to their new media deal. A $240 million, four-year rights deal was signed that will gain the league around $60 million per year.
The NWSL has gained a lot of attention through social media, with soccer players such as Trinity Rodman and Deyna Castellanos. Players tend to post behind-the-scenes style content that engages viewers and promotes the NWSL.
