Over the past few years, women’s sports viewership and popularity have significantly increased. From expanded TV broadcasts to the drastic rise of streaming platforms and the power of social media– the media has played a massive role in reshaping how women’s sports are perceived, celebrated, and consumed. This change has impacted the public profile of female athletes and created new opportunities for the media to join the growing audience.
A Look at the Numbers:
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game between LSU and Iowa drew almost 10 million viewers– making it the most-watched NCAA women’s game in history. This game represented a 103% increase from 2022 and passed viewership numbers for some NBA playoff games.
FIFA Women’s World Cup: The 2023 FIFA World Cup reached a record-breaking 2 billion views globally. The final drew over 75 million viewers, highlighting and showcasing its ability to captivate audiences worldwide.
WNBA Growth: The 2023 WNBA season was the most watched over the past two decades. The average viewership was up by 21% compared to the 2022 season. The league’s overall increased visibility on networks like ESPN and ABC has played a significant role in its overall growth.
Tennis Milestones: At 19 years old, CoCo Gauff won the 2023 US Open, which led to the most viewed tennis final ever on ESPN, with a total of 3.4 million views, a 92% increase from 2022.
Streaming Platforms and Social Media:
Streaming services such as ESPN+, Amazon Prime Video, and Peacock have provided numerous ways to access women’s sporting events. In 2022 alone, women’s collegiate and professional sports combined over 22,000 hours of streamed coverage. This accessibility has allowed fans to follow their favorite teams and athletes closer than ever before.
Social Media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X have become powerful tools for promoting women’s sports. Athletes such as Naomi Osaka, Megan Rapinoe, and Angel Reese use these platforms to connect directly with fans, allowing them to share moments in their personal lives to draw a more significant connection with their audience.
The media’s influence on women’s sports cannot be overlooked. From record-breaking viewership numbers and viral social media moments, positive media attention has increased visibility, engagement, and investment in women’s athletics.
While there are still challenges, such as airtime and financial support– the progress made so far is undeniable. Female athletes continue to prove they can captivate audiences as much as male athletes when given the platform they deserve.
Ava Mize 
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