WNBA rookie Katelyn Clark had a tough home debut, scoring only 9 points in a 102-66 loss to the New York Liberty. Despite the on-court defeat, Clark's debut game drew in a record-breaking 2.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game in over 2 decades, surpassing even a competing NHL Stanley Cup playoff game.
Women's sports are experiencing a surge in popularity, with viewership and revenue on the rise. Major media companies are now eager to capitalize on this trend, recognizing the potential of women's sports. The Ion Network is set to air Friday night WNBA games and will host the first dedicated WNBA weekly studio show, aiming to make the games more visible to fans.
The momentum is undeniable, with Clark's presence helping draw a staggering 18.9 million viewers to the women's NCAA final in April, outperforming men's ratings. The WNBA draft night also attracted over 2.4 million viewers, further showcasing the growing interest in women's sports.
Advertisers are taking notice of the increasing viewership, with companies like Google, Unilever, and Mars planning to double their ad spend on women's sports this year. The engagement of fans with brands supporting women's sports is translating into tangible business results, driving product sales and revenue.
While women's sports revenue still lags behind male-dominated sports, the industry is ripe for development. The potential for growth is immense, with the goal of normalizing women's sports to the point where they are simply referred to as 'the basketball game' or 'the soccer game' without gender distinctions.
Broadcasters and streaming platforms are expanding their coverage beyond basketball to include soccer, volleyball, and more, recognizing that a good game is a good game, regardless of the players involved. Notably, Clark's debut game was featured on Disney Plus, marking the platform's first-ever live sports broadcast, a move that seems to have paid off given the positive ratings.
As broadcasting rights and advertising dollars continue to increase, there is hope that player salaries in women's sports will also see a significant rise, reflecting the growing value and appeal of women's sports in the global sports landscape.
