Women’s sports had a moment in 2024. Face-to-face attendance i the audience was higherwomen’s professional sports Sponsorships increased by 22%and athletes had greater visibility, with stars like the Olympian Ilona Mayer and WNBA player Angel Reese becoming household names in and out of court.
While the networks have traditionally found it difficult to keep up with women’s leagues, they are noticing increased interest and responding to demand. According to Voxthe first five WNBA games that aired on ESPN this season topped last year’s viewership by 226%. In response, the league adds two new teams Toronto and the San Francisco Bay Areamaking way for new fans. All WNBA games can be seen on the league’s streaming service League Passwith others airing on Amazon Prime, ESPN+ and local networks.
Building the excitement of women’s basketball and the 2024 Summer Olympicsactress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg is making it easier to tune into women’s sports. In November, Goldberg announced the release of All women’s sports network (AWSN), a 24/7 live streaming channel showing live women’s sports from around the world, from football to basketball, tennis and cricket. The network is available for playback Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Vizio’s WatchFree+ platform.
“This is the moment. We are absolutely in the midst of the renaissance of women’s sport. There’s no other time in history when you’ve had women’s sport so dominant.” Nefertiti Walker, professor and assistant vice-president of Academic Affairs of the University of Massachusettsformer NCAA player and author of “Killing the Trolls! Why trolls are so, so wrong about women and sports,” Reckon said in november
For the renaissance of women’s sport to continue in 2025, we must tune in. Here are five growing women’s sports leagues to watch next year:
basketball
If you haven’t jumped into the world of women’s basketball yet, you’re already behind. The WNBA continues to set viewership records, and the 2024 season marked significant growth. The league’s expansion to Toronto and San Francisco brings the total number of teams to 14 for the 2025 season. The New York Liberty claimed their first WNBA championship in 2024, defeating the Vegas Aces.
In April, Honey shared a “Girl’s Guide” to the Final Fourfilling readers in on the traditiontea and all the key players to watch. With many of these players in their professional basketball careers in the WNBA, we are getting a front row seat to the careers of future basketball legends. If you’re not sure where to start, Reckon posted a list of the The 10 hottest openly queer WNBA players you need to be in may
The The 2025 season starts in Maywith games available on League Pass, ESPN networks and Amazon Prime.
More on/who to follow: Key players to watch include the 2024 MVP Hey Wilson and a university standout turned professional Angel Reese. Fans can catch up The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show Podcastwhich offers weekly analysis and player interviews.
hockey
The Professional women’s hockey league (PWHL) launched its first season in January, ushering in a new era of women-led sports organizations. The PWHL consists of six teams, three of which are based in American cities: the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frosti Mermaids of New Yorkwhich makes it pretty easy to keep up.
Some games are broadcast on Amazon Prime, with the inaugural season running until May 2025. The league’s full schedule is available at PWHL.com.
Learn more about/who to follow: The Jock to Jills The podcast showcases the biggest stars in women’s hockey, plus up-and-coming talent, helping you find out who’s who in the sport. Black Girl Hockey Club advocates for black women in ice hockey, creating a more inclusive space in the sport. 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation Player of the Year and Olympic Gold Medalist Hilary Knight he is one of the best players to know.
lacrosse
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) will be launched. a women’s league (Women’s Lacrosse League) in 2025consisting of four teams whose cities and players have not yet been announced. Pending team locations, the inaugural season will debut during PLL 2025 Lexus Championship Series in February
games will transmit on ESPN+ from February 11-17.
More info/who to follow: This month, PLL launched a new docuseries, “The League: Building the WLL” which gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the league came together. USA Lacrosse is the governing body of sport and North Charlotte is a key player to join the new league.
rugby
The Elite Women’s Rugby League debuts in 2025, becoming the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States. Initial markets span the country, with teams in the Bay Area, Denver, the Twin Cities, Chicago, New York and Boston.
The league schedule has not been released at the time of publication.
More information about/who to follow: In 2022 “Don’t Don’t TryThe documentary provides an insight into the challenges women rugby players overcome to follow their passion, including gender inequality and racism. The XV Foundation empower women who play rugby, Alycia Washington, Sylvia Braaten
football
After winning a $22 million lawsuit against US Soccer for gender discrimination based on wage disparity in 2022, the US Women’s National Soccer Team continues to drive change in women’s sports.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has been called. Must TV for ESPNbecause the semifinals not only provided amazing athleticism, but viral moments and drama that would catch the eye of people who might not even be interested in the sport. Investors are taking note, with the likes of Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of sports mogul Serena Williams and Laura Rickettsof the Ricketts family that owns the Major League Baseball team the Chicago Cubs, to buy and invest in NWSL teams.
The sport continues to grow. Last month, commissioner of the NWSL Jessica Berman announced that Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver are the three finalists for the 16th team in the league. Also, FIFA is considering expanding the Women’s World Cup to 48 teamsequaling the men’s tournament.
Stream NWSL games on its NWSL+ platformavailable for free on Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku.
Learn more about/who to follow: Two podcasts to follow for updates and discussion are “The Women’s Football Exhibition” and “Full time with Meg Linehan.” Players to follow include Trinity Rodman i Naomi Girma.
baseball
In November, the Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) announced plans to launch in the summer of 2026. That will be the first women’s professional league since the 1950s. According to its website, the league will start with six franchises and the selection of team owners is currently underway.
We don’t have details on where to watch it yet, but stay tuned WPHL and co-owner Justine Siegal on social media for updates.