The National Women’s Soccer League’s new expansions and media-rights deals are notably influencing attendance and viewership figures midway through the season.
Record-breaking attendance figures
Heading into Week 13, the NWSL has already crossed the one million mark for total match attendance, marking the fastest journey to that number in a single season. Comparatively, last year’s league surpassed one million attendees after Week 18. This achievement is partly attributed to the addition of Bay FC and Utah Royals, which utilize larger MLS stadiums capable of hosting around 20,000 fans each.
Notable matches boosting numbers
A standout event was the historic match hosted at Wrigley Field, which saw a staggering attendance of 35,038 fans who came to witness the game between Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC. This match also marked a homecoming for Bay FC’s Kayla Sharples who previously spent five seasons with the Red Stars. She stated, I’m not gonna lie, I really wanted (the win)
, while reflecting on her return.
Impact of new media rights deals
Newly established media rights agreements will see ESPN, CBS, Amazon’s Prime Video, and Scripps Sports broadcast an impressive 118 games next season. These partnerships are slated to generate an annual revenue of $60 million for the league over four years.
Increased viewership statistics
With these prime broadcast and streaming exposures, the league has experienced a 95% increase in total viewership when compared to the first 13 weeks of the previous season. Additionally, a package of regular-season matches will air on CBS Television Network and stream live on Paramount+, with more matches airing on CBS Sports Network.
The future looks bright
This upward trajectory is indicative of even more growth yet to come. Ashley Hatch expressed her enthusiasm for fans returning stating: I’m excited to play in Utah again with the return of the Royals
. Commissioner Jessica Berman has also hinted at further expansion plans, including adding a Boston team in 2026 and aiming for a 16th team launch simultaneously.
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