Women's Sports Viewership Hits 73% in Three Years

The numbers tell a story that took 50 years to write. Today, 73% of people worldwide watch women's sports, and over half of those fans picked up the habit within the last three years.

The 2024 Paris Olympics made history with equal numbers of male and female athletes for the first time ever. In January 2025, the NCAA unanimously approved revenue sharing for women's March Madness teams, matching what men's teams have received since 1991.

Major cities are rolling out the welcome mat. In 2024 alone, at least 20 women's teams played their inaugural seasons, with three brand new leagues launching for hockey, volleyball, and professional soccer. Women's rugby is expanding to Denver, Boston, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

Even the small changes matter. Google now shows men's and women's sports updates side by side when you search for a team. It used to default to men's only.

The shift traces back to 1973, when tennis legend Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes" match watched by 90 million people globally. A year later, she founded the Women's Sports Foundation to help girls and women reach their full potential in athletics.

"I'm so glad I've lived long enough to see changes, but we still have so much work to do," King told SELF Magazine last year. She knows the playbook for progress requires both celebration and continued push.

The foundation's research shows sports give young women and girls more than trophies. Playing correlates with decreased depression and anxiety, stronger friendships, greater sense of purpose, positive body image, and lower disease risk.

The Ripple Effect spreads beyond the field. When NFL MVP Jalen Hurts showcased his all-women management team, he spotlighted career role models for countless young women of color. Social media creators like Coach Jackie J are building new pathways for women's sports stories, reaching fans where they already spend time scrolling. Investment in media coverage and airtime on mainstream outlets means more opportunities for fans to tune in and more stories told equitably.

The foundation's position is clear: all women must be included in these efforts, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, zip code, or family income. Sport breaks down barriers and creates understanding.

The next 50 years of women's sports will be written by everyone who shows up to watch, share, and support.