Sky Sports has announced a dedicated noon Sunday time slot for live Women's Super League games, aiming to create a more compelling narrative for fans. The move is part of the network's strategy to maximize in-stadium attendances and broadcast reach.
The majority of the live featured WSL games will be scheduled at noon on Sundays during the 2025/26 campaign. This decision comes after consultation with fans and clubs, who preferred this time slot over the regular 6:45pm Sunday evening slot used in previous seasons.
Sky Sports believes that a standardized timeslot not occupied by Premier League matches will provide consistency and attract both existing fans and new viewers. The games will air on Sky Sports Main Event linear channel as well as their digital platforms. Additional matches will be available on Sky Sports+.
Opening weekend games schedule
The opening weekend of the season, which takes place between 5th September and 7th September, will see four out of six WSL games broadcast by Sky Sports at noon on Sunday 7th September.
The pay-TV network is also set to show the league’s season-opening fixture between Chelsea and Manchester City at 7:30pm on Friday 5th September. Meanwhile, BBC plans to cover the remaining game between Arsenal and London City Lionesses at 1:30pm on Saturday 6th September. This scheduling change coincides with the first season under a new domestic rights deal between WSL Football, Sky Sports, and BBC. The five-year agreement reportedly worth UK£65 million (US$87.3 million) allows every game to be shown across both networks.
Under this deal, pay-TV network Sky can show up to 118 games per season exclusively while BBC gets rights to showcase about 21 matches across its linear and digital platforms.
WSL2 matches live on YouTube
In addition to the new scheduling, all matches from the newly rebranded second-tier WSL2 will be streamed live on YouTube. Both Sky Sports and BBC have the option to select any match for broadcast.
WSL Football has also announced an expansion of a trial allowing fans to drink alcohol while seated in stands at 14 WSL and WSL2 clubs. This decision comes after a successful trial run with four second-tier teams over 19 matches during last season, which reported no safety incidents and received support from two-thirds of surveyed fans.
The clubs participating in this expanded trial include some of England’s biggest teams such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United. This move is expected to enhance fan experience during games. These changes by Sky Sports and WSL Football aim not only to increase viewership but also improve overall fan engagement during games. The dedicated Sunday noon slot for live broadcasts is expected to provide consistency for viewers while maximizing stadium attendances.
