The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) has been making waves not only on the soccer field but also in television ratings. Their impressive performance at the Paris Olympics has attracted a significant number of viewers, demonstrating their popularity and influence in sports.
The USWNT sailed through their first two games against Zambia and Germany, securing a spot in the Olympics quarterfinals. The team's success was mirrored by high viewership numbers, indicating that fans are keen to follow their journey.
NBC holds broadcasting rights for the Olympics in America. The network reported strong audiences for fixtures involving USWNT. For instance, their victory over Germany averaged 4.2 million viewers across USA Network and Peacock - more than any soccer match from Tokyo 2020 Olympics where USWNT also featured. While data is not available for the opening game against Zambia, it is likely that its viewership was lower than that of Germany due to less competitive opponents.
Scoring goals and winning hearts
The team's dynamic gameplay has been a major draw for fans tuning into these matches. With seven goals scored within just two games, they have proven themselves as an exciting team to watch.
Interestingly enough, more people have watched USWNT matches at this year’s Olympics than those who tuned into American men’s team matches - despite it being a youth squad with many senior players returning to club action this summer.
It isn't surprising that USWNT attracts such large audiences during international tournaments like the Olympics or World Cup despite unfavorable kickoff times for American fans. Over 5 million people watched group-stage games at Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand back in 2023 – indicating growing interest towards women's soccer globally. As we progress further into Paris 2024 tournament, it is expected that more fans will tune in to watch USWNT's pursuit of gold.
Olympic viewership success beyond football
While the viewership for Women’s World Cup matches may have been higher than current USWNT games at the Olympics, it's crucial to remember that there are numerous other events happening simultaneously during the Olympics.
Compared to Tokyo 2020, viewership on NBC’s platforms for Paris 2024 has increased by a staggering 79%. The US Men’s Basketball Team alone drew an average audience of 10.9 million - surpassing even the gold-medal game at Tokyo 2020. The total audience delivery on the opening Sunday of Paris Olympics competition across key NBCU platforms was reported as a whopping 41.5 million - nearly double from what was recorded during Tokyo Summer Games' opening Sunday.
Both men's and women's soccer teams from United States are inching closer towards knockout stage at Paris Olympics. This marks a significant milestone especially for men's team as they haven't reached this stage since Sydney Olympics back in year 2000. These impressive viewership numbers reflect not only the popularity and success of USWNT but also growing interest towards women’s soccer and Olympic sports overall.
