The rise of the Women's Super League in the women's football landscape has been symbolic. Currently, the league is one of the most-watched women's competitions and is on the verge of writing a new chapter in women's football.
There has been a significant increase in revenues for the league, and English women's football in particular has developed rapidly. During the first half of the 2022/23 season, WSL reported a massive 267 per cent increase in attendance.
Additionally, the league is beginning to compete with many big leagues in terms of viewership.
WSL's chair, Dawn Airey recently addressed the media at the SportsPro Live event and said:
“We’re in the very, very early days of really getting this league to fly commercially,”
“The economics are tiny compared to the billions of the men’s game. But there is absolutely no reason for this not to be a billion-pound league within a decade. I think it should be even quicker.
“We’re seeing the explosion of interest from brands who want to be associated with the clubs, with the Lionesses. So it’s the start of a journey, but it has exploded. It has been part of a very coherent strategy, but we’ve been thrilled and delighted by how that [Women’s Euros] win last summer has exploded the interest and engagement.”
WSL broadcasting rights tenders are to be out soon
WSL is on the rise at the moment, and there are surely many suitors looking to cash in on the market for women's football. It is likely that upcoming deals will see a big increase in the broadcasting rights of WSL, especially.
At the moment, Sky and FTA broadcaster BBC hold the media rights to the WSL until the end of the 2023/24 season. These comments by Airey have certainly increased interest in the upcoming tender for WSL's broadcasting rights, which she revealed during the meeting will be released in a few weeks.
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