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Growth is still good for women’s sports, but connections are more important

7 0
12.10.2026

It’s hard to ignore both the noise and momentum surrounding women’s sports. New leagues, bigger media deals, and more brands leaning into women’s sports. But the more I look at it, the more I think the next phase of growth isn’t about adding more … it’s about connecting what already exists.

Right now, the ecosystem feels exciting, but it’s fragmented, which causes friction for fans and teams. There are a lot of leagues, teams, and places to watch, including bars exclusively showing women’s sports. Investment is being spread across one-off deals instead of building real scale and real infrastructure, and it’s harder to stay consistently engaged.

I’m seeing this most clearly in media. The WNBA is split across ESPN/Disney, Amazon, NBC and others. The NWSL is across CBS, ESPN, Amazon Prime, ION … you name it. Newer leagues, such as Unrivaled and LOVB, are navigating the same thing. Programming blocks such as ESPN’s “Women’s Sports Sundays” are a step in the right direction, but they still feel early.

It raises a bigger question: What does a true, connected experience look like? What’s the women’s sports version of RedZone? Thank goodness the WNBA has League Pass. But there are so many opportunities for more women’s sports.

We’re starting to........

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