The National Women’s Soccer League has completed a transformative, $240 million set of domestic media rights agreements that will provide an unprecedented level of exposure to women’s pro soccer in the U.S.
Months in development and highly anticipated by leading figures in women’s soccer, the league’s quartet of four-year deals with ESPN, CBS, Amazon, and Scripps Sports provide cross-platform coverage for the NWSL via cable/broadcast television and streaming.
The collective annual value of $60 million, according to industry sources, beats the league’s prior national TV revenue of $1.5 million per year by a multiple of 40. The NWSL noted on X that it’s the largest media deal in women’s sports history.
The WNBA garners more than $40 million per year combined through its current deals with ESPN and Ion, plus additional money through a streaming-based deal with Amazon, but is also poised for a massive increase when its current deals expire in 2025.
“These partnerships fundamentally change the game for our league and the players,” said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman. “This is the beginning of our future.”
Network Lineups
CBS will have a minimum of 21 games per year, including the NWSL Championship each year on both network television and Paramount+. Added to a recent deal with the USL, the NWSL agreement further establishes CBS as a major destination for soccer fans.
ESPN will carry 20 games per season, including three in the playoffs, and also use sister properties such as ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ for its coverage. ESPN’s deal also includes multi-language rights in Latin America.
Amazon will carry 27 games per season, including one playoff game and a season opener, and a planned weekly showcase on Friday nights will follow a similar template to its successful “Thursday Night Football.”
“The evolution of women’s sports — and specifically the NWSL — demonstrates that there is a growing audience for remarkable athletes and world-class competition, regardless of gender,” said Marie Donoghue, Amazon vice president of U.S. sports content and partnerships.
Scripps Sports, which is rapidly becoming a major player in U.S. sports media with its focus on over-the-air coverage, will carry 50 games per year, based on 25 exclusive Saturday night doubleheaders on Ion. The company also gains the rights to the 2024 NWSL Draft.
The media rights deals cap a banner season for the NWSL that has seen record attendance, news of expansion franchises in Boston and the Bay Area, new ownership in Chicago, and unprecedented commercial activity. The 2023 campaign ends Saturday with the high-profile championship match between OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC.
