The Orlando Valkyries are having a record-breaking season, with many of those records taking place during #womenshistorymonth! ?? Longest winning streak! ?? Aces Record! ?? Over 100 Blocks! ?? Most YouTube eyeballs in the league! If you’ve ever considered a marketing partnership with a women’s sports team, or an athlete, get on the train now. It’s moving fast and doesn’t appear to be slowing any time soon! ??
Attention brands, media members, sports or sports-adjacent companies & anyone in the business of making money: A couple personal?experiences and anecdotes from friends lately have reminded me just how necessary it is to continue to share the data & facts behind the meteoric growth in women's sports. It's a no-brainer for anyone in the space: getting involved in women's sports is a massive economic opportunity and a business imperative. But outside the space--or even in "sports" but not specifically the "women's sports" space--there are a surprising number of folks who STILL aren't engaging with current data sets and facts. For instance, a friend's SPORTS company just had a call during which they were discussing a potential partnership?with University of South Carolina and scheduling a meeting before the Final Four, remarking that if they "don't make the tournament" they'll have a lot of time on their hands and the Athletic Department will be free to meet. [DEAD STARE] The South Carolina WOMEN'S team will likely be a no. 1 seed and has a great shot to make the Final Four, so their Athletic Department will absolutely not be free to meet. Not understanding the women's sports space is no longer just antiquated and uncool, it's TERRIBLE for business. It's like being a brand in 2025 and not having a social media strategy or not understanding how AI might intersect with your industry.? You'd be shocked to hear how many major decision-makers at brands, networks and companies are behind on this because the misogyny around women's sports and their value is so deeply baked in they?can't see the?insane growth happening right in front of them. So we need to bring the data. Like: Women’s sport sponsorship is growing 50% faster than men’s major leagues. In 2024 companies spent $244 million on women’s sports advertising, a 139% increase from the previous year. Women’s sports spiked to a 56% increase in ad effectiveness year over year, fueled by a 131% increase in viewership in 2024 and women’s sports ads brought 40% more ad impact than the average primetime ad last year.?There’s been a 300% growth in global revenues from women’s sports in just three years. I could go on... If you’re reading this & recognize your blind spots, subscribe to a few women’s sports newsletters & podcasts, study up on the brands effectively using women’s sports to build & expand their reach & (obvi) listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain. We’re a 30-45min minute daily show (Mon-Fri) that will help you stay up to date with the news, games, leagues, athletes, trends and deals you need to know about to stay relevant and take advantage. Don't get left behind!