The National Women’s Soccer League’s recently signed agreements with four national broadcasters will net $240 million over four years, according to a person familiar with the deals. Financial terms of the agreements have not been shared publicly.
The outlay from CBS, ESPN, Amazon’s Prime Video and Scripps Sports represents a forty-fold jump from the NWSL’s previous, $1.5 million annual tie-up with CBS. In addition to those four network groups, over one-third of the league’s games will air domestically on a direct-to-consumer service from the NWSL.
“These partnerships fundamentally change the game for our league and the players who take the pitch each week,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement announcing the deals Thursday. “We have taken great care to ensure our games are discoverable by increasing our reach in order to expose new audiences to everything that makes our league special, without compromising the economic value of our product.”
CBS will carry at least 21 games across its networks and the Paramount+ streaming service, including the NWSL championship, which will be available via CBS and Paramount+.
“We’re thrilled to extend our relationship with the NWSL, continuing as the home of the NWSL championship and offering an expanded slate of matches on CBS as we build on the success of the last four years,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said in a statement.
ESPN will get 20 games, including a semifinal contest, and has committed to putting certain games on ABC. “The NWSL is among the world’s best women’s professional soccer leagues, and we are excited to showcase the league, the clubs, and the incredible athletes to sports fans,” ESPN EVP for programming and acquisitions Rosalyn Durant said in a statement.
Amazon’s Prime Video service will air 27 games, including one playoff matchup, with an emphasis on Friday night matches. “With the unique power and distribution of Prime Video, and an exclusive window on Friday nights throughout the season, we look forward to expanding that audience as the newest home of the NWSL,” Amazon VP for US sports content & partnerships Marie Donoghue said in a statement.
Similarly, Scripps Sports will put 50 games on its ION Network as 25 sets of Saturday night double-headers, each starting with a weekly studio show. Scripps has also secured the live rights to the NWSL Draft. Those programs will build on the Friday night WNBA slate Scripps launched this season.
“Scripps Sports is pleased to create a franchise night on ION for the NWSL that will reach every American household, across every free television platform and further help expand the league’s fan base with appointment viewing consistency,” The E.W. Scripps Company president and CEO Adam Symson said in a statement.
The remaining 72 NWSL games will air domestically on the league’s new DTC service. Pricing has not been announced. In March, the NWSL and Endeavor launched a similar product for international viewers. Two new franchises are set to join the league starting next year, with plans to have 16 by 2026.
The deals announced Thursday are for domestic rights only. The four-year timeframe allows the NWSL to explore the market again directly after the 2027 World Cup. As part of the tie-ups, the NWSL will be responsible for some, but not all, production expenses, a person familiar with the agreements said, requesting anonymity to discuss private details.
Endeavor’s IMG and WME Sports advised the NWSL and negotiated on its behalf.
“On behalf of the NWSL, we have secured four game-changing, marquee partnerships that will help send the women’s game to new heights of viewership and fandom, growing domestic revenues for the league at a multiple of over 40x,” said Hillary Mandel, IMG EVP, head of Americas in a statement. “The NWSL’s new line-up of media partners are stepping up with significant rights fees, production investment, top tier platforms and impactful promotion. In lockstep with the NWSL, they are going to transform the ways in which fans can discover and engage with the games, assuring deserved exposure for these world class athletes on the broadest stage.”
