Women in Sports Soar

2023 was a year of record-breaking events, massive investments, and an outpouring of support for women’s sports. From volleyball to hockey, 2023 took the industry to a whole other level. Let’s take a look back at some of the best moments and what’s to come in 2024. 

First, the Nebraska volleyball program set a world record for the most attended women’s sporting event in history. Held at the Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, over 92,000 fans (92,003 to be exact), poured in to watch the Huskers take on the Mavericks of the University of Omaha. The Huskers got the sweep 3-0 on what is named “Nebraska Volleyball Day”.

Next, a record breaking 9.9 million viewers tuned into the NCAA Women’s March Madness Finals where Iowa took on LSU. This game was the most-viewed NCAA women’s basketball game on record. The Tigers took home the win 102-85 with a nearly two-million-times the viewership as last year’s final.

Along with attendance and viewership, 2023 paved the way for new investments in women’s sports. One of the most exciting, Billie Jean King Enterprises and leaders from the Los Angeles Dodgers created a new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The IOC also approved 5 new sports to the 2028 Olympic Games set for Los Angeles. The sports include softball, flag football and lacrosse bringing more opportunities for women in various sports. 

So, what kind of momentum does that bring into 2024? Well, Deloitte projects that women’s sports will generate $1.28 billion dollars in revenue in 2024. This is the first time in history that women’s sports have exceeded the $1 billion dollar mark.