In partnership with
Busy Isn’t a Badge. It’s a Bottleneck..
Every minute you spend on low-value work costs you opportunities you can’t get back. That is why BELAY exists: to help leaders like you get back to what matters.
Our Delegation Guide + Worksheet gives you a simple system to:
✓ Identify what to delegate
✓ Prioritize what’s costing you most
✓ Hand it off strategically
And when you’re ready, BELAY provides top-tier remote staffing solutions — U.S.-based, highly vetted, and personally matched — to help you put those hours back where they belong: fueling strategy, leadership, and growth.
Real freedom starts with a right partner.
We discussed in our October edition of Sports Edge Perspective that Women’s sports, esports, and franchise cricket are the fastest-growing asset classes. Women’s sport surpassed $2.7B in sanctioned league valuations in 2025, with NWSL and WNBA driving $540M+ in media rights and sponsorships this year alone.
Women’s sports have evolved from overlooked segments of the global industry into hypergrowth alternative assets, attracting major institutional and private investment worldwide. Rattling off billion-dollar headlines, cross-border franchise sales, and surging athlete-driven influence, the story today is as much about global momentum as it is about the U.S. market.
Revenue Surge and Commercial Growth
By the end of 2025, women’s elite sport is projected to surpass $2.35 billion in global annual revenue, a 25% increase YoY, and more than 240% growth since 2022.
Commercial income, including sponsorship, merchandising, partnerships, and tours, now represents over 54% of all revenue ($1.26 billion), while broadcast and matchday revenues are also setting records as investor and audience interest builds.
Basketball is now the top revenue-generating women’s sport, on track to pass $1 billion for the first time in 2025.
Football (soccer) follows with $820 million in projected revenues.
Sponsorship spending in women’s sports is growing 50% faster than men’s major leagues, and brands are reporting industry-leading ROI.
Media rights for the WNBA’s latest deal now stand at $200 million per year starting 2026, tripling prior contracts. The NWSL achieved a 40x boost in annual media revenue with its 2024 TV deals.
North America accounts for $1.39 billion (59% of global market), Europe $420 million, with rapid expansion visible in APAC and the Middle East.
Global Markets and Franchise Asset Value
United States:
The U.S. is the epicenter of headline franchise growth, with iconic moves like the New York Liberty selling a minority stake at a $450 million valuation, a more than triple jump in two years.
NWSL teams regularly trade for $100 million+
WNBA expansion fees have rocketed to record heights including $110 million for Denver in 2025.
Europe & UK:
Chelsea FC Women broke the $300 million barrier, with global investors and tech leaders (e.g. Alexis Ohanian) taking minority positions.
France’s OL Lyon Feminin and London City Lionesses are setting new business models as independently owned women’s football clubs.
Broadcast deals for the Women’s Super League have multiplied fivefold, and UEFA’s Women’s Champions League is now a global media draw.
Asia-Pacific:
India’s Women’s Premier League (cricket) sold new franchises for up to $113 million, jump-starting a lucrative market for brand, sponsor, and athlete stakeholding.
Australia’s A-League Women and Japanese clubs have benefited from World Cup legacy investments and club revenue surges.
Middle East & Africa:
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar have launched national leagues, attracted transformative state and family office investment, and built new facilities under Vision 2030’s directive for women’s sport as an economic pillar.
Morocco’s success at the 2023 Women’s World Cup drove asset creation, youth programs, and club founding across Africa.
The Athlete-Owner Era: Icons and Influencers
Star athletes are at the heart of the industry’s economic transformation, not just as stars, but as owners, investors, and commercial engines.
Caitlin Clark (WNBA, Indiana Fever):
Dubbed “America’s most powerful woman in sports” for 2025, Clark’s presence drives up to 17% of all WNBA ticket sales and catalysed $52 million in local GDP impact during her college career. Her games are reshaping venue economics and broadcast ratings; her influence has also led to record sponsorship deals and expanded league partnerships.
Serena Williams:
Williams is the archetype of athlete-owner-investor with Serena Ventures fueling new pro leagues (Unrivaled, $340 million value) and investments in facilities, brand verticals, and equity positions in teams, such as becoming part-owner of Toronto Tempo this year. Serena is setting standards for governance and athlete empowerment across sports.
Other Pioneers:
Simone Biles: Multi-continent brand ambassador shaping sponsorship strategy.
Ada Hegerberg (Norway, OL Lyon Feminin): Sets pan-European standards for club asset value and athlete advocacy.
Sam Kerr (Australia/Chelsea FC Women): Australia-UK asset bridge, breaking valuation records with Chelsea FC Women.
Sabrina Ionescu (Bay FC, NWSL), Eniola Aluko (UK/Nigeria), Billie Jean King, ranging from investment and advisory roles to governance reform.
Commercial Impact and Looking Ahead
Media Rights:
The WNBA signed a new $200M/year media deal through 2036, and the NWSL’s record TV deals increased annual media value by 40x over prior agreements.
Sponsorship:
Brands invest at a 50% faster rate in women’s sport compared to men’s, driven by high engagement and ESG/impact alignment.
WNBA and NCAA women’s championship games have outdrawn men’s attendance and viewership equivalents, with viewers and aggregate viewing hours up by over 400% since 2021.
Infrastructure:
Franchise-driven investment in new practice facilities, stadiums, and global tours is creating lasting value.
World-class athletes, visionary owners, and a new wave of capital are making women’s sports not just a “trend” but one of the most investible and dynamic sports business assets on the planet, a story that now stretches from New York to London, Mumbai, Tokyo, Sydney, and Riyadh.
The Takeaway
Women’s sports are rewriting the investment and commercial playbook, outpacing men’s growth rates and delivering new audiences, powerful brand alignments, and sustainable financial returns. The asset class is truly global, driven by superstar athletes transforming every layer of league, team, and brand business.
Women’s Sport to Watch this Week
🏏 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 🏏
September 30 – November 2 | India
Australia, India, South Africa and England battle it out, as the action moves into its closing week. Historic attendance, primetime slots, and a $12 million prize pool solidify women’s cricket’s international commercial breakthrough.
⚽ FIFA U‑17 Women’s World Cup ⚽
October 17 – November 8 | Morocco
Sixteen nations battle in women’s football’s top youth showcase. Attendance is up 40%, with expanded global streaming driving record viewership. Morocco’s hosting underlines Africa’s growing role in elite women’s football.
🏀 EuroLeague Women – Regular Season 🏀
October 28 – 31 | Across Europe
Top European basketball clubs face off in Rounds 7 and 8. Powerhouses like Fenerbahçe and Valencia headline a week that spotlights elite athlete pipelines and international fan growth.
🎾 Wuhan Open 🎾
October 27 – November 2 | Wuhan, China
The WTA calendar heats up as top-ranked players from Asia, Europe, and beyond battle for ranking points in one of Asia’s premier hard-court events, a key commercial and prize purse driver for the autumn season.
👟 NYC Marathon (Elite Women’s Field) 👟
November 2 | New York, USA
Elite runners from around the world compete in the world’s most prestigious city marathon. Women’s field pursues course records and commercial partnerships, with millions tuning in globally.
🥋 World Taekwondo Championships 🥋
October 24 – 30 | Wuxi, China
Top female martial artists from five continents vie for world titles as taekwondo’s global growth accelerates commercial, Olympic, and grassroots interest.