The economic landscape of professional women’s sports in the United States is experiencing a marked surge in franchise valuations, driven by expanding media rights agreements and rising fan engagement. Southern California, a major hub for sports business with an anticipated $12.1 billion in revenue for 2025, exemplifies this growth with teams like Angel City FC leading the market in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Angel City FC’s valuation has jumped to $340 million, the highest in the NWSL, reflecting the league’s expanding footprint and lucrative broadcast contracts. The club was valued at $250 million in 2024 at the time of acquisition by Willow Bay and Bob Iger. Since then, franchise fees for new teams have increased substantially: $110 million for a Denver expansion team, $165 million for Atlanta, and $205 million for a Columbus, Ohio team owned by Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who also own Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew and the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. These fees represent payments made to existing owners for rights to add new franchises to the league.
The surge in values corresponds with a landmark media rights deal signed by the NWSL in 2023. The agreement covers 121 nationally televised games across CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps/ION, contributing to a fourfold increase in viewership since its inception. The league announced an expanded media package in September, adding ABC and ESPN broadcast slots and launching a national Sunday night showcase on Victory+ through the 2026-27 seasons. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman emphasized that the expanded media exposure aims to enhance audience reach and cultivate new fan demographics.
Comparatively, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) boasts even higher franchise valuations, averaging $460 million, with the Golden State Valkyries leading at $1 billion. The WNBA’s valuation benefits from robust media rights agreements averaging $281 million annually, including recent deals involving Paramount/CBS, Scripps/Ion, and Versant/USA. These complement a longstanding $2.2 billion contract with Disney/ABC/ESPN and Comcast/NBC/Peacock finalized in 2024.
Industry analysts anticipate continued growth in women’s sports revenue, projecting an increase of 250% by 2030. This expansion is expected to span sponsorships, merchandise, and digital engagement, according to a report from the Bank of America Institute.
Beyond soccer and basketball, other women’s sports sectors are gaining momentum internationally and domestically. The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England set attendance records, while women’s cricket in India shows promise, boosted by its upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket will be featured at the Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona, a venue constructed specifically for the sport.
In the United States, Major League Volleyball (MLV) is actively expanding, planning for a 10-team season in 2027 that includes a new Los Angeles franchise. Founded and majority-owned by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong alongside governor Ben Priest, MLV LA aims to leverage Southern California’s convergence of sports and entertainment industries. Priest highlighted a focus on sustainable growth for the league, its athletes, and the sport as a whole.
This broad surge across multiple women’s sports disciplines underscores a shifting economic narrative as investors and audiences alike drive unprecedented growth and valuation milestones.