Women's March Madness viewership soars

Reunited, and it feels so good…

March Madness viewership delivers

The 2026 NCAA tournament delivered, as ESPN reported Women’s March Madness coverage drew the second-highest viewership in network history.

• Sunday’s title game between UCLA and South Carolina averaged 9.9 million viewers and peaked at 10.7 million, becoming ESPN’s third-most watched women’s final on record.

• South Carolina’s Final Four win over UConn averaged 5.4 million viewers, with UCLA’s nightcap victory over Texas registering an even 5 million. (See full stats)

Forward march: While Iowa alum Caitlin Clark’s 2023 and 2024 Final Four appearances continue to top the ratings, this year’s event topped 2025 despite the repeat field.

• Full tournament viewership ranked second behind 2024’s record-breaking run, with 21 games averaging over 1 million each.

• “We are thrilled with the continued momentum,” said ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions Dan Margulis. “That success reflects the dedication of the student-athletes on the court, as well as the commitment of ESPN, the conferences, and the NCAA.” (See full report)

Women’s sports revenue projected to reach $3 billion

Women’s sports is raking it in, as Deloitte’s latest Game Changers report predicts global revenue to exceed $3 billion in 2026.

• This year’s projected intake far outpaces 2025’s $2.4 billion, charting at an estimated 340% increase over the last four years.

• “Women’s sports are entering a new phase,” said Deloitte US Sports CCO Alicia Hatch. “Rising valuations and expanding revenue streams are consistent with a maturing market where leagues, sponsors, and media partners are building for long-term success.” (See full report)

Behind the numbers: Soccer and basketball remain the key drivers, bringing in 35% of total revenue behind by newer ventures like Unrivaled 3×3.

• North American leagues drove the numbers in 2025, making up 53% of total revenue, followed by Europe’s 16% — with commercial earnings providing the largest boost. (See full stats)

• International events reported significant gains, as the Rugby World Cup’s UK final drew its second-largest crowd on record, while the Cricket World Cup notched a record-breaking 300,000 attendees.

Takeaway: “Women’s sports are thriving,” said Deloitte US Chair Lara Abrash. “The conversation has moved beyond proving value to intentionally building a lasting, world-class foundation for the future.”

White House stalls 2031 World Cup over gender policy

The 2031 Women’s World Cup hangs in the balance, with The Athletic reporting FIFA has delayed approving Concacaf’s joint hosting bid due to the White House withholding crucial guarantees.

• The Trump administration wants FIFA to issue a new policy banning transgender athletes from women’s soccer before signing off on required guarantees, while apparently also stalling on visa, tax, and security budgets.

• The joint bid by the US, Canada, Jamaica, and Costa Rica is currently the only viable offer for 2031, with approval now set to coincide with the UK’s 2035 World Cup ratification later this year. (See full report)

Context: The move follows a wave of similar legislature, with the International Olympic Committee recently reinstating previously abolished gender testing for women’s sports ahead of the 2028 LA Games.

• “We urge the entire sports world to commit to this principle and ensure fair competition for female athletes to thrive in this golden age of sports,” White House Executive Director for the FIFA World Cup Andrew Giuliani told The Athletic.

JWS’s all-new basketball show is back, as Court Vision presented by Planet Fitness showcases WNBA icon Angel McCoughtry and analyst Ros Gold-Onwude tackling women’s basketball’s biggest headlines, from college to the pros to the broader forces shaping today’s game.

• In this week’s episode, Ros and Angel get into the WNBA's historic free agency and blockbuster trades, as former Chicago superstar Angel Reese prepares to tip off 2026 with the Atlanta Dream.

• “We got another Angel from Baltimore in the ATL,” said former Dream star — and fellow Charm City native — McCoughtry. “My advice to Angel Reese? You’re going to love the city. They’re going to embrace you.”

Tune in: Check out Court Vision on YouTube.

SI Swimsuit Edition spotlights WNBA stars

Sports Illustrated is hitting the court, tapping WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Sophie Cunningham for this year’s Swimsuit Edition.

• Minnesota forward Collier and Indiana guard Cunningham joined sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden alongside nine other models in Fort Meyers, Florida for the annual issue’s 2026 photo shoot.

• “We show what it is to sacrifice, what is it to work hard, [and] to achieve your dream,” said Collier, seen using a beach wheelchair in Florida as she recovers from offseason ankle surgery. (See full report)

Big shoes: Collier, Cunningham, and Jefferson-Wooden are just the latest women’s sports athletes challenging Swimsuit Edition stereotypes, with rugby star Ilona Maher, tennis favorite Naomi Osaka, and gymnastics icon Simone Biles all gracing the pages of previous issues.

Get yours: SI Swimsuit 2026 comes out next month, available in print and online.

Sue Bird joins NBC as WNBA studio analyst

WNBA legend Sue Bird is entering the booth, with the Hall of Famer set to join NBC’s studio desk as an analyst for the 2026 WNBA season.

• As part of the league’s new media deal, NBCUniversal will air at least 50 WNBA games across the 2026 regular and postseason, after pioneering the league’s national broadcast from 1997 to 2002.

• “I’m so excited to get to tell those stories in real time, dig into the details, and give fans a different perspective on everything that makes the WNBA such a special and entertaining league,” said Bird. (See full report)

Following suit: Coverage won’t only be relegated to former stars, as current WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham prepares to join NBC subsidiary USA Network for select 2026 games.

• “You get to break down these elite-level players and why they do what they do. I find it so fascinating,” Cunningham told Sports Illustrated. “Maybe there’s going to be a career there when I’m done playing basketball.” (See full report)

Quote of the day

UCLA center Lauren Betts
after the NCAA champion Bruins were honored at Tuesday’s LA Lakers game.