Driving the Next 50 Years of Growth in Women's Sports
2024 women's sporting events to watch
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Photo Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios; Photos: Tim Clayton/Getty Images; Clive Brunskill/Getty Images; Ron Hoskins/NBAE/Getty Images; David Buono/Getty Images
The mic is on when it comes to women's sports.
Why it matters: Leagues and athletes alike are growing in popularity. While this growth is not new, people are starting to pay more attention.
Catch up quick: The women's sports industry is forecast to break the $1 billion barrier for the first time in total revenue this year. This is a 300% increase from the industry's valuation in 2021.
Between the lines: The "Caitlin Clark effect" isn't the only thing moving women's sports forward.
- This month, the WNBA announced two teams as part of its expansion plan: the Golden State Valkyries and a team in Toronto, yet to be named.
- The pro women's soccer USL Super League kicks off its inaugural season in August with teams in Brooklyn, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; Lexington, Kentucky; Spokane, Washington; Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, Florida; and Washington, D.C.
- The inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League just concluded.
The Olympics, always a showcase for women's sports worldwide, this summer in Paris will have an equal number of men and women athletes for the first time in Games history.
The big picture: Leagues are expanding, viewership and attendance are breaking records, sponsorship and TV deals are growing, and global brands are making the investment to propel women athletes into the spotlight.
Here are some of the biggest women's sporting events through the rest of the year and into 2025 by region:
Northeast
- U.S. Open Tennis Championships: Aug. 26–Sept. 7 at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.
Southwest
- Women's College Softball World Series: May 30–June 7 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. Fans can watch on ESPN.
- WNBA All-Star Game: July 20 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
West
- KPMG Women's PGA Championship: June 20–23 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington.
- NCAA Track and Field Championship: June 6 and 8 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Southeast
- March Madness Final Four: April 4 and 6, 2025, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Midwest
- NCAA DII Rowing Championship weekend: May 31–June 1 at East Fork and Harsha Lake in Bethel, Ohio.
- NCAA DI Women's Volleyball Championship: Dec. 19–22 at KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
International events
- French Open: May 26–June 9 at Roland-Garros stadium in Paris.
- Wimbledon: July 1–July 14 at All Tennis Club in London.
- Paris 2024 Olympic Games: July 26–Aug. 11 in Paris. Fans can watch on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, CNBC and more.
- The Paralympics are Aug. 28–Sept. 8.
- Tour de France Femmes: Aug. 12–18. Fans can watch on CNBC and Peacock.
Multisite events
- WNBA Commissioner's Cup: June 1–13.
- The championship will take place June 25.
- WNBA playoffs: Begin Sept. 22.
- The last possible date for the Finals is Oct. 20.
- NWSL playoffs: Nov. 9–23.
- March Madness Tournament: March 19–April 6, 2025.
