The Stats You Need to See
Ah yes, the classic “but no one watches women’s sports!” argument—the favourite excuse of men who somehow manage to watch a five-hour golf tournament but mysteriously lose their remotes when a WNBA game comes on.
So, let’s break down this claim with actual statistics and expose why this myth is is so outdated.
No One Watches Women’s Sports?
Someone Tell the Millions Who Do
Let’s start with the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship:
The 2023 final between LSU and Iowa averaged 9.9 million viewers—more than any NBA game that season.
Source: ESPN, 2023
Meanwhile, the WNBA saw record-breaking viewership in 2023, up 21% from the previous season.
Source: AP News, 2023
How about the FIFA Women’s World Cup?
The 2023 tournament had over 2 billion viewers globally—a 32% increase from 2019.
Source: Inside FIFA, 2023
Yep, you read that right… More people watched a women’s basketball game than any single professional men’s game that year.
But Sure, Greg from Facebook, “no one is watching.”
“But Women’s Sports Don’t Make the Same Money!”
The Investment Myth
One of the biggest arguments against equal pay in sports is that female sports just don’t generate the same revenue.
While historically true, let’s take a second to appreciate why—because money follows investment, marketing, and exposure.
When women’s sports get proper funding, the results speak for themselves:
The Women’s Euro 2022 final drew 87,192 fans at Wembley Stadium—the highest attendance for any European football final (men’s or women’s).
Source: UEFA, 2022
The WNBA secured a $75 million investment in 2022, the largest-ever capital raise for a female sports league.
Source: CNBC, 2022
Deloitte predicts women sports will surpass $1 billion in global revenue in 2024.
Source: Deloitte, 2023
So… women’s sports aren’t less profitable—they’ve just been historically underfunded. Give them the same marketing machine that men’s sports have had for decades, and boom—record-breaking numbers.
“Women’s Sports Are Boring” – Oh, the Irony
Some guys say women’s sports aren’t as exciting. Right. Because nothing screams “thrill ride” like a 0-0 football match where the highlight is a guy pretending he’s been shot by a sniper after being lightly tapped.
Meanwhile, women’s football actually has more goals per game on average than men’s football.
Source: The Guardian, 2023
And let’s talk about gymnastics. Simone Biles is out here defying gravity in ways that physicists can’t explain, while male gymnasts do one backflip and get a standing ovation. Make it make sense.
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of “Nobody Watches Women’s Sports”
It’s funny how the same people who say “nobody watches” are the ones actively ignoring female sports. If major networks barely air women’s games, how are people supposed to watch?
Imagine if the NFL was only broadcast at 2 AM on ESPN 12 and then the league said, “Well, no one is watching, so I guess football just isn’t popular.” That’s exactly what’s happened with women’s sports for years.
Final Thought: Maybe Just Watch?
Next time someone says “but no one watches women’s sports,” hit them with these facts. Or better yet, ask them if they’ve actually watched a game.
Because if men spent half the energy they use complaining about women’s sports on actually supporting them, we wouldn’t even need this conversation.
Women’s Sports Audiences are Soaring
Statistics to Remember:
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Over 2 billion viewers globally
NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship 2023 Viewership – 9.9 million viewers
WNBA 2023 Viewership – Up 21% from the previous season
UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final Attendance – 87,192 fans, record-breaking for any European football final
WNBA’s $75 Million Investment – Largest-ever for a women’s sports league
Women’s Sports Expected to Surpass $1 Billion in Revenue in 2024
Women’s Football Has More Goals Per Game Than Men’s
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