The NWSL is actively seeking to promote a new package of games. According to Mollie Cahillane of Sports Business Journal, the women’s soccer league aims to attract a buyer for a fifth media rights package, which is likely to include Sunday night games. Currently, the NWSL has media rights agreements with CBS, ESPN, Amazon’s Prime Video, and ION.
Per the report, the league is in discussions with both new and existing media partners regarding this package. The NWSL is currently in Year 2 of its four-year agreements with its media partners, which were established prior to last season. These agreements appear to be successful, as each of the league’s partners has already sold out of advertising inventory for this season. The ratings support this trend; last year, CBS achieved a viewership record for the league’s championship game, averaging nearly one million viewers.
Currently, only 62% of the league’s games are secured under existing media rights agreements, providing the NWSL with substantial inventory to explore when developing a new package. This prospective new package of games would be set to begin in the 2026 season. Looking ahead, the NWSL intends to start discussions regarding its next set of media rights deals next year, aiming to leverage the excitement around the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup to enhance the league’s visibility as its current agreements expire following the 2027 season.
