One of the past year's biggest trends is a slogan T-shirt with a powerfully succinct message: "Everyone watches women's sports." It's not quite an exaggeration. Viewership for basketball, soccer, and more are on the rise, at both the collegiate and pro levels. WNBA tunnel 'fits get as much attention as their NBA counterparts. Brands are inking major sponsorship deals with women's teams. According to athletes, executives, and founders in the industry, the momentum is only getting started.
At Marie Claire's Power Play summit in Atlanta on May 15, two-time Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, Atlanta Dream COO and President Morgan Shaw Parker, and Jolene Jolene sports bar founder Chelsea Fishman agreed the attention was long overdue. In a conversation presented by Zales with journalist and analyst Tabitha Turner-Wilkins, they said the state of women's sports isn't simply "strong" or "growing." "I would say, we are up there," Chiles told the room to applause. Expanding viewership isn't just on account of their physical prowess; it's on the passion and purpose they bring.
