This Sporting Life Deloitte women’s sport revenue predictions
Global revenues for women’s elite sport will top £1billion for the first time in 2024, finance company Deloitte predicts.
Rapidly increasing attendances and television viewing figures across different sports, coupled with more lucrative commercial and broadcast deals, sees Deloitte’s TMT Predictions report (technology, media and telecommunications)predict global revenues of 1.28billion US dollars (£1.03bn).
Commercial revenue contributes 55 per cent of that total, backed up by broadcast deals and matchday income.
Jennifer Haskel, insights lead for Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “We wrote a prediction in 2021 and the revenues that were generated, from 2021 to now, is over 300 per cent higher. So you can see over the past few years there has been an incredible amount of growth.
“We’re seeing a lot of popularity in terms of viewership, attendances etc. That’s showing it’s also a great business decision to invest in and support women’s sport – that’s what I think that billion dollars shows.”
This summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England was watched by 75,784 in Sydney, with attendances at the tournament averaging nearly 31,000.
Many of the England women's football team are thought to have a net worth of between £1 million and £5 million, from their salaries and sponsorship deals. Out of the lot, England midfielder Keira Walsh is said to be the wealthiest of the bunch. Also, Alexia Putellas, of Spain, is among the highest paid female footballers of 2023.
Women’s football is huge right now and its elite star is Brazilian forward Marta – often considered the greatest female footballer of all time. The forward reportedly earns £311,000 a year at Orlando Pride, topped up by sponsorship deals with the likes of LATAM Airlines, Avon Brasil, shampoo brand Clear and pharmaceutical company Neo Quimica.
More than 86,000 watched hosts Australia beat India to win the women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in 2019 while last year’s Ashes drew significant crowds to English Test grounds including Lord’s and Trent Bridge.
In Australian cricket Ellyse Perry is the richest female cricketer in the world. Her net worth is 14 Million USD and she earns $0.13 million a year.
The NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) and basketball’s WNBA (The Women’s National Basketball Association) have led the way in the United States, followed by basketball. Tennis comes next.
IN WNBA (basketball)
During the 2023 season, Erica Wheeler had the highest salary with over 242 thousand US dollars. On the WTA tour the two biggest stars and earners are classed as Serena Willams – USA – $94,816,730 and Venus Williams – USA – $42,595,397.