More than 16 million people in the UK watched England’s women’s team win their second consecutive European Championship title on Sunday.

Women’s sport is seeing a global renaissance. Visibility is surging, revenue is growing, and investors are becoming engaged. Deloitte reported that global revenues from women’s elite sports topped $1.88 billion in 2024 (outperforming Deloitte’s own forecast by 47%) and predicts that global revenue in the sector will reach over $2.35 billion in 2025 (up 240% compared to 2022), with basketball and football accounting for the majority.

As is often the case, the American market is leading the charge. In the NWSL (The National Women’s Soccer League), attendance surpassed 2 million, and sponsorship revenues reportedly jumped approximately 19% year-on-year, which is the highest growth of any women’s league.

Investors are interested. Nearly every team in the NWSL has gained a new majority owner or majority investor in the last four years; one of the most prominent deals being Angel City FC’s sale to Disney’s Bob Iger for roughly $250 million in mid-2024.

The WNBA shattered viewership records this year and signed a landmark media rights deal; however, the league is worth a mere $1.15 billion compared to the NBA’s £132.5 billion, according to Pitchbook.

In England, the Women’s Super League (WSL) just agreed a five-year domestic TV rights deal worth approximately £65 million, an approximately 60-85% increase on the current deal which underscores the rising broadcast value. As far as clubs go, Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit, paid over £20 million for a 10% stake in Chelsea Women (implying a c. £200 million club valuation).

Other women’s sports show similar momentum. India’s inaugural Women’s Premier League (cricket) franchises received about $573 million for five teams in 2023; the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), a North American organisation founded in 2023, saw a 27% increase in attendance in its second season; and women’s volleyball sponsorships are reportedly on the rise in Asia.

Women’s teams and leagues are still valued significantly below men’s, giving earlier-stage investors a chance to get involved. To date, most backers have been UHNWIs, but there is a huge opportunity here for PE to move in. Record attendance, growing sponsorship deals, and skyrocketing franchise prices suggest women’s elite sports have crossed an inflection point, and early private equity entrants could realise strong returns.