Sky Sports will begin its coverage of the FA Women’s Super League starting in September 2021. The deal will see Sky Sports televise at least 35 games in the 2021/22 season and the same for the following two seasons with the aim to strengthen the broadcaster’s commitment to the women’s game.
The landmark deal is the Barclays FA WSL’s first-ever monetized domestic rights agreement since its inception in 2011. Women’s Sports Group worked with The Football Federation for over a year to seal the three-year-deal with Sky Sports. Founder of Women’s Sports Group Dame Heather Rabbatts spoke about the importance of the deal for the women’s game in England.
“We’re delighted to have exclusively worked alongside The FA on this ground-breaking deal that ensures both broader exposure and increased commercial revenue for the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. This has been a singular exercise which commenced before the pandemic and, following negotiations throughout this last year, we have secured today’s landmark deal,” Rabbatts said. “Women’s Sports Group was established to generate value and further investment into the game and these broadcast agreements will both support the ongoing momentum of women’s football and bring much-needed profile and funding to underpin its future.”
Why is the FA WSL an exciting addition to the Sky Sports roster?
The Women’s Super League has developed into one of the most competitive leagues on the planet, housing some of Europe’s strongest teams.
For years Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City – the “big three” – were England’s powerhouses. However, Manchester United’s introduction in the 2019/20 season and its improvements this season have made it clear that the league’s competition for the title is shifting.
World-class players make world-class teams. The WSL has some of the world’s biggest stars. Current league-leaders Chelsea houses the likes of Australia’s Sam Kerr, Denmark’s Pernille Harder, England’s Millie Bright, South Korea’s Ji So-Yun and England’s Fran Kirby, amongst other stars.
Both Manchester sides – City and United – some of the U.S. women’s national team finest. Midfielders Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle, and defender Abby Dahlkemper have helped Manchester City to challenge Chelsea for the title. Forwards Christen Press and Tobin Heath have improved a Manchester United side that has reached its goal of shifting the league’s “top three” into today’s “top four.”
Finally, Arsenal boasts a ferocious attack in forwards Vivianne Miedema, Jill Roord and Caitlin Foord. Out of the three, Miedema is the clear favorite after winning the league’s golden boot two years in a row and going for a triple as she leads the scoring this season.
