ESPN Signs Multimedia Agreement for Worldwide Rights to NWSL Regular Season Matches

ESPN and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the longest-standing professional women’s soccer league in the United States, reached an exclusive agreement for worldwide rights (excluding U.S.) to the league’s regular-season and playoff matches. ESPN already holds the rights to NWSL broadcasts in the U.S. via a separate agreement announced earlier this year.

ESPN’s international coverage of the NWSL across its linear and digital platforms continues Saturday, August 17with a doubleheader featuring Orlando Pride vs Utah Royals at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Portland Thorns FC vs Washington Spirit at 10:30 p.m. ET.

“This is an important step for NWSL to strengthen the league’s reach through ESPN’s international network,” said NWSL President Amanda Duffy. “Our partnership with ESPN has already brought NWSL’s world-class competition into more homes and to more fans here in the United States. Expanding the network’s distribution internationally will continue to elevate the profile and visibility of NWSL around the world.”

The NWSL features many of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup stars, such as Canadian captain Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns FC), who participated and scored in five different World Cup events; Australia’s Sam Kerr (Chicago Red Stars), the nominee for the 2019 Best FIFA Women’s Player Award; and Brazil’s Marta Vieira da Silva (Orlando Pride), who holds the record for most goals scored at FIFA World Cup events. In addition, this NWSL season showcases many U.S. soccer talents, such as Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), who scored the most goals by a single player in a Women’s World Cup game on June 11; Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), who set a Women’s World Cup tournament record June 16 with a goal in her sixth consecutive game; and Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC), who continues to dominate the sport with the most goals scored in Reign FC franchise history.

“The National Women’s Soccer League is home to many of the world’s top female players, and as a brand, ESPN leads the way in delivering world-class soccer content to fans around the world,” said Scott Guglielmino, Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN. “We are thrilled to be able to leverage ESPN’s global reach to bring NWSL’s regular season and playoff matches to soccer audiences worldwide.”

For the full NWSL schedule on ESPN, click HERE.