Saturday, December 13, 2025

2025 Most Important Moments in Sports: #6: WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP PROVES GLOBAL POWER

 SIXTEEN NATIONS, ONE STAGE

Photo caption: Alex Ho/ISI Photos The Japan Women's National Team celebrates after defeating the United States 39-33 in a friendly match between Japan and USA at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on April 26, 2025

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin called the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup "historic, special, incredible" with "stratospheric" growth. The numbers told an unprecedented story. A record 444,465 tickets were sold, more than three times the 158,000 sold in 2022, while the final drew 81,885 spectators to Twickenham, the largest attendance for a women's rugby union match in history. England defeated Canada 33-13 to capture their third World Cup title before a peak British television audience of 5.8 million viewers, making it one of the most-viewed rugby matches in the UK in 2025, outpacing even men's Six Nations fixtures. 

For the first time in history, 16 nations competed, up from 12, reflecting the rapid global rise of women's rugby, with more than 1.5 million girls now playing the sport worldwide. The tournament expansion welcomed Brazil, Fiji, Samoa, and Spain to the World Cup stage, bringing "colour, passion and unpredictability" to a sport long dominated by traditional powers. Japan's Sakura Fifteen arrived with momentum, having defeated the United States for the first time in 2025 and winning a two-match home series against Spain. Their disciplined, fast-paced style, marked by sharp set-piece organization and quick ball movement, showcased how emerging rugby nations were closing the gap with established powers.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the tournament "an extraordinary success" and called it "proof of the power of major sporting events to help grow the economy," stating boldly that "The UK is now the global home of women's sport." The Bristol Hoteliers Association reported occupancy levels exceeding 90% during tournament weekends, raising city revenue by 20-30%. Tournament Managing Director Sarah Massey called it "a generational moment" that surpassed even their best expectations, noting "the trajectory of women's rugby is only moving upwards." 

The digital impact proved equally transformative. Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 generated 1.1 billion social impressions across owned channels, becoming the second-biggest Rugby World Cup ever on digital platforms behind only the 2023 men's edition in France. The tournament drew a fresh wave of younger, more diverse fans, particularly on TikTok and Instagram, with female supporters making up two-thirds of all new followers. World Rugby's RugbyPass platform saw active users for women's rugby articles increase by 1,900%, with 68% organically gained via Google search. 

Most significantly, the tournament catalyzed lasting structural change. World Rugby and 18 national unions launched the WXV Global Series immediately following the World Cup, creating over 100 international matches between 2026-2028 and establishing a clear pathway to the 2029 World Cup in Australia. The Impact Beyond 2025 program launched nine strategic initiatives across three themes: profile and participation, careers and gender equity, and capability and expertise, ensuring "the positive impact of Women's Rugby World Cup England 2025 is felt for generations to come." 

This wasn't momentum, this was arrival. Rugby, a sport that rarely commands mainstream attention for its women's game, proved that when given proper venues, promotion, and investment, it commands global audiences and delivers cultural moments that transcend sport. From Twickenham's 81,885 to Japan's precision style to Brazil and Fiji's World Cup debuts, 2025 marked the year women's rugby became undeniably global. [RS]


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Friday, December 12, 2025

2025 Most Important Moments in Sports: #7: WOMEN'S EURO 2025 BECOMES UK'S BIGGEST TV MOMENT

UK soccer: A NATION STOPS TO WATCH

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/euro-2025-final-viewing-figures-000607355.html

A combined peak TV audience of 16.2 million viewers across BBC and ITV watched England defeat Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final, with an average of 12 million viewers watching the entire match, making it the most-watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters in the UK.

The numbers told only part of the story. The tournament drew 657,291 total attendees with 106 goals scored in 31 matches, surpassing the previous record attendance of 574,875, while 412 million watched live TV coverage worldwide, contributing to a cumulative audience of more than 500 million across all programming. UEFA estimated total revenue would reach €128 million, more than double the €63.2 million raised in 2022 Olympics, with prize money increasing 156% to €41 million.

England's penalty shootout victory carried profound emotional weight. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton emerged as the match hero, making two crucial saves in the shootout after her grandfather died just two days before the tournament began . The 24-year-old was born with a serious eye condition affecting her depth perception and was told by doctors she should not play football. Hampton wore "grandpa" printed inside the collar of her England shirt throughout the tournament, later posting: "It breaks my heart that you didn't get to see me walk out for our country at my first major tournament. Something you dreamed of for me."

The tournament's success extended beyond broadcast figures. 20% of BBC viewers were between ages 16-35, bringing strong engagement from young people, while the official UEFA Women's Euro channels more than doubled views and engagements compared to 2022, ranking as the number one global women's sport property on TikTok from January to September.

Of the record 657,291 tickets sold, 35% went to international spectators, with 1.2 million people enjoying fan zones in the eight host cities. The Swiss Women's Super League saw a 42% rise in attendance compared with the first games of the previous season, with €11 million secured for the 'Here to Stay' program to double the number of female players, coaches and referees by 2027.

England's victory not only retained their European title but proved women's football now commands mainstream broadcast dominance on the continent and beyond, driving cultural impact, economic growth, and inspiring the next generation of players.
England's victory not only retained their European title but proved women's football now commands mainstream broadcast dominance on the continent and beyond, driving cultural impact, economic growth, and inspiring the next generation of players.  [RS]

Join us daily for the countdown to #1, followed by our Sportsperson of the Year.

www.realsportsmag.com

Sources: Euro 2025 final viewing figures confirm England’s win was most-watched moment of year

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Thursday, December 11, 2025

2025 Most Important Moments in Sports: #8: INDIA'S CRICKET WORLD CUP SHATTERS DIGITAL RECORDS

“No One Watches Women’s Sports”

Photo Courtesy: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

The 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup generated 5.2 billion video views and 279 million social media interactions more than triple the previous year's figures, making it the most digitally consumed women's cricket event in history. The final attracted 185 million viewers on digital platforms, equaling the men's T20 World Cup and demonstrating women's cricket now commands parity with the sport's biggest stages.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. India's historic first World Cup victory featured standout performances from Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma before 45,000 fans at DY Patil Stadium, with the winning celebration alone generating 87 million views.

Deepti Sharma became the first cricketer to score over 200 runs and take more than 20 wickets in a single World Cup edition, finishing with 215 runs and 22 wickets. In the final, she delivered a match-winning 5/39 and a half-century, becoming the first player in World Cup knockout history to achieve a fifty and a five-wicket haul in the same match. Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls to set up India's total of 298/7, then captured two unexpected wickets at a crucial juncture, scripting one of cricket's greatest comeback stories after being drafted in late through a squad reshuffle.

The tournament's reach extended far beyond India. The India vs Pakistan clash on October 5 shattered digital records with a reach of 28.4 million and 1.87 billion minutes consumed, making it the most-watched women's international cricket match of all time. Overall, the tournament reached 446 million viewers, surpassing the combined total of the last three ICC Women's World Cups.

This marked the definitive arrival of women's cricket as a global digital phenomenon and proof that when given equal platform and promotion, women's sports can command audiences on par with their male counterparts. [RS]

Join us daily for the countdown to #1, followed by our Sportsperson of the Year.

Sources: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, Women’s World Cup 2025: A New Era for Women’s Sports

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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

2025 Most Important Moments in Sports: #9: THE WNBA'S BILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION

 THE WNBA'S $2.2B Deal, Will the Players Get Paid


Photo credit: Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos, Rae Burrell blocks Rhyne Howard.

The WNBA secured an 11-year, $2.2 billion media partnership that quadruples its previous agreement, fundamentally reshaping the commercial ceiling for women's basketball. Starting in 2026, annual media revenue will jump from $60 million to approximately $200 million.
But here's where the real story begins.

Photo Credit: Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos, Te-Hina Paopao and Paige Bueckers square off.

While the league celebrates this watershed moment, WNBA players currently receive just 9.3% of league revenue, less than one-fifth the share of most other professional leagues. Compare that to their counterparts: NBA players receive 49-51% of basketball-related income, NFL players get at least 48.8%, and NHL players receive 50%.
The numbers tell a stark story. The average WNBA salary this season is just over $102,000 Caitlin Clark, who helped drive record viewership and attendance in 2024, earned only $78,066 in her rookie year, with her entire four-year contract worth less than $340,000 a figure many role players in men's leagues earn per game.
At the 2025 All-Star Game, players made their stance crystal clear, wearing warm-up shirts emblazoned with "Pay Us What You Owe Us." It wasn't just a slogan, it was a declaration that the era of accepting scraps is over.

Photo credit: Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos Fans filled the arena during a game between the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 6, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

The league has evolved dramatically since 1997. Attendance is at historic highs, merchandise sales hit records in 2024, and the league experienced its most-watched regular season in 24 years. Expansion teams now pay $250 million fees five times what Golden State paid just two years earlier. League revenues are projected to reach $1 billion in 2025, up from $710 million in 2024.

The disconnect? All that explosive growth hasn't translated proportionally to player compensation. The athletes generating the value, the ones packing arenas and driving viewership, remain dramatically underpaid relative to the revenue they create.

With CBA negotiations underway and proposals on the table that would establish $1 million base salaries at the maximum level, this media deal represents more than just financial growth. It's the foundation for finally ensuring that the women who built this league over nearly three decades receive their fair share.

Photo credit: Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos, Golden State Valkyries Fans hold up the “V” during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 6, 2025

The competitiveness, the athleticism, the fan support, it's all there. The packed arenas speak for themselves. The question is whether the financial infrastructure will finally catch up to the product on the court. [RS]

Join us daily for the countdown to #1, followed by our Sportsperson of the Year.

Sources: THE WNBA'S $2.2B Deal, Will the Players Get Paid

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Business Analysis Report 2025: Commercial Value Surges as Caitlin Clark Accelerates Global Popularity and Revenue Growth - ResearchAndMarkets.com




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Tuesday, December 9, 2025

2025 Most Important Moments in Sports: #10 GLOBAL GROWTH REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Beyond the Billion-dollar Barrier:

The compelling case for further investment in women's sports.

Source for data: Deloitte analysis, based on public data

Women's sports surpassed $2.35 billion in global revenue in 2025, nearly doubling from $1.88 billion in 2024. North America led global growth with 59% of 2024 revenue, while basketball became the top revenue-generating women's sport at $1.03 billion (44%), followed by soccer at $820 million (35%).



Commercial revenue surpassed $1 billion globally in 2024 for the first time, including sponsorships, partnerships, merchandising sales, and pre-season tour income.

This wasn't potential anymore, it was proof that when infrastructure and opportunity meet, women's sports transform the entire business of sport. [RS]

Join us daily for the countdown to #1, followed by our Sportsperson of the Year.

Sources: Beyond the Billion-dollar Barrier, 

Deloitte: Women's Elite Sports Exceed Expectations as Revenues Forecasted to Surpass $2.3 Billion Globally in 2025








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Tuesday, December 31, 2024

2024 Most Important Moments in Sports - Top 10 Moments & Sportsperson of the Year Summary


Continue reading prior blog posts for a more detailed story on each of the Top 10 Most Important Moments in Sports selections and the Sportsperson of the Year.

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Monday, December 30, 2024

2024 Sportsperson of the Year: CAITLIN CLARK

 

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever shoots one of her trademark long-range threes while Kia Nurse #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks defends. Clark's shooting proficiency and dramatics captivated fans. Photo credit: Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos

The Clark Effect: Redefining Basketball's Possibilities

Numbers tell stories. In 2024, Caitlin Clark's numbers told an extraordinary one: over 3,685 points in her NCAA career, an average of 32.4 points per game, and distance shooting that expanded the court's boundaries. More revealing were different figures: 1.93 million viewers for an Iowa-Ohio State regular-season game, setting an all-time women's college basketball record (ESPN Stats & Info). Her final collegiate season packed every venue with capacity crowds.

Clark's scoring prowess placed her atop the NCAA record books, while not exceeding the enduring legacy of Pearl Moore, whose 4,061 points in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women era remain a testament to women's basketball excellence. Clark's combination of volume scoring, efficiency, and range redefined offensive possibilities in the college game.

Her impact extended beyond statistics. The "Clark Effect" also rippled through sports economics: Her jersey became the fastest-selling in NIL history (Fanatics), her NIL valuation exceeded $3 million (On3 NIL) and WNBA ticket sales surged at franchises positioned to draft her (Sports Business Journal).

Fans of all ages and demographics have secured Clark jerseys. Photo credit: Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos

The 2024 season also sparked important conversations about media coverage in women's basketball. When Time magazine named Clark its athlete of the year, sports pioneer Sheila Johnson, co-owner of the Washington Mystics, noted the need to celebrate all athletes who elevate the game.

The overwhelming media coverage of Clark’s accomplishments received criticism that she was getting such attention at the expense of equally talented peers, as well as predecessors in the game, because she is white. In addition, there were multiple reports of racist interactions on social media toward players such as Angel Reese, who had a much-ballyhooed rivalry when they were collegiate opponents. Such misbehavior from fans followed both players into the pros, to the point that Clark and other athletes had to address it several times, including on social media, and in interactions with disruptive fans at WNBA games. 

Caitlin Clark was a sought-after interview by all walks of media outlets in 2024. Photo credit: Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos

Mainstream media coverage did little to squash the sentiments that Clark was getting preferential treatment, or that anyone who pointed out other high-performing players were being biased against Clark.

The discourse highlighted the broader challenge of equitable coverage in women's sports, with players and media alike calling for celebrations of diverse talent across the game. As the sport grows, veterans and newcomers emphasize the importance of recognizing all contributors to its evolution.

However, the fact remains that Clark's style resonates beyond basketball courts. From her logo-range 3-pointers and no-look passes to the competitive intensity that connects with fans and inspires a new generation of players.

The 2024 season showed how individual excellence could elevate an entire sport: Each sold-out arena represented new converts to women's basketball; television ratings records signaled shifting perspectives on women's athletics; and corporate partnerships expanded, creating opportunities for future athletes.

Fans of all backgrounds, including Tobin Heath and Christen Press of the USWNT, sought to catch a game featuring Clark. Photo credit: Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos

Clark's performance set new standards for excellence in college basketball, and her ability to draw casual sports fans into women's basketball demonstrated the game's broad appeal. Most significantly, she proved elite women's sports could command premium media coverage, drive substantial revenue and capture national attention.

For redefining what's possible in women's basketball, for driving historic levels of fan engagement and media coverage, and for elevating the commercial potential of women's sports, beyond basketball, Caitlin Clark is REAL SPORTS' 2024 Sportsperson of the Year. [RS]

BONUS SECTION:

Want to dive deeper into REAL SPORTS editorial board selection process?
Sportsperson of the Year candidates are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including:
  • Athletic Excellence
  • Impact Beyond Sport
  • Personal Journey
  • Public Engagement
We considered a wide range of candidates for the recognition. For example, here are the scores for four candidates from this year's selection process:

  1. Caitlin Clark (4.89/5.0) - Transformed the visibility and commercial viability of women's sports while setting athletic records, creating a paradigm shift in how women's sports are viewed and valued.

  2. Simone Biles (4.76/5.0) - Combined athletic excellence with transformative advocacy for athlete mental health, showing how returning to competition could be done on one's own terms.

  3. VanDerveer & Auriemma (4.58/5.0) - Represented the culmination of decades-long excellence and pioneering work in building women's basketball, setting a foundation that enabled future generations.

  4. Cole Brauer (4.02/5.0) - Broke new ground in sailing while demonstrating exceptional individual achievement and resilience, opening new pathways for women in her sport.

If you would like to learn more about past recipients of the Sportsperson and Best Athlete awards, check out these prior editions of REAL SPORTS magazine.
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