Global revenues from elite women’s sport will reach at least US$3 billion (R$15.3 billion) for the first time in 2026, representing a 25% increase compared to last year, Deloitte said in a report released this Wednesday (8).
Elite women’s sport generated US$2.4 billion worldwide last year, mainly through basketball and football, after recording 248% growth between 2022 and 2025.
“Based on current projections, this growth is expected to reach 340% between 2022 and 2026,” Deloitte said in a statement.
A quarter of revenue will come from television broadcasts and box office revenue from games will contribute 30%.
“Crossing the $3 billion mark by 2026 would be a phenomenal achievement and would definitely cement women’s sports in the spotlight,” said Jennifer Haskel, knowledge and insights leader at Deloitte Sports Business Group.
“However, it is important to recognize that these are early days. The industry’s lasting success will be built on diligently collecting data, analyzing its impact, and implementing fixes guided by these learnings.”
American football and basketball will continue to be the biggest revenue generators, each contributing about 35% of total revenue in 2026.
“North America ($1.64 billion, 54% of the total) and Europe ($434 million, 14%) are expected to remain the largest revenue-generating markets for women’s sport,” Deloitte added.
