Following NWSL’s Record-Breaking Start, Commissioner Jessica Berman Makes History With Sports Executive of the Year Win

Sky seems to be the limit for the National Women’s Soccer League. The 2024/25 season proves to be a record-breaking year in the history of the women’s domestic tournament. Already basking in the glory of a major achievement, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has added the cherry on top as she etched her name in the history books to win the Sports Executive of the Year. 

Hosted annually by Sports Business Journal, Berman rightfully becomes the first woman to clinch this honor in the award’s 17-year history. This recognition comes as a testament to her extraordinary efforts in the growth and success of America’s women-based domestic competition. She led the NWSL to a very successful year, given the remarkable milestones they achieved.

On November 9, 2023, the NWSL unveiled a groundbreaking agreement for its domestic media distribution, valued at $60 million per year and totaling $240 million over four years with CBS, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports. This historic deal marks the largest broadcast agreement ever obtained by a women’s sports league. It even brings some of the best faces for the coverage of all 118 matches across all the broadcasting partners. 

Other efforts to improve the league’s visibility include adding expansion teams like Bay FC and Angel City FC over the years. In fact, more teams are being planned in the coming years. The league’s popularity is further topped by the record-breaking attendance of all 14 teams in the stadium. In fact, you would be surprised to see the numbers!

NWSL takes the stadium attendance to new heights!

It’s safe to say that the future of the NWSL is very bright. Remarkable attendance figures have been consistently recorded in stadiums on each matchday throughout the years. According to a study from Sportico, the average attendance in 2013 was 4,270. Now, in the midst of the 2024 campaign, the average attendance stands at 11,046. This represents an astronomical rise over the past decade.

While there were minor fluctuations between 2014 and 2018, ranging from 4,137 to 6,024, 2019 saw a significant increase to 7,337. Unfortunately, the arrival of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in zero attendance. However, there was a revival as things started returning to normal a year later, with attendance reaching 5,528. The numbers subsequently continued to rise, reaching 7,894 in 2022 and 10,432 in 2023. 

This definitely won’t be the end as the league’s popularity is bound to increase even further. Certainly, all thanks go to Commissioner Jessica Berman, who has dedicated herself to elevating the NWSL to its peak.