Ahead of a bumper summer of sport, the Women’s Sport Trust’s latest visibility report sheds light on what is happening among audiences, broadcasters and digital platforms.

According to the analysis, in collaboration with insights agency GSIQ, viewership is down year-on-year, with a 13% decline in three-minute UK broadcast reach between January and May 2025. This is the first decline since 2022. However, it doesn’t mean fans aren’t watching and brands shouldn’t be investing.  

The drop in viewership coincides with a 15% reduction in coverage hours and a decline in Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) and Guinness Women’s Six Nations (W6N) average audiences.  

Ahead of a bumper summer of sport, the Women’s Sport Trust’s latest visibility report sheds light on what is happening among audiences, broadcasters and digital platforms.

According to the analysis, in collaboration with insights agency GSIQ, viewership is down year-on-year, with a 13% decline in three-minute UK broadcast reach between January and May 2025. This is the first decline since 2022. However, it doesn’t mean fans aren’t watching and brands shouldn’t be investing.  

The drop in viewership coincides with a 15% reduction in coverage hours and a decline in Barclays Women’s Super League (BWSL) and Guinness Women’s Six Nations (W6N) average audiences.  

BWSL’s broadcast audience fell by 35%, while W6N’s reach dropped from 8.1 million to 6.6 million. 

“Progress isn’t linear,” says Women’s Sport Trust CEO Tammy Parlour. “There will be fluctuations and not all metrics will move in the same direction at the same time.”  

However, she describes the broader picture for women’s sport as one of “momentum and opportunity”, noting that investment is continuing to rise. 

Growth in digital

The “unprecedented” growth in digital channels suggests the media mix for women’s sport is evolving.  

The first five months of 2025 saw a 105% increase in TikTok views for the eight most-viewed women’s sport accounts on the platform. On YouTube, this figure is 84%.  

In the UK, BWSL’s digital engagement was the highest, with 56 million TikTok views, 20 million YouTube views and 6 million Instagram engagements. Globally, the Women’s National Basketball Association led the way with 131 million views and the Women’s Tennis Association came out on top on YouTube, with 75% growth to 63 million views.  

“It’s hugely encouraging to see women’s sport thriving on digital platforms, with athletes, teams and leagues leveraging new ways to connect with fans. This ecosystem – built through collaboration between broadcasters, rights holders and platforms – is vital to continuing the sport’s growth,” says Parlour. 

However, she cautions the decline in broadcast viewership is a reminder of the “fierce competition” for audience attention.

“We must ensure that investment in production and distribution keeps pace with fan demand and the quality of the sport on offer,” says Parlour. 

She describes the report as sending a “strong signal” to brands that digital engagement in women’s sport is growing fast and the opportunity to connect with fans, particularly through player-led content, has “never been greater”.

“The upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO will bring a wave of attention, but the real value lies in showing up consistently – not just in the big moments,” Parlour adds. “The brands that invest now, with the right tone and timing, will be the ones that build lasting connections as the audience matures.”

Water Polo Australia is pleased to announce its team for the 2025 World Aquatics U20 Water Polo Championships.

WPA has selected 14 athletes to compete at the event, which will be held in Salvador, Brazil from 10-16 August 2025.

The team has been selected following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

Anneliese Pamp (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Bless Daly (Polo Bears, QLD)

Charley Stephens (Drummoyne, NSW)

Chelsea Johnson (Mermaids, QLD)

Ebony Nash (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Georgia Chapman (Balmain, NSW)

Isabel Scott (Sydney Uni, WA)

Kali-yah Taoso (Mermaids, QLD)

Koko Bacic (Drummoyne, NSW)

Layla Smith (Balmain, NSW)

Samantha Hardingham (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Saskia Dunn (Balmain, NSW)

Sienna Owen (Mermaids, QLD)

Tayla Dawkins (Balmain, SA)

Reserve: Horatia Schlect (Polo Bears, QLD)

Reserve: Matilda Waugh (Balmain, NSW)

Reserve: Sophie Pethers (Balmain, NSW)

Head Coach: Dusan Damjanovic (QLD)

Five University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa track and field athletes earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors on June 24, for their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition.

Honorees must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher while ranking highly in a regional ranking in their respective events.

Track and Field Honorees

• Rose Forshaw – Throws
• Helen Hoadley – Pole Vault
• Catherine Touchette – Multis
• Lilian Turban – Jumps/Throws
• Tara Wyllie – Jumps/Hurdles

This marks the third consecutive year that the Rainbow Wahine have had the maximum number of student-athletes named Academic All-District. Turban earned the honor for the third straight year while Hoadley and Wyllie have claimed the recognition for the second consecutive season.

Read more at Hawaiiathletics.com.

UC Santa Barbara alum Ajay Mitchell became the ninth former Big West student-athlete to win an NBA title on Sunday, when the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers four-games-to-three in the 2025 NBA Finals. 

With the series tied 3-3, the Thunder took care of business in game seven with a 103-91 victory at home. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named MVP. 

Mitchell was drafted with the 38th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks and subsequently traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Gaucho guard was a three-time All-Big West selection, garnering First Team honors in the final two seasons, and was the league’s Player of the Year and Championship MVP in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the Ans, Liege, Belgium product averaged 20.0 points, on 50.4 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Wednesday, June 25, marks the start of the 2025 NBA Draft, with the first round taking place. The second round will be held on Thursday, June 26. The Big West has produced 128 NBA Draft selections since 1970. 

Big West Alums That Have Won an NBA Title

Water Polo Australia (WPA) is pleased to announce its women’s team for the 2025 FISU World University Games.

Set to be held in Rhine-Ruhr from 17-27 July, WPA has selected a 13-strong team to compete at the event.

Coached by three-time Olympian Rowie Webster, the team has been selected following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection.

Alexandra Nasser (Australian Catholic University)

Alyssa West (University of Queensland)

Chelsea Isaac (Loyola Marymount University)

Emma Putt (University of Notre Dame)

Isabella Sayer (University of Notre Dame)

Jasmine Higgs (Indiana University)

Jessica Bihler (University of WA)

Lilli Harris © (University of Sydney)

Lucinda Marsh (University of Notre Dame)

Madeline Marshall (Monash University)

Mimi Stoupas (San Diego University)

Nioka Thomas (Arizona State University)

Samantha Henderson (Australian Catholic University)

Reserves: Isobelle Pamp, Nancy Lee, Olivia Muir

(This is a preview of Team Guam heading to Palau for the June 29 to July 9, 2025 Pacific Mini Games among 24 island nations.)

Guam’s beach volleyball squads have high expectations heading into Palau’s sands at the upcoming Pacific Mini Games.

The women’s team will have a target on their back – and rightfully so as Guam brings D1 college players Kristen Serrano of University of Hawaii and Austia Mendiola of Cal State Northridge.

The men’s team of Ryan Eugenio and Kana Sgambelluri don’t have the D1 pedigree, but volleyball is in their blood with a good amount of experience.

Women’s team

Guam will be represented by its best players, and the goal is nothing less than gold.

According to head coach Manny Guarin, the competition will be stiff, with powerhouses like Australia, Vanuatu, and Tahiti vying for the top spot.

“This will be Kristen’s and Austia’s first international competition as a team, but I am confident in their ability to work hard, adapt, and persevere,” Guarin said.

For University of Hawaii player Serrano, she is ecstatic to get another opportunity to represent Guam after the 2021 Mini Games, calling that experience life changing for the best.

“Austia and I have had a lot more exposure this past year playing in the NCAA, so we’re coming into these games with confidence and a higher level of competition. Of course, it’s always an honor to compete against other talented athletes from across the islands and learn so much more about their cultures. We are working hard to earn a medal and give it our all for our island,” Serrano said.

Mendiola said these past years, playing in the NCAA has pushed them to grow so much as athletes and she’s “very excited” to see what she and Serrano can do together.

“We’re training hard, staying focused, and ready to bring our energy and experience to the court,” Mendiola added.

Men’s team

The men’s team won’t have as high of expectations as the women, but the pair expect to do well.

Eugenio has the experience at 33 years of age, playing beach volleyball for 18 years and was part of the 2018 Micro Games bronze medal team in Yap.

The JFK High School graduate will play alongside the 18-year-old Sgambelluri, who was a standout at Guam Adventist Academy and was high school beach champion just a year ago.

Eugenio said the duo will “just give it our best and play our hearts out.”

The pair was selected during the King of the Beach Tournament and have been prepping for the last three months.

For the younger Sgambelluri, it will be his first international competition and he hopes to “bring honor and respect to our island and learn from the best in the region sharpening our skills to compete at the highest level.”

The men expect some tough competition from Fiji, Vanuatu and the CNMI.

Men’s coach Galen Balajadia has confidence in the Guam squad heading to Palau.

“Representing our home is one of greatest opportunities an athlete could ever have. Competing against other country’s best athletes is no small task but I believe our men’s team is ready to compete and showcase the heart and pride of our island,” Balajadia said.

Beach volleyball starts on Wednesday, July 2, at Long Island Beach and concludes on Tuesday, July 8.