Ever since the Women’s World Cup wrapped up last month, there has been a resurgence in interest in the women’s game in America. More people are attending NWSL games, the NWSL has a new (albeit without a rights fee) TV deal with ESPN, and major women’s clubs across the world are going on preseason tours, much like their male counterparts.
Ratings have improved for NWSL games this year, but we’re still in that post-World Cup honeymoon period. Either way, organizations are investing in the women’s game like never before and now England’s FA is getting in on this.
The FA announced on Tuesday that they will be launching a free streaming service dedicated to women’s soccer in England. The ingeniously named FA Player will broadcast all 132 FA Women’s Super League games around the world and will also spotlight both clips and features from the England Women’s National Team.
Nine of the 12 teams in the Women’s Super League are Premier League teams on the men’s side, including all of the big six sides. Arsenal won the league last season, thanks in large part to the efforts of top scorer and Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema.
This comes on the heels of the news that the Premier League will potentially be taking over the Super League. A feasibility study was commissioned on if a takeover could happen and whether or not it would improve the women’s league. Concepts like women’s teams playing at Premier League stadiums (which will happen in the first week of the season for a Manchester Derby at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium) and The FA Player can strengthen the game, structurally improve it, and can grow and maintain a larger and healthier fanbase after this initial post-World Cup interest period.
The app launches September 2, five days before the Manchester Derby kicks off the new season, and will be available on iOS and Google Play.
