WSL revenues hit record £65m in 2023/24 season
Women’s Super League clubs have seen their aggregate revenues increase by 34% to £65m in the 2023/24 season, according to new analysis from the Deloitte Sports Business Group.
This marks a significant rise from £48m in the previous season, with every WSL club generating over £1m in revenue for the first time.
The growth was primarily driven by uplifts in commercial and matchday revenues. Commercial revenue rose by 53% to £26m, accounting for 40% of the total league revenue. Matchday revenue saw a substantial 73% increase, reaching £12m, which was boosted by a 31% rise in average attendance. Broadcast revenue also grew by 40% to £10m, representing 16% of total revenue, largely from central distributions by the league, The Football Association (FA), and UEFA.
Deloitte forecasts that WSL clubs’ total revenue will reach £100m in the 2025/26 season, following the upcoming UEFA Women’s EUROs. While growth was widespread, the top four revenue-generating clubs – Arsenal (£15.3m), Chelsea (£11.5m), Manchester United (£9.2m), and Manchester City (£6.6m) – generated two thirds of the total revenue. Despite this, the relative gap between the highest and lowest earners has reduced.
Wage costs across the league rose by 44% to £52m, resulting in an average wage/revenue ratio of 81%. Combined pre-tax losses for WSL clubs increased to £28m, although this was mitigated by £17m of group income for certain clubs. Overall attendances saw a 10% drop in the 2024/25 season, likely influenced by the absence of a major international tournament and the relegation of clubs with larger fanbases.
Jennifer Haskel, knowledge and insights lead in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said, “Through developing more robust fan engagement strategies, strong commercial deals and securing central distributions, WSL clubs unlocked a new phase of growth in the 2023/24 season. Plus, as the reporting and attribution of commercial revenue remains inconsistent between clubs, we may be scratching the surface on the value now being generated by the women’s game.“
Subscribe to the Sport Industry Daily for regular updates on the biggest stories and latest news in the sport industry.
