The launch of the Everyone Watches Women's Sports podcast is the latest sign that women's sports podcasts have evolved from a niche idea into a major media opportunity

Written by Caroline Fitzgerald

When I launched The Business Case For Women's Sports, presented by Ally podcast in 2021, I heard the same questions over and over again:

 

"Is there really enough to talk about?"

"Are there enough guests out there to interview?"

"Is there actually a market for women's sports podcasts?"

 

Five years later, I can confidently answer all three with the same response: absolutely.

 

Over the last five years, I’ve had the privilege of recording more than 200 episodes with athletes, executives, investors, commissioners, founders, and media leaders. Along the way, I've also had a front-row seat to one of the most exciting shifts in sports media: the rapid rise of women's sports podcasts.

Today, there are more than 80 dedicated women's sports podcasts, and nearly 72% of them have launched since the start of 2024. That's more than growth – it's a fundamental shift in how fans discover women's sports, how athletes tell their own stories, and how the industry reaches new audiences.

 

Why Women’s Sports Podcasts Matter

Podcasts have done something traditional sports media often couldn't: they've given creators the freedom to tell stories mainstream sports media has often overlooked.

 

When I started my show in 2021, there were only a handful of podcasts dedicated to women's sports. That reflected a much bigger problem. At the time, women's sports received just 4% of all sports media coverage. When stories aren't being told, it's easy for people to assume they aren't stories worth telling.

 

Women’s sports fans know that couldn't be further from the truth.

 

The most recent data shows that women's sports now account for roughly 15% of sports media coverage. While there's still plenty of room to grow, podcasts have undoubtedly played a meaningful role in expanding that coverage by giving women's sports the consistent, year-round attention they have long deserved.

 

It’s important to note that this progress hasn't happened by accident. It's happened because companies recognized the opportunity and chose to invest in it.

 

In 2024, iHeartMedia made one of the biggest commitments we've seen to women's sports audio by launching iHeart Women's Sports. In just its first year, the network increased women's sports programming from less than 1% of its sports coverage to more than 34%, reaching 89 million monthly listeners across nearly 500 broadcast radio stations. As the world's largest podcast publisher, iHeart also pledged that 50% of all newly produced sports podcasts would focus on women's sports.

 

Enter The Everyone Watches Women’s Sports Podcast 

Now, we get to celebrate another huge move in women’s sports podcasting. Just last week, TOGETHXR announced a significant investment with the launch of Everyone Watches Women's Sports in partnership with iHeartMedia.

This move feels especially meaningful because it represents the next stage in the evolution of women's sports media. For years, TOGETHXR has built one of the strongest brands in women's sports by proving there is an audience hungry for authentic storytelling and athlete-driven content. Launching a flagship podcast is TOGETHXR doubling down on the core belief that women's sports deserve daily conversations, informed debate, breaking news, and dedicated coverage.

 

Let's be clear: major media companies don't build podcast networks because something is trendy. They do it because they see audience demand, advertising potential, and long-term business opportunity.

 

With the podcast industry projected to grow from $31.49 billion in 2025 to $114.48 billion by 2030, the rise of women's sports podcasts isn't just creating more coverage – it's creating a larger market for advertisers, creators, athletes, and media companies alike.

 

Women's sports is well positioned to claim a meaningful share of that growth, not simply because it's the right thing to do, but because it's smart business.

 

The women's sports podcast era is officially here, and the business case for investing in women's sports media has never been stronger.

 

MEET CAROLINE FITZGERALD