NWSL Brings on Victory+ as Rightsholder, Expands Deals With CBS and ESPN for 2026-27 Seasons

NWSL Brings on Victory as Rightsholder, Expands Deals With CBS and ESPN for 2026-27 SeasonsPrime Video and Scripps/ION will continue their current dealsBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 4:30 pm

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The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has expanded its media rights package, inking a new deal with Victory for regular season games and tweaking its existing deal with CBS Sports and ESPN. This mid-cycle expansion, which covers the 2026-27 seasons, builds upon the domestic media rights deal the NWSL reached in 2023 that currently features 121 national windows across CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video and Scripps/ION.

As part of this expanded package, ABC and ESPN networks will carry weekly regular season games, culminating in exclusive rights to all eight Decision Day matches. All NWSL on ESPN matches are available on the ESPN App via ESPN DTC or Pay TV authentication. ESPN will broadcast 36 total matches (33 regular season including all 8 Decision Day matches, plus 2 quarterfinals and 1 semifinal).

The NWSL showcases some of the best athletes in the world, says Rosalyn Durant, Executive Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN. We are proud to increase our commitment on ABC and ESPN, and to further elevate women's sports and the athlete stories.

CBS Sports will add more regular season matches on CBS Sports Network, supplementing a lineup highlighted by the fifth consecutive primetime telecast of the NWSL Championship on CBS and Paramount . CBS Sports will carry 38 total matches (10 regular season, 1 quarterfinal, 1 semifinal and the NWSL Championship on CBS; 20 on CBS Sports Network; 5 on TBD platform), while giving up the 39 Paramount simulcasts of games that were also being streamed on NWSL .

As the longest standing broadcaster of the NWSL, says Dan Weinberg, EVP Programming, CBS Sports, we continue to be proud partners of the league, showcasing an exciting slate of regular-season matches and high-stakes playoff action across our platforms, straight through the Championship match airing in primetime on CBS and Paramount .

The addition of Victory as the league's fifth media partner will significantly increase distribution, introducing 25 new weekly Sunday primetime broadcasts in 2026. This expansion will coincide with the debut of the league's 15th and 16th teams and will include an additional 32 games, all of which will be available for free streaming on the Victory platform.

Our deal with the NWSL strengthens our commitment to making women's sports more accessible for new and returning fans, says Katie Boes, SVP, Content Partnerships, Victory . With the addition of these NWSL games we're building a true destination for women's sports content, right here on Victory . We believe that by making these games free to fans, we can help build the next generation of fandom and continue the league's amazing growth.

Launched in 2024, the Victory FAST streaming sports network already has deals in place with the NHL's Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, and St Louis Blues as well as the Texas Rangers in MLB. Owned by A Parent Media Company (APMC), Victory also carries games for the Gen-Z focused media company Overtime, as well as Major Arena Soccer League, and the Western Hockey League.

The NWSL is a driving force behind the growth in women's sports and we couldn't be more excited to have them join Victory , says Neil Gruniger; President & CEO, APMC. In just over a year we've expanded our offering of professional live sports, and are passionate about giving athletes a way to reach more fans.

In addition to games on ESPN, CBS, and Victory , Prime Video will continue to carry 27 total matches (25 regular season, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 quarterfinal) per season and Scripps/ION will carry 50 regular season Saturday night matches each season. Meanwhile, NWSL will stream 40 total matches - up from 30 under the previous deal. Since its launch for the 2024 season, the NWSL's rights package has generated record viewership, quadrupling audiences in its first year and continuing to post surging gains across key demographics. Global sports marketing agency IMG, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc., advised the NWSL and negotiated on its behalf.

We are expanding the discoverability and reach of NWSL matches because the demand is there, says NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. These additional media packages will help us reach new audiences and build a new generation of fandom. The expanded commitments from CBS Sports and ESPN, paired with a new national Sunday night showcase with Victory , bolster the NWSL's trajectory of unprecedented growth.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/09/17/nwsl-brings-on-victory-as-right...
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