Liverpool v Chelsea match peaked with 482k

Sky Sports WSL women's football

The WSL clash between Liverpool and Chelsea attracted a record number of pay-TV viewers to Sky Sports.

A peak of 482k tuned into the match, an increase of 56% on last season’s opener between Arsenal and Chelsea. There was an average audience of 381k, which was a 21% increase on last season’s biggest average. 

The competition, which is shown by both Sky and free-to-air by the BBC, will be hoping this is a sign of things to come after England’s Euros victory saw huge crowds for women’s football over the summer. The final against Germany reached a peak of 17.5m on the BBC, a huge 78% of the audience at that time.

Sky Sports Managing Director Jonathan Licht said: “Great to see such an exciting start to the WSL season and we were delighted that a record number of fans tuned in to the live game on Sky Sports. We have a great opportunity to build on the success of the Lionesses this summer and will be working hard to encourage as many viewers as possible to tune in this season.

“As the leading investor in women’s sport in the UK, we are proud to be a partner of the WSL and will continue to support the growth of the women’s game throughout this season and beyond.”

Next up for the WSL on Sky Sports is Chelsea v Man City at 4pm on Sunday 25 September, with the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton following it at 6.45pm.