Ion secures US broadcast rights for 2027 Women's Volleyball World Cup 📺
Scripps-owned broadcast network Ion will air all 64 matches of the 2027 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup across Ion and Scripps Sports' digital platforms, in both English and Spanish. The World Cup, a 32-team event held in August and September 2027, doubles as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the top three unqualified nations earning a spot. No financial terms were disclosed, but the deal represents what FIVB CEO Craig Thompson described as an unprecedented level of US distribution for the competition, giving women's volleyball a major free-to-air platform in the Olympic build-up year.
"This agreement represents an unprecedented level of U.S. distribution for the FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup and a defining moment for the sport in this market,"
— Craig Thompson, CEO, FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup
Liv Cycling renews as official bike sponsor of Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for fifth year 🚴
Liv Cycling, the only cycling brand dedicated exclusively to women, has renewed as official bike sponsor and White Jersey partner of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for a fifth consecutive year. The 2026 race runs 1–9 August from Lausanne to Nice. Since the inaugural edition in 2022, the race has grown to broadcast across more than 190 countries, with ASO research showing 69% of female viewers reported feeling motivated to ride after watching and 17% purchasing a bike, metrics that directly validate Liv's commercial case for sustained investment.
“Five years into the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the growth of this race has validated everything we believed about women’s cycling. What was once considered a risk is now one of the most compelling investment stories in professional cycling, and this race has been central to that shift. Returning in 2026 is something we are genuinely proud of, and a reflection of how much we believe in where women’s cycling is headed.”
— Phoebe Liu, CEO, Giant Group
Bristol Bears Women report record season ticket sales ahead of 2026/27 PWR campaign 🏉
Bristol Bears Women have sold a record number of season tickets for the upcoming 2026/27 Premiership Women's Rugby season, continuing a growth trajectory that has seen the club set record attendances at Shaftesbury Park. General Manager Daisie Mayes cited the broader momentum behind the women's game as a driver, with the club targeting its biggest-ever home attendance when it faces Exeter Chiefs next season. Adult season tickets are priced at £110 for a 10-game package, a deliberately accessible price point designed to sustain the fanbase growth the club has built.
"The growth of Bears Women and the women’s game as a whole has been incredible to be a part of, and our community have been there at every step of the way. There is real momentum behind the women’s game and Bears Women are helping lead that movement here in Bristol, both on and off the pitch. With record attendances, exciting young talent and an ambitious future ahead, this is your chance to become a part of our journey.”
— Daisie Mayes, General Manager, Bristol Bears Women
Toyota Material Handling Australia extends Essendon AFLW partnership for 2026 season 🏈
Toyota Material Handling Australia has extended its co-major partnership with Essendon Football Club's AFLW programme for the 2026 Season 11, maintaining a relationship that has been in place since the women's programme launched. The Toyota Forklifts brand will continue to feature on the Bombers' AFLW playing guernsey. No financial terms were disclosed, but the renewal is notable as an example of a B2B industrial brand sustaining long-term women's sport investment beyond the initial novelty of entry.
“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Toyota Material Handling Australia for Season 11 of AFLW. TMHA has been a valued supporter of our AFLW program since its inception, and their ongoing commitment reflects a shared belief and growth in the success of women’s football."
— Tim Roberts, CEO, Essendon
M-PAISA makes its first sports sponsorship backing grassroots women's netball in Fiji 🏐
Mobile payments brand M-PAISA, owned by Vodafone Fiji, has made its first ever sports sponsorship by backing the Netball Fiji Rally, a nationwide grassroots competition spanning districts across the Central, Eastern, Western and Northern divisions of Fiji. The sponsorship is framed explicitly around creating pathways for young women in rural communities into elite and professional netball.
“The rally would provide a pathway for talented players, particularly those from rural communities to progress to the national level and eventually pursue professional opportunities overseas. The sponsorship also aims to encourage healthy lifestyles, teamwork and mentorship while helping young girls stay engaged in sport.”
— Sailendra Prasad, General Manager, Digital Financial Services Pte Limited
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