Whether it’s March Madness or not, women’s elite sports is a slam dunk for Florida's economy

Interest in women’s sports has been growing over recent years, with viewership up to 41% from 34% for the 2023 World Cup, according to Nielsen.

Nielsen also reports that last year’s NCAA tournament drew nearly 10 million viewers for the final game between LSU and Iowa — up 103% from 2022.

Randall Croom, an associate professor of Management at Stetson University, said interest in women’s sports is growing in Central Florida as well.

“For example, Grant Hill and Tamia, one of my favorite R&B singers ever, have both invested in Orlando Pride. So, we're seeing people recognize that it just makes good business sense to invest in women's athletics, and we're certainly beginning to see more of that even here in Central Florida.”