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More than 500,000 tickets already sold for 2023 World Cup

Led by star Sam Kerr, Australia will serve as a co-host for the 2023 World Cup. (Albert Perez/Getty Images)

More than 500,000 tickets have been sold for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA announced Tuesday.

The tournament kicks off in 184 days, on July 20, and runs through Aug. 20

With more teams (32) and more matches (64) than ever before, the international governing body for soccer enters the World Cup year with grand ambitions. FIFA aims to sell a record 1.5 million tickets, breaking the previous record of 1.35 million set at the 2015 tournament in Canada. The 2019 tournament in France brought in 1.13 million spectators.

Fans from more than 120 countries have purchased tickets. The United States ranking in the top 10 in ticket sales, alongside the host countries, England, Qatar, Germany, China Canada, Ireland and France.

“This highlights the fantastic pull of the female game and the passion it evokes among the global football fandom,” FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura said in a news release.

No match has sold out yet, and more tickets are set to be released as the tournament approaches.

New Zealand will play against Norway in the opening match of the tournament at 50,000-seat Eden Park in Auckland. Australia will face Ireland later that day in Sydney. The match is set for 42,500-seat Allianz Stadium, but FIFA is considering a move to 83,500-seat Stadium Australia, which will also host the championship match a month later.

In early November, FIFA noted the “unprecedented” demand for the 2023 World Cup amid concerns about the ticketing process. Available tickets for a number of the Matildas’ high-profile group-stage games had disappeared before fans could even sign up for a presale.

Single-match tickets are on sale through March 3 on FIFA’s website.

WNBA Smashes ESPN Viewership Records Throughout 2025 Season

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray speaks to ESPN's Holly Rowe after winning the 2025 WNBA Championship.
The WNBA delivered the most-watched regular and postseason ever across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 this year. (Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

The WNBA blew past viewership records throughout its 2025 campaign, ESPN reported this week, with the league delivering the network's most-watched season in history.

ESPN averaged 1.3 million viewers through 25 regular-season games, accounting for a 6% year-over-year increase, with the full season's 49 broadcasts averaging 1.2 million viewers per game — up 5% over last year's lineup.

Postseason coverage was especially popular, with the Las Vegas Aces' championship-winning series sweep averaging 1.5 million viewers per game to become the second-most watched WNBA Finals behind the 2024 edition.

The gains also hit the ESPN studio, with the network's WNBA Countdown averaging 437,000 viewers through the 2025 Playoffs — up 30% over last season — while Hoop Streams and The Wrap-Up saw a 60% year-over-year viewership growth across eight postseason episodes.

Overall, the numbers punctuate the stability of the WNBA, with viewership continuing to rise despite superstars like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese all missing screen time due to injury this year.

The dividends, as well, are already paying off, as the WNBA embarks on a new $2.2 billion media deal promising at least $200 million per year in returns through the 11-year contract.

With the league currently wading through contentious CBA negotiations, this year's soaring ratings seemingly back the WNBA Players Association's arguments for increased investment and revenue sharing.

Angel City Investor Alexis Ohanian Launches LOVB Volleyball LA Expansion Team

LOVB Omaha and LOVB Austin huddle during the 2025 LOVB championship match.
The latest expansion team joining pro volleyball league LOVB will be led by Angel City investor Alexis Ohanian. (Emilee Chinn/LOVB/Getty Images)

Professional women's volleyball is officially landing in Los Angeles, with LOVB announcing Wednesday that the league plans to launch an LA expansion team funded by Angel City investor — and Serena Williams's husband — Alexis Ohanian.

Ohanian's Seven Seven Six venture capital firm is behind the new club, adding to a portfolio that also includes track and field competition Athlos and NWSL-focused docuseries The Offseason, as well as the men's Los Angeles Golf Club.

"We're excited to make LOVB the third jewel in Seven Seven Six's LA sports family," Ohanian said in the league's expansion announcement. "Volleyball is such a natural addition for Southern California, which has already proven how warmly it embraces new pro sports teams."

LOVB wrapped its inaugural six-team season in April 2025, with the league's second season set to kick off in January 2026 before LOVB LA becomes the pro venture's seventh squad in 2027.

"We're thrilled to partner with Alexis and the Seven Seven Six team, true women's sports champions," said LOVB Pro president Rosie Spaulding, further acknowledging the impact of Ohanian's sports portfolio and investment acumen. "Their commitment strengthens the entire volleyball ecosystem, and marks an exciting new chapter for LOVB and the sport as a whole."

"We can't wait to work with them to bring professional women's volleyball to Southern California as we continue to grow the sport across the US."

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman Inks 3-Year Contract Extension

Commissioner Jessica Berman speaks with press during the 2025 NWSL Media Day.
Jessica Berman originally took over as NWSL commissioner in 2022. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images for NWSL)

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman is sticking around, with Sportico reporting last Friday that the NWSL Executive Committee voted for a three-year contract extension for the league leader through the 2028 LA Olympics.

The 48-year-old inked her initial four-year deal in 2022, quickly driving commercial growth after joining an NWSL still reeling from a period of league scandals.

Under her purview, Berman led the NWSL through successful CBA negotiations and inked a blockbuster $60 million-per-year media deal, boosting team valuations from the low single-digit millions to upwards of $250 million.

Berman also helped drive the league's ongoing expansion, seeing 12 clubs in action during her debut 2022 season before growing to 14 in the 2024 campaign — with additional expansion sides Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC ballooning the field to 16 squads beginning next year.

Despite those successes, Berman recently faced backlash surrounding the league's handling of on-field medical incidents, with Sportico's sources noting that the board of governors' decision to move forward with the NWSL commissioner's contract extension was not unanimous.

"We're proud to have Jessica Berman's continued leadership," executive committee chair and Gotham FC owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett said in a league statement. "Under her guidance, the NWSL has reached new heights in attendance, revenue, and global visibility. This extension ensures we can continue building on that momentum."

Seattle Reign and Wales Star Jess Fishlock Headlines International Soccer Retirements

Wales star Jess Fishlock celebrates scoring her team's first-ever major tournament goal at the 2025 Euro.
Seattle Reign and Wales legend Jess Fishlock will retire from international play after next week's FIFA window. (Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

As the penultimate international window of 2025 kicks off next week, several global soccer stars are announcing their impending retirements, hanging up their national team boots as global attention turns toward next year's 2027 World Cup qualifiers.

Headlining the list of exiting stars is Wales' all-time top scorer and longtime Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock, who will suit up for the world No. 32 Dragons one last time against No. 15 Australia next week, ending a 19-year international career.

The 38-year-old notched 48 goals in her 165 caps for her national team, including scoring Wales' first-ever goal in a major tournament during last summer's 2025 Euro tournament.

"The Euros was the pinnacle of my football career, seeing the dragon on the world stage for the first time will be a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime," Fishlock posted in her Wednesday announcement. "Every minute was a pleasure, a privilege, and an honour."

Also stepping away from international duty is 2022 Euro champion and Chelsea FC defender Millie Bright, retiring from No. 4 England's backline on Monday after previously removing herself from consideration for the Lionesses' successful Euro title defense earlier this year.

Other notable international soccer retirements this week include No. 27 Ireland defender Megan Campbell, No. 6 France midfielder Sandie Toletti and winger Amel Majri, and No. 11 Netherlands midfielder Sherida Spitse and striker Renate Jansen.

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