Sky Sports could broadcast 50 extra WSL games from 2026/27 following expansion | OneFootball

Once the WSL has fully expanded to 14 teams in 2026/27, Sky Sports could broadcast up to 50 more league games in the season.

Sky Sports current WSL deal

In 2024 Sky Sports signed a new record deal with the WSL that will allow the channel to broadcast 118 league matches per season from 2025/26, which is three times more than the previous contract allowed.

With 132 games played in the season for the current 12-team league format, Sky Sports will be able to show an impressive 89% of matches next year as it continues to boost the profile of women’s football.

After the 2024 deal was announced,  Sky Sports Group Chief Executive Dana Strong said: “This is an incredibly exciting and significant moment for women’s sport. The longer-term partnership reflects our commitment to women’s football and provides the platform for us to keep working with the WPLL to bring in more fans, grow the game and create the most entertaining and competitive women’s football league in the world.

“As the home of sport, Sky is already by far the biggest investor in women’s sport in the UK and Ireland, and this new partnership further demonstrates our backing of elite female athletes. We look forward to telling their stories and inspiring the next generation of fans.”

However with the WSL continuing to grow in not only size but also popularity, Sky Sports could seek a new broadcast deal just one year down the line.

Could Sky Sports agree new deal after expansion?

Following the announcement that the WSL will expand to 14 teams in 2026/27, Sky Sports will reportedly hold talks with the league in the hopes of securing rights to broadcast even more games.

There will be a total of 64 extra games in the WSL going forward from 2026 and Sky will no doubt be looking to maximise their coverage to as many games as they can possibly show.

Sky already contributes over £100million per season to the WSL and should they choose to enter negotiations for more games, it would be a surprise to see them denied rights.

The BBC could also make a bid for the extra games, as they currently hold the rights to the remaining 14 league matches that Sky don’t show.

With the league expansion only just approved there is still a lot that is unknown about how the WSL will work from 2026 moving forward and negotiations with potential broadcasters remain in preliminary talks only.