Skyrocketing Valuations, Revenues, and Investments: “That Sounds Like a Tech Story.

It’s a Women’s Sports Story,” Says Alexis Ohanian
In the world of business and sports, a revolution is unfolding — and it’s led not by software, AI, or Silicon Valley giants, but by women athletes and their leagues. What was once considered a niche market is now emerging as one of the fastest-growing investment frontiers. And according to Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder and investor in women’s sports teams, this surge in valuations, revenues, and cultural influence isn’t just impressive — it’s historic.
“Everything you’re seeing right now — the exponential growth, the billion-dollar valuations, the fan engagement — it all sounds like a tech story,” Ohanian said in a recent interview. “But it’s not. It’s a women’s sports story.”

The Rise of a Long-Overlooked Industry
For decades, women’s sports have been underfunded, underpromoted, and undervalued. Yet in the past five years, the narrative has flipped. From the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to women’s soccer, tennis, and cricket, audiences and investors are paying attention like never before.
Global viewership has exploded. Major brands are pouring sponsorship money into female athletes and teams. Ticket sales are breaking records, and investors like Ohanian are betting big that this is just the beginning of a long-term boom.
The valuation of professional women’s teams has skyrocketed — with some franchises seeing triple-digit growth in just a few seasons. According to Ohanian, this growth isn’t luck; it’s the result of decades of grassroots effort, combined with the digital age’s democratization of attention.
“Technology gave women athletes the power to own their audience directly,” he explained. “Social media leveled the playing field. You no longer need a billion-dollar broadcast deal to build a following — you just need authenticity and a story worth telling.”

Alexis Ohanian’s Bet on the Future
Ohanian’s investment journey into women’s sports began with the Angel City FC, a Los Angeles-based professional soccer team he co-founded with actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, and entrepreneur Julie Uhrman.
When Angel City launched in 2020, skeptics questioned the profitability of a women’s soccer team. But Ohanian and his team viewed it differently: not as charity, but as a strategic business move with massive untapped potential.
Their vision paid off. Angel City FC quickly became a global brand — selling out games, building one of the most engaged fan communities in sports, and securing millions in sponsorship revenue.
“From the very beginning, I saw the parallels between startups and women’s sports,” Ohanian said. “Both have passionate communities, both are underdogs, and both can scale incredibly fast when given the right platform.”

The Economics Behind the Surge
The numbers tell a clear story.

Media rights for women’s sports are expanding rapidly, with broadcasters recognizing the demand for representation and high-quality competition.
Sponsorship spending on women’s teams grew over 25% year-on-year, outpacing men’s sports in relative growth.
Viewership records are being shattered: the 2023 Women’s World Cup drew over two billion viewers worldwide, and college women’s basketball games in the U.S. reached peak audiences rivaling the men’s finals.

Investors like Ohanian see this as a natural evolution — not a passing trend. “This isn’t about diversity optics anymore,” he said. “It’s about dollars and data. The returns are real.”
He likens it to the early days of the tech boom, when visionary investors backed companies that others ignored. “In tech, we bet on ideas before the market caught up. In women’s sports, the market is catching up fast — faster than anyone predicted.”

How Tech Thinking Transformed Women’s Sports
Ohanian brings a Silicon Valley mindset to the sports world: scalability, branding, and storytelling. He emphasizes that women’s sports are positioned perfectly for the content-driven digital economy, where engagement and authenticity outperform legacy marketing.
“The athletes themselves are brands,” he noted. “They create viral content, inspire communities, and represent values younger audiences deeply care about — equality, empowerment, and inclusion.”
This is why sponsors are increasingly prioritizing women’s sports. Brands are recognizing that partnerships with female athletes lead to higher engagement and better brand sentiment — especially among Gen Z consumers who expect authenticity and purpose.
“Just like in startups,” Ohanian added, “you’re investing in the founders — in this case, the athletes. They’re the builders, the innovators, the faces of a new movement.”

The Cultural Shift: Fans, Media, and Momentum
Another key factor driving this surge is cultural momentum. For years, fans of women’s sports were underserved — wanting content, merchandise, and representation but finding little available. The new generation of leagues and investors are filling that void.
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have also amplified visibility. Female athletes are now storytellers, using social media to build direct relationships with millions of fans — bypassing traditional gatekeepers.
This democratization of fame has redefined what success looks like. “The athletes don’t need permission anymore,” Ohanian said. “They don’t need to wait for TV networks to notice them. The fans are already here — and they’re loyal.”
The result? A global movement where fans feel personally invested in the rise of women’s sports, buying merchandise, supporting sponsors, and spreading the word organically.

A New Investment Class
Ohanian’s venture fund, Seven Seven Six, has invested heavily in sports, media, and community-driven startups. He believes women’s sports will be a multi-billion-dollar industry within the decade.
He calls it “the most undervalued asset class in entertainment.”
While tech continues to dominate venture capital, Ohanian sees women’s sports as the next frontier — combining athletic excellence with scalable brand opportunities and digital storytelling.
“Every data point we have — from viewership to engagement to revenue — is trending upward,” he said. “If this were a startup graph, everyone in Silicon Valley would be fighting to invest.”

Beyond Profit: A Movement for Equity
Though he speaks in business terms, Ohanian’s mission goes beyond profits. As a father to Olympia Ohanian, the daughter he shares with tennis legend Serena Williams, he’s vocal about building a world where young girls grow up seeing women athletes celebrated as equals.
“This is personal,” he said. “I want my daughter to grow up in a world where women in sports are not exceptions — they’re the standard.”
He adds that this vision requires long-term commitment from investors, media, and fans alike. “If we treat women’s sports with the same seriousness and storytelling power as men’s, the returns — financially and culturally — will be enormous.”

The Future of Women’s Sports Is Now
The momentum shows no signs of slowing down. New women’s leagues are launching across continents. Global brands are signing long-term partnerships. And investors are increasingly treating women’s sports as a core part of their portfolios, not a side project.
Ohanian believes the next decade will mark the mainstream era of women’s sports, much like the early 2000s did for social media and tech startups.
“We’re still early,” he said. “That’s the exciting part. If you believe in innovation, if you believe in growth, this is where the next great stories will be written.”

Conclusion: The New Face of Growth
Alexis Ohanian’s insight captures a transformative truth: what’s happening in women’s sports today mirrors the kind of disruption and exponential scaling once seen only in tech. The passion is there. The business case is undeniable. And the global audience is ready.
“Ten years from now,” Ohanian predicted, “we’ll look back and realize this wasn’t just a movement for equality — it was one of the greatest growth stories of our time.”

In other words, the future of business isn’t just digital — it’s diverse, inclusive, and powered by women who are redefining what success looks like. And for Ohanian, that’s not just inspiring — it’s the smartest investment on the planet.