How can the UEFA Women's Champions League continue to grow? - ESPN

At the start of 2024, ESPN's Gab Marcotti laid out his wishes for the year, a belated Christmas list that could help common sense prevail in football governance. Among Gab's wishes were that the UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) be given a bigger platform to help the game grow, while noting the incoming format change that arrives in 2025-26. To achieve this, the two burning questions are: 1) Is there any love from the wider football community for UEFA's premier club competition and 2) Will the reformat help?

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As it stands, the lion's share of Champions League rights from the group stage onward are owned by DAZN, which broadcasts all games on YouTube and offers commentary in a range of different languages (including English and the official languages of the two teams). The matches are all there, accessible to those with an internet connection, but it isn't a normal television broadcaster that shouts from the rooftops about its women's football content. Indeed, if you're a fan of women's football, you will likely have found your way to DAZN already, as it also holds the rights to multiple domestic leagues around the world, broadcasting selected games on its YouTube channel (with some geo-restrictions).

Those who expect a traditional broadcast — or, more specifically, a traditional sports channel — won't find any games when flicking through their TV listings. But it does mean that, for most, the UWCL is free to air and doesn't require a subscription, which is a great way to grow the game.

Turning to the competition itself, the UWCL does little to address the imbalances across women's football, but it can provide respite and escapism from polarised domestic leagues.