Canada: Interest in women's sports rises despite accessibility gaps

A new report commissioned by Canadian Women and Sport reveals that 75 per cent of Canadians now identify as fans of women's sports, an increase from 67 per cent two years ago. However, the study indicates that supply is failing to meet this growing demand.

Key findings show that 62 per cent of surveyed fans struggle to locate professional women's league games or related online content. There is also a notable perception gap regarding media coverage; while respondents estimated women's sports receive 30 per cent of coverage, the study found actual representation on traditional channels ranges between nine and 21 per cent.

Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) player Zoe Boyd noted the increasing visibility of the sport, highlighting the expansion of the league and the opportunity for players to be featured on major broadcasts like the CBC.