Soccer-With new TV deal, brands see value in women's league deals

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Manchester City v Chelsea - Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 21, 2021 Chelsea's Ann-Katrin Berger in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - England's Women's Super League (WSL) kicks off its new season this weekend and, with a major new broadcast deal and a host of international players, there are a series of new sponsorships as brands look to get in on the growth of the women's game.

The new three-year broadcast deal, reported to be worth eight million pounds ($11.07 million) per season, will see WSL games broadcast live on subscription platform Sky Sports and by the free-to-air BBC, which the league hopes will boost ratings and the popularity of the WSL, whose title sponsor is Barclays.