Washington, D.C. Officially Ranked One Of The Top-5 Best Cities For Women’s Sports In The Nation

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There’s no denying that women’s sports have been on a historical push over the past few years, and with that has come increased investment and more public interest in women’s professional sports than ever before!

Now, a recent study sought to rank the best cities for professional women’s sports in the nation and did so by measuring a long list of variables!

Where did Washington, D.C. rank among the top-5 best cities for women’s sports in America?

When it came to determining the best markets around the nation for women’s pro sports, there were a few key variables that the study focused on:

• Attendance
• Venue quality
• Patricipation rates
• Collegiate output
• Growth trends

So.. given all this.. where did the District rank?

Overall, Washington, D.C. managed to rank the #5 best city for women’s sports in the nation!

What makes D.C. a great city for women’s sports?

According to the study, the two standout teams in the District were the Mystics (WNBA) and the Spirit (NWSL), both of which have strong community support and have been competitive over the years (The Washington Spirit were in the NWSL finals just this past season, but unfortunately came just shy of a championship).

Additionally, the District’s youth involvement rates in girls’ athletics suggest lots of runway for long-term growth potential, signaling that home-game attendance and overall local support are likely to increase.

What cities made up the top-10 best markets for women’s sports?

The study ranked the following cities as the best cities for women’s sports, suggesting not only active, loyal fanbases now, but also a high probability of further growth moving forward.

Here’s how the top-10 cities rank with their corresponding Women’s Sports Index score determined by the study:

1. Los Angeles – 61.71
2. New York City – 54.03
3. Indianapolis – 45.19
4. Chicago – 41.88
5. Washington, D.C. – 41.46
6. Portland – 39.49
7. Seattle – 39.14
8. Minneapolis – 35.89
9. Kansas City – 34.39
10. San Diego – 33.07

What was this study’s methodology?

The study measured the 50 most populous cities in America across five areas, each of which consisted of several measured variables that we weighted to create a potential Women’s Sports Index score out of 100:

• Professional presence
  • Pro teams count – 15%
  • Pro average attendance – 10%
  • Pro championships (last 10 years) – 7%
  • Average venue rating – 5%
• College output
  • NCAA championship appearances (last 10 years) – 10%
  • NCAA championship wins (last 10 years) – 5%
  • College women’s basketball average attendance – 5%
• Participation/pipeline
  • High school girls’ sports per 1,000 population – 7%
  • Youth registration (girls 6-17) – 5%
  • Girls’ share of total participation – 3%
• Fan demand
  • Attendance growth (last 2 years) – 7%
  • Ticket demand – 7%
  • Women’s sports search volume – 6%
• Media/Buzz
  • News coverage count – 4%
  • Social mentions (last 3 years) – 4%