WNFC 2025 IX Cup: ESPN2 Most-Watched Show of the Day

The 2025 WNFC IX Cup Championship Game, broadcast live from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, drew 150,000 viewers on ESPN2, making it the network’s most-watched program of the day. For a league that’s grown from grassroots beginnings into a national force, the moment was more than a broadcast milestone. It was validation.

The broadcast, which aired from 3:00 PM to 6:28 PM ET, outperformed every other show on ESPN2 that day.

“We wanted the world to witness the athleticism, intensity, and excitement of women’s tackle football at its highest level, and the IX Cup delivered. For the hundreds of thousands of viewers tuning in on ESPN2, the WNFC proved that women's football doesn’t just belong on the national stage, it can captivate it,” said WNFC CEO Odessa Jenkins. 

A Strong Showing on a Saturday Afternoon

Airing in the mid-afternoon, on the first day of summer, the IX Cup held its own and then some.

To put the debut numbers in context:

• The 2019 NWSL Championship final on ESPN2 peaked at 148,000 viewers.

• Ultimate Frisbee’s ESPN2 debut drew 150,000 viewers.

• A debut match featuring Wrexham vs. Blyth Spartans on ESPN2 attracted 103,000 viewers.

• Recent USL (United Soccer League) matches on ESPN2 have averaged 50,000–70,000 viewers.

In a landscape where emerging sports typically struggle to reach six figures on cable, the WNFC's performance was a clear standout.

More Than a Game

The WNFC didn’t just host a football game, it put on a show. A pregame performance by rapper and TV host Justina Valentine, an energetic halftime performance by Bow Wow, and on-field interviews by Jennifer King (Chicago Bears) brought a full entertainment lens to the afternoon. But the football? That’s what held the audience.

In a championship battle between the Texas Elite Spartans and Washington Prodigy that came down to the final drive, two of the top teams in the nation clashed with intensity, skill, and emotion, capturing hearts and converting skeptics.

On air, Maria Trivelpiece and Kyle Youmans made the calls, while brand partners like adidas, Dove, Riddell Sports, and Glenhouse all ran commercial spots during the broadcast, further proof that major brands see the WNFC not just as a women’s sports league, but as a media property worth investing in.

… the IX Cup was a full-scale production, showcasing not only athletic excellence but the emerging power of women’s sports entertainment.

Next Stop: Bigger Stages

With rising attendance, high-level partnerships, and now national TV viewership to match, the IX Cup solidified the WNFC’s place as the premier destination for women’s football.

“This is just the beginning,” Jenkins said. “We’re building a movement, and now the world is watching.”

Stay tuned to WNFCFootball.com and follow @WNFCFootball on social media for full-season highlights, behind-the-scenes stories from IX Cup weekend, and early updates on the 2026 season.