A year when women’s sports surged

Bangladesh's promise amid global momentum

While women's sport surged globally in 2025, Bangladesh also found moments that pointed toward a more promising future. Despite limited preparation, Nigar Sultana Joty and her teammates showed resilience and growth in a year that tested both resources and resolve.

The Joty-led Tigresses could not better their record of winning more than a solitary match at an ODI World Cup, but their performances at the 2025 edition, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September to November, offered signs of steady progress. Bangladesh began their campaign with a thumping victory over Pakistan and went on to push South Africa, England and Sri Lanka into narrow wins.

The match against Sri Lanka proved particularly agonising. Chasing 203, Bangladesh fell just seven runs short after losing their final five wickets in the space of six deliveries for a single run, a late collapse that turned what could have been a landmark victory into a painful near miss. Still, the Tigresses earned credit for competing fiercely against higher-ranked sides despite a patched-up preparation phase that saw them play age-level boys' teams due to the Bangladesh Cricket Board's inability to arrange international warm-up matches.

Away from cricket, Bangladesh's women footballers carved out a historic year of their own. Despite a fallout between some senior players and the coach, the team achieved a first-ever qualification for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Victories over hosts Myanmar, Bahrain and Turkmenistan saw Bangladesh top their qualification group, including emphatic 7-0 wins against Bahrain and Turkmenistan and a memorable 2-1 win over higher-ranked Myanmar.

That commanding run propelled Bangladesh from 128th to 104th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, making them the biggest climbers in early August and underlining a breakthrough year for the women's game at home.

India's long-awaited moment on the world stage

At the global level, cricket delivered one of the year's defining moments as India lifted their maiden Women's Cricket World Cup. The triumph sparked nationwide celebrations, with the streets of Mumbai turning into a carnival as fireworks lit up the sky, horns blared, and crowds danced late into the night.

Across the country, fans gathered around television screens in tea stalls and living rooms, marking what felt like a cultural milestone. The victory also saw the brand value of India's top women cricketers soar, reflecting how success on the field translated into wider recognition and visibility.

Football breaks barriers across Europe

Women's football continued its upward trajectory in 2025, highlighted by a European Championship in Switzerland that reached new peaks. Ticket sales eclipsed those of the 2022 tournament even before the final matches were played, signalling growing demand and interest.

Hosts Switzerland captured attention with a dream run to their first-ever quarterfinal, igniting enthusiasm in a country better known for producing elite skiers and tennis players. After their exit against Spain, coach Pia Sundhage captured the broader impact of the moment, saying: "We lost the game, but I think we gained a lot. When people shouted my name, I feel they were shouting for women's football."

Off the pitch, Arsenal shattered the women's transfer record by signing Canadian forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool for one million pounds, making her the first female footballer to cross the seven-figure barrier.

Record crowds redefine what is possible

Attendance records fell dramatically in 2025, most notably at the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. More than 440,000 tickets were sold -- three times the number from the 2021 edition -- culminating in a final at Twickenham watched by 81,885 fans, the largest crowd ever for a women's rugby match.

More than half of the spectators were female, with 50 percent attending their first women's rugby match. The tournament also generated a peak UK television audience of 5.8 million.

WNBA and new leagues carry the momentum forward

The WNBA closed the year with further signs of expansion and influence. The league grew to 13 teams with plans to reach 15 teams in 2026 and 18 by 2030.

A'ja Wilson delivered a dominant season, becoming the first four-time WNBA MVP while also winning her third defensive player of the year award, Finals MVP and leading the Las Vegas Aces to their third title in four seasons. Her season was capped by a Time Magazine cover and a Nike campaign that underscored her impact.

Beyond the WNBA, 2025 saw the launch of several new leagues, including the Unrivaled 3x3 women's basketball league, the Women's Professional Baseball League, League One Volleyball and Canada's Northern Super League. Together, they reflected a year in which women's sport not only reached new heights, but expanded its footprint, visibility and future potential.