As women’s sports continue to set new records for attendance and viewers, global sports editor Ricardo Zniga explains that AP is doubling coverage for its biggest industry-leading stories, teams, stars and leagues.
Please explain the AP’s coverage of women’s sports. What should audiences know about what we have and how to do it?
The Associated Press has a long-standing commitment to women’s sports, highlighted by reports from the WNBA, women’s college basketball and top 25 polls. Over the past few years, we have expanded its strong foundation with significant investments to add regular coverage of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), National Women’s Football League (NWSL), and other sports, and have surpassed game coverage with deep storytelling in all forms.
This has enabled a wide range of storytelling opportunities that are very unique to the AP. I call a couple:
Why is it important for APs to invest in covering these stories?
For some time, viewers have been sought for wider and deeper coverage of women’s sports – and the AP has been at the forefront of the drive to deliver it. We witnessed an increase in popularity of women’s NCAA tournaments and WNBA’s popular meteors. There is a record-breaking attendance and ratings, as well as a steady rise in women’s soccer, golf and tennis. Most of the biggest names at the 2024 summer competition in Paris were women. Simone Biles, Coco Gouf, Shakari Richardson and Katie Ledecky. Still, we know that coverage of women’s sports is lagging behind that of men across the media industry. The AP is uniquely located to help fill that gap. Our coverage goes beyond the game and aims to enhance the storyline and bring to the widest possible audience, not just the news and challenges women face in sports.
Can customers and audiences expect the AP to deliver in the coming months?
Our coverage of this month’s Women’s NCAA Tournament will continue to grow with more dedicated resources. It also provides extensive coverage of the European Women’s Football Championships held in Switzerland this summer, with multiple reporters and photographers across the country, as well as full coverage of the Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon. We continue to record the growth of the PWHL and NWSL, and are gearing up for some of the winter 2026 games that will profile women who will become Milan Cortina’s biggest names.
Is there anything else I’d like to add?
I am pleased to have created a sports internship this year focused on women’s sports. This is a position that provides a unique opportunity for early career journalists to report some of the biggest news and stories about women’s sports.
Check out our slideshow featuring some of the top AP images of Women’s Sports.
US Simone Biles will compete on a balance beam in the Women’s Art Gymnastics Qualification Round at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France on July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
US Coco Gauff will return a shot to Croatian Donna Vekic in the third round of women’s singles at Roland Garros Stadium on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Won)
US Sha’carri Richardson will compete in the women’s 100 metre semifinals at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Saturday, August 3, 2024 in San Dennis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Katie Ledecky of the United States will compete in the 800m freestyle women’s final during the Paris 2024 Olympics held at La Defense Arena in Paris (France) on August 3, 2024.
File – Indiana Fever Guard Kate Rinklerk (22) will drive Seattle storm guard Nikamoor defends the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Seattle on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File)
Lindsey vonn (USA) will take part in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2024/25 on January 18, 2025 on the Olympia del del Tofan slope in Cortina Dalpezzo, Italy.
