If the US WNT team was playing on TV vs. the Victoria Secret Bikini Powder puff mud tackle football game I could guarantee you the latter would win in a TV ratings by a landslide. Nobody is interested in seeing Lloyd, klingberg, Wombach and rapinoe. They are interested in Pugh, Leroux, Morgan and Press.
I really disagree with this part of your comment.
I enjoy watching soccer in general. However, I really enjoy watching good women's soccer as compared to other women's sports. I think the level of competitive fire and skill that has been developed in women's soccer really makes for good viewing. In some technical ways I also think that the best women in the US are playing BETTER soccer than the men. More connections, more passing back and switching the field to take advantage of numbers, more creativity in the attack, more use of the goal keeper as a field player. There is a lot to be said for the quality of their play and seeing raw ratings as high as we have seen is significant.
However, I think there is an even more important factor that will continue to increase the popularity in the women's game. Young girls playing soccer now have the ability to watch their idols play the sport they love at the highest level of the game, on tv and in person, and they are WOMEN! My daughter doesn't have to watch men playing the game to see perfect examples of technique and willpower. She has tons of examples of phenomenal female players that are getting publicity and being hailed as excellent athletes.
The more that these top women are showcased and our young girls are able to see that, then the more the growth will feed on itself. Softball, volleyball, even basketball haven't seen that kind of stardom and focus on the women's side. I don't ever remember being able to sit in a bar and have hundreds of people cheering for a women's sporting event quite the way we've seen for women's soccer in the last few years. Possibly for some Olympic events, but even then I'm not sure.
And it has crossed over to some folks that don't really even follow soccer. The success of the women's national team has put soccer on the radar screen for many parents that might not have considered soccer as an option for their daughters. This will only grow the momentum.
I know Ronaldo's looks have helped his marketability. I'm sure Hope Solo's looks help her too. However, I know a ton of people that are interested in watching both men and women play good soccer. It's the good soccer part that attracts the viewers. If they are playing the game at the highest level, then I don't think their looks will matter that much. Messi isn't the best looking kid around, but a ton of people want to see him play because he is incredible.
As long as our top women continue playing excellent soccer and doing well on the international scene, it will help feed the dreams of DD's around the nation - that will only grow the sport and its ratings.
