David Stotlar has made an impact around the globe as a sports business educator, author, researcher and adviser.

Women’s sports in Las Vegas are no longer sidelined. They’re part of a growing business that is attracting new teams, new investment, new fans and new players. We look at the growth of women’s sports and how it’s becoming big business.

In 39 days spanning the months of June and July 2026, big-screen broadcasts, sights of colorful jerseys, and sounds of cheerful fans were nearly impossible to miss in Las Vegas. 

With the Vegas Golden Knights set to open the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, the series is already being felt far beyond the ice. Southern Nevada businesses and workers are poised to benefit from a surge in sports-driven spending.

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) keep breaking attendance records – by a lot. Eight new professional leagues have launched since 2020, including softball, volleyball, and lacrosse. The optimism around women’s pro sports is so high that accounting firm Deloitte predicts the global women’s sports industry will surpass $3 billion in revenues this year – an increase of 340% since 2022. By all accounts, it’s not a fluke or a fad. And that’s largely because of one key reason: venture capitalists are pouring money into the burgeoning business of women’s sports for the long haul. Notably, many of them are women investors with decades of experience and capital to spend.

Las Vegas is set to host another Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, with the NFL naming the city the site of Super Bowl 63 in 2029 — a return that comes on a relatively short timeline by Super Bowl standards.

Nevada’s top betting operators have another sporting event to look forward to. WrestleMania 41 is expected to bring in $215 million for the Las Vegas economy, as it draws attention to Las Vegas' growing status as a world-class international sports and entertainment capital.

WrestleMania 41 is set to make a significant economic impact on Las Vegas, although it may not reach the heights of the Las Vegas Grand Prix or the Super Bowl.