Sky Sports will show 12 matches from the Kia Super League this summer as part of a huge line-up of women's sport in 2018.
Wednesday 18 July 2018 13:31, UK
Sky Sports will show 12 matches from the Kia Super League this summer as part of a huge line-up of women's sport in 2018.
Sky Sports' KSL coverage - which kicks off on Sunday, July 22, at 2pm with defending champions Western Storm against Yorkshire Diamonds, and concludes with Finals Day at Hove on Monday, August 27 - will see almost double the amount of games broadcast from the 2017 competition.
The matches come in the wake of Sky Sports' live coverage of England Women's ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa, as well as a T20 tri-series featuring all three sides.
Viewing figures for women's sport reached a record high for Sky Sports in 2017, which saw more people tune in to watch women's cricket, netball, rugby and golf than ever before.
Viewing was up 23 per cent, with the Women's Cricket World Cup final at Lord's - in which England defeated India by nine runs - being Sky's most-watched women's sporting event ever, with a peak audience of over 1.1m viewers.
Bryan Henderson, Head of Sky Sports Cricket, said: "Last year felt like a watershed moment for women's sport, with my undoubted highlight being the moment England's women clinched the World Cup at Lord's.
"At Sky Sports, we're proud of the contribution we've made to growing women's sport, and we're determined to continue that in 2018. We have an incredible line-up, across a range of sports, with cricket a huge part of the schedule again. We can't wait to get started."
Clare Connor, ECB Director of England Women's Cricket, said "We are proud to continue working with Sky as we strive to raise the profile of women's cricket off the back of an amazing 12 months, culminating in that unforgettable day at Lord's.
"With two home international series on Sky this summer along with standalone Kia Super League games being broadcast for the first time, we are seeing the game continue to go from strength to strength."
Live women's cricket fixtures on Sky:
KIA SUPER LEAGUE
Sunday, July 22
Western Storm v Yorkshire Diamonds (Taunton)
Wednesday, July 25
Southern Vipers v Loughborough Lightning (Ageas Bowl)
Friday, July 27
Yorkshire Diamonds v Lancashire Thunder (Headingley)
Sunday, July 29
Western Storm v Loughborough Lightning (Taunton)
Tuesday, July 31
Surrey Stars v Lancashire Thunder (Oval)
Tuesday, August 7
Lancashire Thunder v Surrey Stars (Old Trafford)
Wednesday, August 8
Southern Vipers v Yorkshire Diamonds (Ageas Bowl)
Tuesday, August 14
Southern Vipers v Surrey Stars (Hove)
Wednesday, August 15
Loughborough Lightning v Western Storm (Edgbaston)
Saturday, August 18
TBC
Monday, August 27
Kia Super League Finals Day (Hove)