Women's Elite Rugby (WER)
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is the first professional women's rugby league in the United States, operating six teams and 180 athletes under a single-entity model, and monetizing via tickets, sponsorships, merchandise, and broadcast licensing through the Women's Sports Network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersIndianapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Women's Elite Rugby (WER) does
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is the first professional women's rugby league in the United States, founded in April 2024 and launching its inaugural season in March 2025 with six teams — Bay Breakers, Boston Banshees, Chicago Tempest, Denver Onyx, New York Exiles, and TC Gemini — and 180 athletes competing across a 10-week regular season culminating in the Legacy Cup championship. The league operates a single-entity ownership model through Women's Elite Rugby LLC and six market-specific subsidiary LLCs, centralizing team operations, player development, and commercial functions to enable uniform standards and operational efficiency. Its products span the live match competition, the Legacy Cup championship property, season passes and individual game tickets sold through the Universe platform, a custom made-to-order merchandise store, and free ad-supported broadcast streaming delivered via an exclusive partnership with the Women's Sports Network across more than 10 major CTV platforms including Roku, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, and Pluto TV.
WER monetizes through a diversified mix of one-time ticket sales, recurring sponsorship arrangements (local, regional, and league-wide), merchandise transactions, broadcast content licensing, and private investment. Distribution relies on direct-to-consumer ticketing, free CTV streaming for reach, and social/email/community channels for fan engagement, supplemented by grassroots youth clinics and player appearances. The league has raised approximately $5.6M cumulatively across 2024-2026 funding rounds led by Deb Henretta, with a Series A raise opened in March 2026 to fund Season 2 and team expansion from six to a planned six-to-eight teams. Strategically, WER is positioning ahead of the 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup hosting in the US, with reported viewership of 10,000+ per broadcast across 80 countries and a record 2,779 fans at the Denver Onyx home opener as early engagement indicators.
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Women's Elite Rugby (WER)
- Legal name
- Women's Elite Rugby LLC
- Website
- https://womenseliterugby.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is the first professional women's rugby league in the United States, operating six teams and 180 athletes under a single-entity model, and monetizing via tickets, sponsorships, merchandise, and broadcast licensing through the Women's Sports Network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Sports League
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rugby (Union & League) Leagues (MPAKAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Team Sports Clubs (Football/Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, etc.) (MPAKABAA), Professional Live Sports Leagues & Tours (MPAGAMAA)
Keywords
Where Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Indianapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Direct-to-consumer ticket sales for regular season matches and championship games through Universe ticketing platform. Season passes available for all six teams.
- Sponsorships: Local and regional brand partnerships managed through VP of Business Development roles in each market, plus league-wide sponsor deals.
- Merchandise: Custom, made-to-order merchandise including team hoodies, tees, sweatshirts, and hats sold through the WER merchandise store.
- Broadcast Rights: Exclusive content licensing deal with Women's Sports Network for live and delayed match coverage across major streaming platforms.
- Private Investment: Funding from private investors including pop star Meghan Trainor and venture firms like Goddess Gaia Ventures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Season Passes available for all six teams |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual game tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise items |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Women's Elite Rugby operates the first professional women's rugby league in the United States, a single-entity competition with six market-based teams and 180 athletes playing a 10-week regular season that culminates in the Legacy Cup championship. The league generates revenue through season and individual match ticket sales, a custom made-to-order merchandise store, an exclusive free ad-supported broadcast deal with the Women's Sports Network, and league-wide and local sponsorship partnerships. Supporting offerings include the player declaration/recruitment process and per-market team websites.
Product overview
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is a single-entity professional women's rugby league operating as a unified platform with multiple product offerings. The core product is the semi-professional rugby league featuring six teams (Bay Breakers, Boston Banshees, Chicago Tempest, Denver Onyx, New York Exiles, TC Gemini) competing across the United States. Supporting products include live match streaming via the Women's Sports Network broadcast partnership, ticket sales through season passes and individual game purchases, an official merchandise store, and the annual Legacy Cup championship. Additional offerings include a player declaration/recruitment system for athlete onboarding and team-specific websites.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Women's Elite Rugby League Season The first professional women's rugby league in the United States, a single-entity semi-professional competition with six market-based teams and approximately 180 athletes playing a 10-week regular season (5 home, 5 away) culminating in the Legacy Cup championship.
- Season Passes and Match Tickets Season ticket packages and individual game tickets for all six WER teams (Bay Breakers, Boston Banshees, Chicago Tempest, Denver Onyx, New York Exiles, TC Gemini), sold through the Universe ticketing platform for fans in each market.
- WER Merchandise Store Official e-commerce merchandise store offering custom made-to-order team hoodies, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for all WER teams; ships within the US with 3–4 week processing time.
- WER Streaming Broadcast on Women's Sports Network Free, ad-supported live and delayed match coverage of WER matches via The Women's Sports Network (WSN) across Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, VIZIO WatchFree+, LG Channels, Fubo, Plex, and My Free DirecTV; reaches 80 countries with 10,000+ viewers per broadcast.
- Legacy Cup Championship End-of-season championship competition where the top teams from the regular season compete for the Legacy Cup trophy (designed by Colorado landscape designer and former rugby player Amy Root), including the championship final match.
- Player Declaration Process Online athlete recruitment and selection system where prospective players submit declaration materials (player survey, match film links, and highlight reels) for team consideration.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 10,000 viewers per broadcast across 80 countries with average watch times of 70+ minutes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Women's Elite Rugby (WER)
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Women's Sports Network (WSN)coreExclusive content licensing deal making WSN 'The Home of WER' for 2026 season. WSN delivers live and delayed match coverage on its free, ad-supported channel available across major streaming platforms including Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, VIZIO, LG, Fubo, Plex and DirecTV.
- DAZNminorStreaming partner for Bay Breakers home games in 2025 season. Due to unforeseen venue challenges, Bay Breakers home games were not available for live stream on DAZN in 2025.
- Teresa PalladinominorSenior marketing executive with experience at Red Bull, Grand Slam Track, and ONE Championship. Member of WER's Commercial Advisory Council.
- Liz AndersonminorEntertainment and sports marketing leader with 20 years experience at Netflix, Disney/ABC. Member of WER's Commercial Advisory Council.
- Stacy JolnaminorC-suite media innovator with experience at TiVo, News Corp. Member of WER's Commercial Advisory Council.
- Rob CandelinominorConsumer Products executive, former CEO of PetSafe Brands, former Unilever executive. Member of WER's Commercial Advisory Council.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Premier Lacrosse League (PLL): A single-entity professional lacrosse league in the US with tour-based and city-based formats. Highly comparable as a US professional team sports league using single-entity architecture, free streaming distribution, and grassroots community development - similar stage and scale as WER.
- Athletes Unlimited: A women-led sports venture operating multiple league formats (rugby, lacrosse, volleyball, basketball) with player-centric and single-entity structures. Direct competitor in the women's rugby space (Athletes Unlimited Rugby launched in 2023) and similar early-stage professional women's league operator with comparable broadcast and sponsorship models.
- Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL): A single-entity professional women's ice hockey league launched in 2024 with 6 teams across North America. Directly comparable single-entity structure, team count, launch timing, viewership model, and women's professional sports league economics; useful benchmark for Season 2-3 commercial trajectory.
- Major League Rugby (MLR): The men's professional rugby league in North America with 12 teams (US and Canada). Closest direct peer in terms of sport-specific category, target sponsors, and broadcast dynamics, though men's league at larger scale - useful benchmark for rugby-specific sponsorship pricing and venue economics in the US.
Broad incumbents
- National Women's Soccer League (NWSL): The top professional women's soccer league in the US, operating 14 teams with a single-entity-adjacent structure. Highly comparable as a US-based women's professional sports league with similar broadcast, sponsorship, and ticketing dynamics, but in a more established and mainstream sport.
- Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA): The dominant US women's professional sports league with 12 teams, generating record viewership and valuations in 2024-2025. Comparable as a professional women's team sports league with centralized structure and growing media rights value, though operating at far greater scale in a mainstream sport.
Emerging players
- USL W League: A pre-professional women's soccer league operated by United Soccer League as a development pathway to NWSL. Comparable as an emerging women's team sports league with similar player development and community outreach focus, though positioned below the top-tier professional league in its sport.
Others
- Women’s Sports Network (WSN): The free, ad-supported streaming network that holds WER's exclusive broadcast rights. Not a peer but an ecosystem enabler - the distribution platform is critical to WER's reach (80 countries, 10K+ per broadcast) and represents both a partnership opportunity and a competitive dependency for the league.
- Goddess Gaia Ventures: An early-stage venture firm focused on women's sports and women's health investments. Sits on WER's board (Priya Oberoi) and co-invested in the Series A - useful comparator for women's sports investment thesis and capital partner profile.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) social profiles
Digital presenceWomen's Elite Rugby (WER) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Women's Elite Rugby (WER)
What does Women's Elite Rugby (WER) do?
Women's Elite Rugby operates the first professional women's rugby league in the United States, a single-entity competition with six market-based teams and 180 athletes playing a 10-week regular season that culminates in the Legacy Cup championship. The league generates revenue through season and individual match ticket sales, a custom made-to-order merchandise store, an exclusive free ad-supported broadcast deal with the Women's Sports Network, and league-wide and local sponsorship partnerships. Supporting offerings include the player declaration/recruitment process and per-market team websites.
Is Women's Elite Rugby (WER) a public or private company?
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Women's Elite Rugby (WER) founded?
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Women's Elite Rugby (WER) based?
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is headquartered in Indianapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Women's Elite Rugby (WER) make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships, merchandise, broadcast Rights and private Investment.
Who are Women's Elite Rugby (WER)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), Athletes Unlimited, Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and Major League Rugby (MLR). Broad incumbents are National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). USL W League is listed as an emerging player. Others are Women’s Sports Network (WSN) and Goddess Gaia Ventures.
Does Women's Elite Rugby (WER) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Women's Elite Rugby (WER).
What industry is Women's Elite Rugby (WER) in?
Women's Elite Rugby (WER)'s product category is Professional Sports League. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAAAG, Rugby (Union & League) Leagues, with a secondary code of MPAKABAA, Team Sports Clubs (Football/Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Rugby, Cricket, etc.). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7990.