Rival: The First Sportsbook Built for Women’s Sports

In a sports landscape where women’s leagues are finally getting the spotlight. Rival is stepping in with a bold statement: a sportsbook engineered exclusively for women’s sports. Set to launch in regulated U.S. markets by 2026, Rival is positioning itself at the intersection of fandom, equity, and emerging sports tech opportunity.

Where Rival Is Headed

Rival plans to roll out first in Colorado, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a roadmap to expand into every U.S. state where sports betting is legal. The goal is clear: bring dedicated women’s sports betting to markets hungry for innovation and underserved by traditional operators.

What Fans Can Bet On

Unlike legacy sportsbooks where women’s sports often get buried behind dozens of men’s leagues, Rival flips the script. The platform is expected to feature:

  • NWSL

  • WNBA

  • NCAA women’s basketball

  • WSL

  • WTA

  • …and additional global women’s competitions as demand scales.

This is designed to create a purpose-built home for women’s sports bettors, not just another tab on a crowded app.

The Team Behind the Vision

Rival is co-founded by:

  • Kelly DiPaola – creative strategist and producer

  • Jodie Taylor – former England Lioness & current Arsenal executive

Together, they’re building a platform rooted in authentic representation of the athletes, leagues, and fans that drive the women’s sports movement forward.

The Competitive Landscape

Rival may be the first exclusive women’s sports sportsbook but it’s entering a market already shifting fast.

Major Operators Are Paying Attention

FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Fanatics still control most of the U.S. betting economy. And with the explosion of interest in women’s sports, these platforms are rapidly expanding their offerings.

League Partnerships Are Growing

Big sportsbooks are already partnering directly with women’s leagues:

  • FanDuel → Official sportsbook partner of the PWHL

  • Fanatics → Partnered with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit

These partnerships signal that women’s sports aren’t just “added value” anymore; they’re becoming core business drivers.

The Caitlin Clark Effect

Record-breaking engagement around women’s basketball—powered by stars like Caitlin Clark has produced unprecedented betting volume on existing platforms. This surge is reshaping how sportsbooks think about product, marketing, and audience development.

Rival’s Differentiator: Building Community, Not Just Odds

Where traditional sportsbooks bolt women’s sports onto their platforms, Rival is designing a community-first ecosystem from day one. That means:

  • A dedicated space for fans who want more than surface-level coverage

  • Data and markets built around women’s sports storytelling

  • A cultural hub that treats women’s sports as the main event, not an afterthought

For the women’s sports industry and for the broader sports tech community. Rival represents a new kind of opportunity: a platform built to grow with the moment, not just capitalize on it.