iHeart’s Growing Investment In Women’s Sports Sees Payoff in Listeners, Downloads.

To mark the one-year anniversary of iHeart Women’s Sports, there might be cake — but there is certainly a new podcast. The network says 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion and Most Outstanding Player Azzi Fudd will join the network with the launch of her own podcast, Fudd Around And Find Out. Fudd’s show launches today (July 18) as part of the iHeart Women’s Sports coverage of the WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. The network’s celebration of women’s sports will include content sessions, live podcast tapings, and an industry afterparty co-hosted by New York City restaurant Sei Less. 

Fudd, one of the most electrifying talents in women’s college basketball, has teamed with Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton’s Unanimous Media to produce her podcast alongside iHeart. The series will feature Fudd’s life off the court, where she lives at the intersection of sports, media, business and culture. Fudd, who is currently finishing up her time at the University of Connecticut by earning her MBA, aims to inspire listeners and provide a platform for underrepresented voices in sports on her podcast.

“This podcast is a space where I can bring my full self — athlete, storyteller, budding entrepreneur and fan of the game — and highlight the voices that deserve to be heard,” Fudd says. “Whether we’re talking hoops, culture, business or life beyond the court, I want every episode to feel real and empowering.”

Peyton and Curry call Fudd “a game-changer — on and off the court” and say in a joint statement that the podcast brings her charisma, authenticity and fearless spirit to the mic. 

“We’ve watched her grow into not just a champion, but a powerful voice for the next generation,” said Peyton and Curry. “We’re excited to help Azzi, one of the most exciting athletes in the game, share stories that matter and continue building spaces where women’s sports and athletes get the spotlight they deserve.”

Women’s Sports Audience Grows

Launched in 2024 as a partnership between iHeartMedia and Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, iHeart Women’s Sports has already made a significant impact in the women’s sports media landscape. In just one year, iHeart has raised women’s sports coverage from less than 1% in 2024 to more than 34% in 2025. That includes reaching 89 million monthly listeners across nearly 500 broadcast iHeart-owned radio stations.

On the podcast front, as women’s sports viewership continues to rise, iHeartMedia has pledged to support ensuring fair representation in media. That has meant that 50% of all newly produced sports podcasts are focused on women’s sports coverage. It’s something listeners are demanding. In the past year, 80% of iHeartMedia listeners 18-54 have said that women’s sports are becoming more accessible. iHeart Women’s Sports downloads are also in the top 10% of all iHeartPodcast downloads, further demonstrating the demand for this type of dedicated content.

“I think we can safely say that women’s sports is not just having a moment but rather is on a now-undeniable trajectory that has been building for years,” said Jessie Katz, Head of iHeart Women’s Sports. “One year ago, we launched iHeart Women’s Sports knowing that fans were eager to feel more connected to their favorite players, teams and even other fans, and we are continuing to drive that progress forward.”

Celebrating In Indy

Since launch, iHeart Women’s Sports has achieved 99% positive sentiment across social media, released more than 4,100 weekly sports radio reports and launched more than 15 podcasts.

In celebration of its success, iHeart Women’s Sports, together with Ensemble, is hosting “Jam Sessions” today (July 18) in Indianapolis. The programming will feature a panel discussion centered on greatness in women’s basketball with Laura Correnti featuring athletes, industry executives and innovators as well as two live podcast tapings, including Emmy-winning sports journalist Sarah Spain’s podcast, Good Game, where she will sit down with Fudd; and Levels to This with Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby. The night will culminate with “Jam Sessions After Dark,” a celebration of iHeart Women’s Sports’ one-year milestone, and the debut of Fudd Around And Find Out. The event will also feature a can’t-miss iHeartRadio exclusive performance by musical guest Flau’jae.

“‘Jam Sessions’ represents the infotainment model needed to keep women’s sports top of mind and influence investment decisioning in-market — it’s also a reflection of what iHeart Women’s Sports delivers: a combination of engaging and timely first-person perspectives from the players and practitioners who have and continue to drive progress across the ecosystem,” said Correnti.