Emmy-Winning Actress Hannah Waddingham Partners with Johnnie Walker to Promote Women's Sports & Gender Equality

Johnnie Walker, owned by Diageo, has teamed up with Emmy-winning actress Hannah Waddingham to rally the nation and encourage US customers to watch women's sports throughout 2023. The partnership comes ahead of the Women's World Cup, expected to be the "largest standalone women's sporting event in the world."

Hannah Waddingham, known for her role in the acclaimed series "Ted Lasso," expressed her passion for promoting gender equality in sports. She emphasized the need for women to receive the same visibility, recognition, and accurate portrayals as their male counterparts. With Johnnie Walker's unwavering support for gender equality, Waddingham is thrilled to work together to celebrate female athletes and inspire a culture that values the abilities and potential of all women.

To bridge the gender gap in sports exposure, Johnnie Walker and Just Women's Sports, a digital-first media platform dedicated to showcasing women's sports, have joined forces. They are on a mission to bring more attention to women's sports and unleash the energy and excitement that sets them apart.

As part of their campaign, anyone aged 21 and older can access the summer's game day schedule and sign up for Waddingham's "Match Day Memos" by visiting the website through August 20. These video reminders will be sent out before the summer's most exciting games, emphasizing the importance of supporting and watching women's sports to promote equality.

Haley Rosen, founder and CEO of Just Women's Sports, expressed her excitement about working together with Johnnie Walker on this crucial effort to promote fair coverage of women's sports. While women's sports are growing in terms of investment, viewership, and involvement, media coverage remains significantly low.

In addition to the campaign, Johnnie Walker is generously donating US$100,000 to its nonprofit partner, the Women's Sports Foundation. The Women's Sports Foundation's vital work aims to provide access and opportunities for women in sports, enabling them to participate, compete, and lead without obstacles.

Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation, commended Johnnie Walker's initiative and hoped that the campaign would encourage everyone to support women in their communities and continue supporting female athletes across all sports throughout the year.

The "Watch Women's Sports" campaign is an extension of Johnnie Walker's First Strides program, an ongoing effort to recognize, encourage, and facilitate significant firsts in culture.

The partnership aims to ignite a movement that will empower women in sports and drive positive change for gender equality. With this collective effort, they hope to create a future where women's sports receive the recognition and attention they deserve, both on and off the pitch.