ChatGPT agrees sponsorship deal with India’s Women’s Premier League

ChatGPT has entered the women’s sport sponsorship market by signing as a Premier Partner of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in India. The agreement marks the artificial intelligence platform’s first involvement in women's professional sport. This partnership forms part of a wider commercial expansion by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The league has also secured deals with brands such as Kingfisher Packaged Drinking Water and Bisleri, with the collective value of these agreements reportedly around $5.3 million. The investment reflects the WPL’s steady commercial progress as it approaches its next competitive cycle.

While this is ChatGPT’s first sponsorship in women’s sport, it is not the platform’s first engagement with the sports industry. OpenAI has previously worked with US organisations including Major League Baseball’s New York Mets to deliver in-stadium activations and the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs on enterprise solutions. These earlier collaborations, alongside a research partnership with IndyCar’s Chip Ganassi Racing, preceded this move into cricket, establishing a foundation for the technology firm's increasing presence in the global sports sector.

For the WPL, the association with a technology brand like ChatGPT provides access to a digitally engaged Indian audience, which represents a significant user base for AI tools. The partnership is expected to extend beyond standard branding to include AI-supported content and fan engagement tools. By aligning with the league, ChatGPT aims to connect with sports fans through the intersection of technology and culture, utilising the WPL’s broadcast reach and attendance figures to support its growth in the region.

The agreement suggests a shift in how AI platforms are approaching sports marketing. For the BCCI, securing a global technology partner sits alongside deals with established domestic consumer brands, broadening the league’s sponsor categories. As the WPL continues to develop, the presence of varied partners indicates a stable commercial outlook for the property. The deal serves as an indicator of how women’s sport can attract diverse investment sources in the current market.