The Women's World Cup has been around for less than two weeks and its television ratings are already better than the NHL's.
ESPN has a .82 cable rating in five World Cup games so far compared with a .59 mark on its NHL regular-season games this past season.
The cable network also has broadcast 17 Women's World Cup games on ESPN2, with a .51 mark.
ESPN's game last Thursday between the United States and Nigeria drew a 1.85 rating and was seen in 1.4 million homes.
Miles to go
Russia is going the distance for the Women's World Cup, literally. The Russians have been complaining about a grueling travel schedule, claiming the scheduling of the tournament favored the United States. If you look at the mileage, the team might have a point. Russia started in Foxboro, then traveled to Portland, Ore. From there it was on to Giants Stadium in New Jersey, and yesterday the Russians were in San Jose, Calif., for the quarterfinals. If they go through to the semifinal, they'll have to fly back to Boston, and if they make it through the final, another cross-country trip will be required. The final is being held in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. In three weeks, they will have traveled 15,156 miles and made five cross-country trips.
If China makes it to the final, the team will have traveled 12,673 miles and weathered four cross-country trips.
The United States mileage looks like a walk in the park, by comparison. If the team makes the final, it will have traveled 5,498 miles and made only one cross-country trip.
