The National Women’s Soccer League Expansion
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is set to introduce its 18th franchise, which will hit the field in 2028, as confirmed by Commissioner Jessica Berman on Wednesday. This announcement follows her earlier statements regarding the league’s goal to expand with an additional team by 2028, although no specific timeline had been shared until now.
Upcoming Season and New Teams
As the league gears up to kick off the 2026 season this weekend, two fresh faces will join the competition: the Boston Legacy and the Denver Summit, bringing the total number of teams to 16. Notably, the league recently granted its 17th franchise to Atlanta, under the ownership of Arthur Blank, who also owns the Atlanta Falcons. This new team will also commence play in 2028, with a historic expansion fee of $165 million, underscoring the league’s rising value and popularity.
League Growth and Future Plans
“Now we will have 16 clubs across this country, establishing the NWSL as a truly national league with immense demand and interest in professional women’s soccer. By 2028, coinciding with our upcoming media rights deal, we will expand to 18 teams.”
Looking ahead, Berman previously disclosed that the league is adopting a “rolling process” for future expansions. This approach will allow for a more flexible timeline and help gauge interest from cities keen on establishing franchises. The Haslam family, known for their ownership of the Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew, is reportedly interested in introducing a team in Columbus, where a recent U.S. women’s national team match attracted over 18,000 spectators.
Current Expansion Cycle and Team Availability
In the most recent expansion cycle that secured Denver’s inclusion, Cincinnati and Cleveland were also in contention. Currently, there are approximately a dozen potential ownership groups exploring opportunities to establish new franchises. Berman emphasized the intention behind this gradual approach, remarking,
“We want to give our expansion teams sufficient time to prepare, which is why we are pursuing Team 18 in 2026 with a long runway for success.”
Additionally, it has been disclosed that the Houston Dash are currently available for sale again, following a breakdown of negotiations with RHP Group. Berman underscored that relocating an existing team remains a last-resort option for the league.
