NWSL rubberstamps Denver as league’s sixteenth franchise

January 31 – The NWSL within the US has formally named Denver, Colorado, because the league’s sixteenth franchise. Denver will start play within the 2026 season.

The crew’s possession is made up of native and nationwide traders together with, Rob Cohen, the Chairman and CEO of insurance coverage brokerage IMA Monetary Group; Venture Stage, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Mellody Hobson and former Washington Commanders President Jason Wright; and FirstTracks Sports activities Ventures LLC (FTSV), led by Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri and Molly Coors.

Cohen will function the membership’s controlling proprietor and governor with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s alternate governor.

“Because the NWSL continues its speedy progress, we knew it was important to launch our sixteenth crew in a metropolis with a passionate sports activities tradition and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the proper match,” mentioned Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the NWSL.

The soccer crew will likely be Denver’s first ladies’s skilled sports activities franchise.

“The membership’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art coaching facility reveal a dedication to offering world-class environments for our gamers and followers alike,” continued Berman.

The NWSL’s fifteenth franchise was awarded to Boston in 2023 who paid a $53 million growth payment, the identical as Bay FC who accomplished their inaugural season in 2024. Boston will debut in 2026.

Denver are paying greater than double that at $110 million for his or her franchise.

“Denver is likely one of the finest sports activities cities in america and we’re thrilled to convey skilled ladies’s soccer to Colorado,” mentioned Cohen.

“We consider that bringing NWSL to Denver will likely be impactful and transformative. Our objective is to work carefully with Denver’s various communities to construct a membership that may function with integrity and excellence from day one.”

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