February 7 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has added the Army National Guard (ARNG) as the Official Armed Forces Partner of the NWSL. The ARNG joins Nike and the US Soccer Foundation as main sponsors of the league. No figure has been released for the value of the deal.
As part of the partnership, the NWSL will work with the Army National Guard’s Grassroots Soccer (GRS) programme “on the benefits of how joining the Guard can assist them with reaching their goals”.
NWSL, Cheryl Bailey, Executive Director of the NWSL said: “It is a unique opportunity to join forces with an organization that has a proven track record of working with young soccer players and their families, and compliments our own goal of growing the sport and providing a professional environment in which young women can achieve their dreams.”
The sponsorship package for the Army National Guard includes the opportunity to host a “Military Night” with each club as well as receiving tickets for ARNG members, halftime presentation. on-site presence at NWSL games and in-stadium signage at nationally televised games.
The NWSL Player of the Month award, which recognizes the top overall player, will now be known as the Army National Guard Player of the Month.
Currently preparing for their second season, the eight founding clubs of the NWSL have been joined by their first expansion franchise – Houston Dash. The league’s eight founding clubs, playing an April to end-August season, were the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC (New York/New Jersey), Seattle Reign FC, the Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash.
Contact the writer of this story at paul.nicholson@insideworldfootball,com