January 30 – The 12-team National Women’s Soccer League is in advanced discussions to expand with three new teams in Boston, Utah and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The teams in Utah and San Francisco are expected to begin play in 2024 with the Boston team expected to kick off in 2025.
The NWSL started with eight teams in 2013 and reached 12 teams in 2022 with the addition of Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC in California. Angel City have been averaging crowds of 19,000.
Boston previously had an NWSL founding team – Boston Breakers – but they folded after five years.
The franchise fee for the new Boston team is reportedly $50 million, the same for the team in San Francisco.
The owners in Utah will pay considerably less – between $2-5 million – following an arrangement made when the original Utah Royals franchise folded in 2020.
The NWSL starts its 11th season in March.
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