January 31 – The NWSL in the US has officially named Denver, Colorado, as the league’s 16th franchise. Denver will begin play in the 2026 season.
The team’s ownership is made up of local and national investors including, Rob Cohen, the Chairman and CEO of insurance brokerage IMA Financial Group; Project Level, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Mellody Hobson and former Washington Commanders President Jason Wright; and FirstTracks Sports Ventures LLC (FTSV), led by Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri and Molly Coors.
Cohen will serve as the club’s controlling owner and governor with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s alternate governor.
“As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match,” said Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the NWSL.
The soccer team will be Denver’s first women’s professional sports franchise.
“The club’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike,” continued Berman.
The NWSL’s 15th franchise was awarded to Boston in 2023 who paid a $53 million expansion fee, the same as Bay FC who completed their inaugural season in 2024. Boston will debut in 2026.
Denver are paying more than double that at $110 million for their franchise.
“Denver is one of the best sports cities in the United States and we are thrilled to bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado,” said Cohen.
“We believe that bringing NWSL to Denver will be impactful and transformative. Our goal is to work closely with Denver’s diverse communities to build a club that will operate with integrity and excellence from day one.”
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