NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said Thursday that expansion efforts are “not finished” and that the league plans to name its newest franchise next week.
ESPN sources confirmed reports that Denver would be awarded the No. 16 franchise when that announcement was made.
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“Obviously, there’s been a lot of rumors going around, but more should be coming in the not-too-distant future, with announcements coming next week,” Berman said. “We know that expansion is not happening. We are actively talking with our board of directors to determine the next set of expansions. As we have previously shared, this round will bring the team There are many interested bidders who were not awarded.
“Part of our effort over the next three to six months is really developing our next expansion strategy. We want to be aggressive in expansion, but we want to be strategic and smart about how we do it. I want to be.”
Currently with 14 teams, the league will grow to 16 by 2026, with a 15th team, Bos Nation FC, already announced and Denver expected to be unveiled next week.
As for how the league will choose its future markets, Berman outlined three guidelines that will determine where the league will move beyond 2026.
“The first one is ownership and knowing that we have the right owners, both the financials and the investment vision,” Berman said. “The second is infrastructure and making sure we have a bid for a professional and appropriate stadium and training facility that meets the standards not only of today but of where we think the league is headed.
“Third is market and the reason market is third is because we are in this vast country where we know we have opportunities to grow in so many different cities.
“I could sit here and think of 10 to 12 markets where we could have a successful team.”
Heading into the 2025 season, the league charts new waters without a college draft or free agency. These decisions, among other things, come as adjustments after the NWSL and NWSL Players Association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement last year.
“This is an ecosystem-wide learning process,” Berman said. “On the technical staff side, they’ve never experienced anything like this. In fact, there’s nothing to point to as a case study in how to make this transition. Years of service, getting free agency. It will just melt overnight.
“But I think it was also a player adjustment. We’ve seen reports of lack of contracts, the number of players still looking for work, whether within our ecosystem or outside of it, all of them. It will be an adjustment for people.”
On Wednesday, the league released its complete schedule for the 2025 season. This includes the return of Rivals Weekend and Decision Day. Berman said the location of the 2025 championship will be in the “coming months.”
