NWSL shifts to 'rolling' expansion model, no ETA on next team(s)

The National Women's Soccer League is shifting away from a defined start and end date to the process of adding new franchises, opting instead for a "rolling expansion process."

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said the league is open to adding new teams, and will examine bids from interested parties and cities as they are presented.

The NWSL currently has 14 franchises and is about to grow to 16. The league's first round of expansion included Bay FC and the Utah Royals for the 2024 season, with each franchise paying a $53 million fee, along with Boston Legacy for the 2026 season. A second expansion process brought in Denver Summit FC, also for next season.

"We've been through these two rounds, and so we pretty much know the universe of people who are interested -- there's more than a dozen of them," Berman said, per Sports Business Journal. "Those conversations are ongoing and each of them have a different perspective on how much time they need to launch and the investments they need to make in order to be successful, including potentially around infrastructure.

"We want to not force a square peg into a round hole. We want to be more flexible so that we can get to the best possible result for the next round."

Cities expected to be interested in adding a NWSL franchise include Cincinnati, Nashville, Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Atlanta, Jacksonville and St. Louis.

Berman, whose four-year contract expires at the end of this season, is reportedly expected to sign at least a short-term extension.

"What I can say is that I intend to be here," she said. "I joined this league because I believe in the future of women's sports and professional women's soccer. That's all I can say."

--Field Level Media