Women's Soccer Wants to Be More Like the NFL | Power Players

NWSL Growth and Investment

• The NWSL is the fastest-growing professional sports league in the world, and Commissioner Jessica Berman has overseen significant growth in her first two years.
• The league's aspiration is to be the best league in the world, and they are on track to achieve this goal.
• The NWSL has seen a dramatic increase in investment, with the San Diego Wave being purchased for $120 million, a 60 times return on investment in just three years.
• Berman has reshaped the league and brought in new ownership to strengthen the business case for women's football.
• The NWSL has already existed twice as long as the previous two professional women's soccer leagues in the US combined.
• The league has seen a significant shift in ownership, with all but two teams either new or having changed hands since 2021.
• Berman's strategy has been to find ambitious new ownership for the long haul.
• Rick Welts, a legend in the sports industry, has said that the NWSL has achieved in two years what it took other leagues like the NBA 25 to 30 years to achieve.
• The NWSL has attracted significant investment from individuals and firms who see the long-term value of the league, despite the current relatively small revenue.
• The league's independence from the MLS and its innovative approach have contributed to its growth and success.
• The NWSL has secured a major media deal with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and Scripps on Ion, resulting in a fourfold increase in national broadcast windows.
• The league's viewership and sponsorship revenue are exceeding expectations, demonstrating the value of the investment.
• The investment firm Sixth Street has invested $125 million in the new AFC team, which is owned by a group of former players including Aly Wagner, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Brandi Chastain.

New Ownership and Leadership

• Angel City FC, a team with celebrity investors like Natalie Portman and Jennifer Garner, is a prime example of the league's success.
• Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, a new investor in the NWSL, brings experience from her family's ownership of the New York Giants, a prominent NFL franchise.
• Carolyn, the governor of Gotham FC, is a key figure in the new class of ownership in the NWSL. She brings experience from building long-term businesses, drawing inspiration from the NFL's success.
• Carolyn's background includes working with the New York Giants, where she advised on marketing and fan engagement. She also honed her marketing skills at Peloton, where she helped build the brand and its instructors into household names.
• Carolyn believes that Gotham FC can achieve similar success by building its players into stars, leveraging the media presence of New York City.

NWSL's Vision for the Future

• The NWSL aims to establish itself as a global brand, mirroring the success of the NFL.
• The league is aiming for hockey stick growth, with teams like Gotham FC and Angel City using their home cities to attract star players.
• The Kansas City Current is attracting talent through its new stadium, the first and only one built specifically for women's sports.
• The league recognizes the need for better facilities and is working on strategies to build coalitions in local markets to achieve this goal.
• While the ambition is high, the league understands that it needs to take a long-term approach, focusing on improving the player experience through better coaches, staff, and facilities.
• The league is seeking like-minded investors who share the vision of hockey stick growth and are willing to invest in the long-term success of the NWSL.
• The NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) is aiming for significant growth, similar to the hockey stick growth seen in the NFL.
• To achieve this, the league needs to attract a global audience, which requires recruiting the best players from around the world.
• The NWSL has made changes to its rules and salary cap to attract top international players, resulting in a significant increase in attendance and viewership.
• This influx of international talent benefits both the NWSL and the US Women's National Team, as players compete against each other on a regular basis.
• The NWSL aims to become a global brand, standing shoulder to shoulder with top men's brands.
• Jessica Berman, the NWSL commissioner, recognizes the importance of innovation and investment in the business side of the league to connect with a new generation of global fans.
• The NWSL is uniquely positioned to lead the way in rethinking how we invest in women for women, as evidenced by the growing support for women's teams in Europe.

Challenges and Reckoning

• The league faces challenges from the growth of women's football globally, particularly in the WSL, which is attracting top international players.
• The NWSL has faced a reckoning over allegations of abuse against players, leading to a scathing report that highlighted systemic issues within the league.
• In response to the report, the NWSL implemented significant changes, including increased investment in facilities, a larger staff, and ownership changes.
• The league focused on addressing its culture, leading to the return of players like Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim, who had left due to the abuse scandal.