NWSL to expand to at least 20 teams, says commissioner
The National Women’s Soccer League is looking to add two more expansion teams, commissioner Jessica Berman said on Thursday at the Leaders Week London conference.
Sixteen clubs are competing in the current 2026 campaign, with expansion franchises Atlanta and Columbus coming aboard in 2028. “We’re about to open our data room for teams 19 and 20 because we intend to continue expanding,” Berman said, according to The Athletic.
The financial data room lets potential investors study the league’s economics before pursuing a team. Atlanta and Columbus paid record expansion fees of $165 million and $205 million respectively. The league added Boston Legacy and Denver Summit as its 15th and 16th members this season.
Berman, commissioner since 2022, said there is no specific deadline for awarding the next franchises. “I don’t think 20 is the max, I think 20 is the next touch point,” she said, pointing to US leagues with 30 or more teams as a blueprint.
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