Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is a part of the possession group attempting to convey an NWSL enlargement group to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is one in every of a handful of finalists bidding for an NWSL enlargement group that’s anticipated to be awarded earlier than the tip of the yr. The group would start play in 2026, becoming a member of a beforehand introduced enlargement group in Boston to convey the NWSL to 16 groups.
Editor’s Picks
1 Associated
“The NWSL Cincinnati bid group is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our possession group in pursuit of bringing a girls’s skilled soccer group to our metropolis,” the NWSL Cincinnati bid group stated in an announcement to ESPN.
“Her ardour for the game, dedication to elevating girls’s sports activities in and across the Higher Cincinnati area, and affect as an athlete and position mannequin for girls and ladies around the globe, make her a significant a part of our compelling bid to develop into the sixteenth group within the NWSL.”
Clark was chosen first within the WNBA draft this yr by the Fever after breaking the NCAA scoring report on the College of Iowa. She gained WNBA Rookie of the Yr in 2024 and have become the primary rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Crew.
The possession group of MLS group FC Cincinnati is main the bid. Additionally in competition are teams from Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia. Cincinnati is taken into account one of many favorites within the course of due to its possession backing and present infrastructure, sources advised ESPN, with a stadium already purpose-built for soccer.
Cleveland, Denver and Philadelphia all hope to construct stadiums and play in non permanent venues upon launching in 2026 if their bid is accepted, a number of sources stated.
The group in Cleveland, which a number of sources additionally think about to have a powerful bid, just lately introduced that it acquired the downtown land on which it intends to construct a stadium.
A number of sources stated the enlargement payment for the sixteenth NWSL group might strategy $100 million. Boston and Bay FC, which started play this yr, every paid $53 million to enter the league after being chosen in 2023.
The newest course of began earlier this yr with a couple of dozen severe inquiries within the first stage of bidding.