Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has teased plans for further expansion.
Speaking at the SheBelieves Summit on Friday, Berman said that nothing is stopping the NWSL from growing to the size of the NFL.
The league currently has 14 teams, with two new cities – Boston and Denver – set to join the NWSL in 2026. If the commissioner’s goal is to match the size of the NFL, that would mean expanding by another 16 teams.
At the event, she stated: “Our board believes that we can be the size of the NFL, there is nothing that stands in the way of us doing that, other than having access to top talent.”
Despite Berman’s ambitious vision, reports suggest that some NWSL stakeholders are concerned about the pace of expansion. However, Berman emphasized that talent supply is not an issue, “given the size of our country and the level of talent that exists.”
She added, “We just need to figure out how to develop them strategically and intentionally.”
In an interview with ESPN at the summit, the commissioner stated that while there are no immediate plans for expansion, discussions with interested groups are ongoing.
Women’s football on the rise
The NWSL has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding from nine to 14 teams between 2021 and 2024. As previously mentioned, Boston and Denver are set to bring the total to 16 teams by 2026.
Expansion fees have also risen alongside the league’s growth. In 2021, Racing Louisville FC‘s expansion fee was reported to be between $1m and $2m, while Bay FC‘s fee in 2024 reached a staggering $53m.
Franchise valuations have followed a similar trend. Last year, the average team valuation hit $104m, reflecting a 57% increase from the previous year. Notably, Angel City FC led the charge with a valuation of $250m, making it the world’s most valuable women’s sports team.
