Women’s Soccer League Expands to 16 Teams with Addition of Denver, US$110 Million Investment
The (National Women’s Soccer League) will include a new franchise in Denver, Colorado, to be launched in 2026. The information released on Thursday (Jan. 2, 2025) by , marks a record investment of US$110 million for the expansion of the league.
The investment to create the Denver team significantly exceeds the US$53 million invested by Boston and Bay FC for their inclusion in the league in 2026. With the addition of Denver, the NWSL will now have 16 teams, demonstrating a period of expansion and strengthening for the league.
The group led by Robert Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial Group, will be responsible for the new franchise. In addition to Cohen, the consortium includes the participation of Obama Ben Hubbard, CEO of Parsyl; Tom Dunmore, sports business executive; Nicole Glaros, CEO of Phos; and former NWSL player Jordan Angeli.
Denver was chosen after a dispute with other cities, including Cincinnati and Cleveland. The team initially plans to use a temporary venue for its games, with future plans to build its own stadium.
The development comes at a time of growth for the NWSL, which has added 2 new franchises in the 2024 season and looks forward to Boston’s entry in 2026.
