WHAT HAPPENED
The NWSL is heading to Denver. According to Sportico, the Denver group has secured the 16th NWSL expansion franchise for a record expansion fee of $110 million.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Denver was one of three finalists for the next NWSL spot, along with Cleveland and Cincinnati. The expansion fee is more than double what previous NWSL teams had recorded, and per Sportico, the biggest expansion fee ever paid in U.S. women's sports.
The Denver bid was led by Robert Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial Group. The first payment was reportedly made on Tuesday. For context, the most recent expansion sides, Bay FC and Boston, each paid $53 million in expansion fees.
The value of NWSL teams has exploded, with recent sales valuing Angel City FC at $250 million and San Diego Wave at $113 million. The average club is worth $104 million, according to Sportico. That’s an increase of 57 percent over the previous year.
WHAT'S NEXT
Denver will reportedly join the NWSL in 2026, alongside recent expansion franchise Boston.