Denver, Colorado has been awarded the 16th franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), with games set to begin in 2026. The franchise was sold for a record $110 million expansion fee, demonstrating the growth and health of professional women’s soccer. The team ownership group will be led by Rob Cohen, Mellody Hobson, and Jason Wright, with additional investors including Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri, and Molly Coors. Cohen will serve as the controlling owner and governor of the team.
The NWSL commissioner, Jessica Berman, stated that Denver was chosen due to its passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base. The team has not yet announced where they will play home games, but they are looking for a central location with access to mass transit. The ownership group plans to announce the locations of temporary and permanent venues in the coming weeks, with an aim to build a state-of-the-art facility specifically for women’s play.
Cohen, who has experience in the Denver sports scene, believes that bringing the NWSL to Denver will be transformative and impactful. The decision to award Denver the franchise came after the city beat out competition from Cleveland and Cincinnati. Colorado has a rich history in women’s soccer, with players like Lindsey Horan, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith all hailing from the state. The goal is to work closely with Denver’s diverse communities to build a club that operates with integrity and excellence from the start.
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