⚽ Selling the pitch
Canada’s NSL secures national broadcasting deals with TSN, CBC
The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada's new professional women’s soccer league, is coming in hot. Yesterday, it announced a multiyear media partnership with Bell Media’s TSN/RDS and CBC/Radio-Canada, the nation’s top English and French networks, making the league accessible across Canada in its two official languages.
June 12, 2024
⚽ Fútbol is life
NWSL leads the way in marketing to Latinx fans in the U.S.
With the popularity of sports like soccer and baseball throughout Latin America, men’s sports leagues like La Liga and MLB are investing heavily in marketing toward Latinx fans in the U.S. It’s also a strategy the NWSL and franchises with sizable Latinx communities like L.A.’s Angel City FC have been in on since the get-go.
June 03, 2024
♻️ A recycle kick
UK survey reveals passion for environmental sustainability among women’s soccer players
As the NWSL considers charter flights, it’s worth noting that private travel in pro sports produces an enormous carbon footprint. As sports become increasingly global and women’s sports secure more resources, a new report from the UK women’s soccer space found that 95% of players think the beautiful game must reduce its carbon footprint.
May 31, 2024
⭐ Our Northern Star
Project 8 officially announces six-team Canadian pro women’s soccer league
Project 8 — the company founded by Canadian soccer star Diana Matheson to develop a domestic pro women’s soccer league in Canada — is officially ready for takeoff. Yesterday, Matheson unveiled the new name and branding for the six-team Northern Super League (NSL) with plans for an April 2025 kickoff.
May 29, 2024
⚽ 2031 is gonna be our year
U.S. and Mexico withdraw their bid to host 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The U.S. and Mexico have officially withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), leaving Brazil and a joint bid from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany in the race. The North American contingent noted it will instead focus on securing rights for 2031, which they believe has potential for bigger ROI.
May 01, 2024
🏟️ Hurdles in the Hub
Boston Unity Soccer Partners field community concerns about White Stadium renovation
Last September, Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSP) announced its successful bid for an NWSL team that would play in Boston’s historic White Stadium. With $100M worth of renovations slated to start this year, the ownership group is fielding community pushback amid concerns about how an NWSL team would change the stadium’s accessibility for the local community.
April 29, 2024
⚽ Keep her runnin’ back and forth, soccer team
The ninth annual SheBelieves Cup kicks off tomorrow
The ninth annual SheBelieves Cup kicks off tomorrow, with four of the world’s best women’s footy squads competing in a preview of this year’s Paris Olympics. Oui oui.
April 05, 2024
⚽ The whole kit and caboodle
Ally expands its investment in The Soccer Tournament through new partnership
Women’s sports heavy-hitter Ally announced its latest major partnership yesterday, becoming the official retail banking partner of The Soccer Tournament (TST). Expanding on its previous investment in TST’s inaugural tournament last year, the new sponsorship brings Ally another step closer to reaching its 50/50 Pledge by the end of 2027.
March 29, 2024
⚽ The Cup runneth over
NWSL announces new intraleague competition with Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil
After a successful inaugural W Gold Cup, the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil — Mexico’s top pro women’s soccer league — will compete in the first-ever NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup this year. Similar to Europe’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, it further proves the viability of international women’s soccer tourneys in the Western Hemisphere.
March 22, 2024
💸 Making it Reign
Seattle Sounders and Carlyle Group agree to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M
Private equity (PE) giant Carlyle Group and MLS' Seattle Sounders agreed to purchase Seattle Reign FC for $58M, up from the NWSL club’s $49M October valuation. After the surprise sale of the San Diego Wave for $120M, this makes Reign FC the second NWSL team sold within a week, with both fetching more than their previous valuations.
March 20, 2024
⚽ For angels to fly
Angel City FC reportedly exploring sale of controlling stake in club
The NWSL is selling like hot cakes — within the last week, two of its highest-valued franchises have put up the ‘for sale’ sign. A day after the San Diego Wave announced its impending $120M sale, Sportico reported that Angel City hopes to sell a controlling stake amid ownership friction.
March 18, 2024