The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Thursday that Denver will be its 16th franchise, beginning play in the 2026 season. Denver will begin playing alongside Boston as the newest clubs in NWSL.
A group led by Rob Cohen (Chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group) and Project Level (a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Chairwoman Mellody Hobson), is reportedly paying a record expansion fee of $110 million, with Cohen to serve as controlling owner and governor, with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s alternate governor. It is reportedly the largest expansion fee ever paid for a U.S. women’s sports team.
Cohen said in a statement: “Denver is one of the best sports cities in the United States and we are thrilled to bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado. We believe that bringing NWSL to Denver will be impactful and transformative. Our goal is to work closely with Denver’s diverse communities to build a club that will operate with integrity and excellence from day one. We look forward to collaborating with our community to make Denver NWSL an inclusive and special club that all of Colorado can rally behind.”
The franchise marks Denver’s first women’s professional sports team in a major national league; it is finalizing plans to build a dedicated stadium and performance facility for professional women’s soccer with the team’s name, crest and colors to be announced at a later date.
NWSL cmmissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement: “As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match. The club’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike. With this ownership group’s vision and dedication, we are confident that Denver NWSL will set new standards for excellence on and off the pitch, inspiring the next generation of players and supporters across the Rocky Mountain region.”
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