NWSL Moves Toward Denver Expansion Team

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is in exclusive negotiations to add Denver as its 16th franchise, with an expansion fee estimated between $105 million to $120 million, significantly higher than previous fees. This move comes after narrowing down from three finalist cities—Denver, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. The investment group, known as For Denver FC, is led by Robert Cohen of IMA Financial Group and includes former NWSL player Jordan Angeli. A deal is not yet finalized and could take weeks to finalize, but the NWSL hopes to complete negotiations by early January. Denver's bid aims to build a soccer-specific stadium, while the team would initially play in a temporary venue. This expansion represents a significant investment in women's sports, as the fee would set a record for the NWSL and women's sports in general.