NVSL eyes “Aggressive” expansion ahead of Denver

The NVSL It is set to expand once again, with Denver expected to be announced as the league’s 16th franchise next week. News follows Discover Boston Bos Nation FC as the 15th NVSL team earlywith both new additions taking over to begin reproduction by 2026.

Commissioner Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed During a press conference on Thursday that NVSL’s expansion plans are far from complete.

“We know our expansion is not working,” Berman said, as reported by Cesar Hernandez of ESPN. “Part of the effort over the next three to six months is really developing our next expansion strategy. We want to be aggressive with expansion, but we also want to be strategic and smart about how we do it.”

The league, which currently features 14 teams, aims for strategic growth while balancing sustainability. Berman outlined three criteria for future selections in the market: financially sound and visionary ownership, adequate infrastructure, including stadiums and training facilities, and potential for market success. She pointed out Plenty of viable, potential NVSL market across the country.

“It’s a third market, the reason it’s a market is really just because we’re in this big country where we know there’s an opportunity for growth in so many different cities. So it doesn’t have to be the driver of our decisions,” Berman said. “I could sit here and think of 10 to 12 markets where we could have a team that could be successful.”

The NVSL expansion comes as interest in women’s sports booms

The expected addition to Denver comes as interest in women’s sports continues to exceed. The NVSL has seen attendance numbers rise and increased investor interest, mirroring trends in other leagues. The The WNBA recently announced expansion That’s Toronto and Portland, with additional cities being considered. Similarly, the professional women’s ice hockey league is watching two new franchises For their 2025-26 season, according to the Associated Press and women’s sports as a whole, they are seeing a rebound and sponsorship growth.

The NVSL will also credit changes introduced by its new collective bargaining agreement, including the elimination of the college draft and expanded free agency. These adjustments, according to Berman, present challenges but also opportunities for innovation.

As the league prepares for its 2025 season, which will feature weekend rivalries and decision day, fans and stakeholders can also anticipate more expansion announcements on the horizon. Team Denver is also promising and the 2025 location is expected to be finalized in the coming months.