Olympic Gold Medalist Mikaela Shiffrin Joins Ownership Group of NWSL Expansion Team in Denver

Olympic gold medal-winning skier Mikaela Shiffrin has made headlines by joining the ownership group of the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team in Denver, set to kick off next year. Shiffrin, who is an eight-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, is widely regarded as the most decorated alpine skier of all time.

Shiffrin is not the only celebrity athlete to invest in an NWSL team, joining the ranks of NBA star James Harden (Houston Dash), former NFL quarterback Eli Manning (Gotham FC), and actress Natalie Portman (Angel City). In a statement released on Tuesday, Shiffrin expressed her excitement about joining the Denver NWSL ownership group and supporting women’s sports in her hometown.

“I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home,” Shiffrin said. “The sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and — most notably — the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today.”

Denver was awarded the NWSL’s 16th team earlier this year, with a club in Boston also set to launch next year. The Denver team’s owners have revealed plans for a new downtown soccer stadium, which will be only the second purpose-built women’s soccer stadium in the league after the Kansas City Current opened CPKC Stadium last year.

More recently, Denver’s owners announced plans for a temporary stadium and training facility in Centennial, Colo., southeast of Denver. These developments signal a significant investment in women’s soccer in the Denver area and highlight the growing popularity and success of the NWSL.