Sports

Denver is 16th team to join National Women’s Soccer League

Denver has officially been awarded the 16th National Women’s Soccer League team, set to debut in 2026. The majority owner of the team, Robert Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial Group, has ambitious plans for the new franchise, including the construction of a dedicated soccer stadium for the club.

Cohen expressed his excitement for bringing a top-tier women’s professional team to Denver, stating, “Denver is an incredible sports town, and it’s time for us to correct the fact that we are the largest city in the United States without a women’s professional team.” The team was acquired for a reported record $110 million US expansion fee, although Cohen did not confirm this figure.

In addition to Cohen, the ownership group includes Project Level, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Mellody Hobson, president and co-CEO of the Chicago-based firm and a minority owner of the Denver Broncos. Other members of the group include Dhiren Jhaveri and Neelima Joshi of Kuvare, and Molly Coors of the family that founded Molson Coors Beverage Company.

The new team in Denver will join Boston in debuting in the NWSL in 2026. Currently, the league consists of 14 teams, with only one other team, the Kansas City Current, having a dedicated stadium for an NWSL club. The NWSL has shown consistent growth since its launch in 2013, with recent additions including the Utah Royals and Bay FC in 2024.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has indicated that the league is still focused on expanding, with plans to develop a strategic expansion strategy in the coming months. Berman emphasized the league’s vision to be the best in the world and the importance of balancing expansion efforts with overall league development.

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The addition of a new team in Denver, with plans for a dedicated stadium and a strong ownership group, marks an exciting new chapter for women’s professional soccer in the United States. Fans can look forward to the debut of the Denver team in 2026 and the continued growth of the NWSL as a premier women’s sports league.

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