NWSL UPdates
Read all the latest NWSL news and 2026 season updates, including the expansion teams, NWSL Division II launch, and season framework announcements
KC Current Launch Division II Team
August 2025
On August 4, the Kansas City Current announced the launch of its second team, Kansas City Current II. The franchise is the first of the eight inaugural NWSL Division II teams expected to launch for the 2026 season. The NWSL is moving to have a Division II team for all franchises within four years.
In April, the NWSL submitted a bid to the US Soccer Federation in April to form a Division II of the league. The first eight clubs targeted include Bay FC, Kansas City Current, North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Racing Louisville FC, Seattle Reign FC, and Washington Spirit.
Denver Summit FC NAmes Head Coach
August 2025
Denver Summit FC named Nick Cushing as head coach on August 6. Cushing previously coached for Manchester City Women in the WSL and New York City FC in the MLS.
Boston Legacy FC Signs First PLayers, announces new facility
July 2025
Boston Legacy FC signed its first player to the roster: midfielder Annie Karich. Karich’s contract with the Legacy extends through the 2027 season with the option to renew for the 2028 season. Karich is from California and was previously with SC Freiburg in Germany.
Forward Aïssata Traoré signed with the Legacy through the 2028 season, making Traoré the first-ever Mali player to sign with an NWSL team. Traoré is from Bamako, the capital of Mali, and currently plays with FC Fleury 91 in France.
Defender Emerson Elgin signed a two-year contract with the Legacy. Elgin is from New Jersey and was most recently contracted with NJ/NY Gotham FC as an injury replacement player.
Laurel Ansbrow, another defender, also signed a two-year contract with the Legacy and has a team-held extension option for the 2028 season. Ansbrow is from North Carolina and currently plays in the USL Super League with Fort Lauderdale United.
Midfielder Alba Caño contracted with the Legacy through the end of the 2027 season with a team-held extension option for the 2028 season. Caño is from Puiggròs, Spain, and currently plays for FC Barcelona.
These players, along with the rest of the future roster, will be under the guidance of head coach Filipa Patão.
In addition to player signings, the Legacy also announced plans for a $27 million performance center that is expected to open prior to the 2026 season. The center will serve as the club’s training facility and will include a bubble down for weather condition training, lighted fields (which will also be made available for use by the youth community), a 30,000 square foot training building, and six total fields, two of which will be natural grass surfaces and one that will be heated.
Boston released the club’s official crest in June.
Denver NWSL Launches Brand
July 2025
Denver NWSL hosted a brand launch party for fans shortly after the club dropped the name, color palette, and crest for the team.
Denver Summit FC was the name chosen by the fans for the 16th NWSL expansion team. The club released its official crest and color palette, drawing inspiration from the red sky of local sunsets, the multitude of sunny days in the city, and the mountain peaks surrounding the area.
NWSL ANnounces 2026 Season Framework
July 2025
The framework for the 2026 NWSL season was announced earlier this month, with the season kicking off on February 20 with the NWSL Challenge Cup.
Regular season play is scheduled to begin on March 13. The 2026 season will comprise 248 matches across the 16 teams, including an eight-team playoff tournament and the Challenge Cup match.
The 27-week regular season will conclude on November 1, and the playoffs begin on November 6.
The 2026 NWSL Championship game will be held on November 21.
KC Current Earns Highest League Revenue
June 2025
The Kansas City Current’s 2024 NWSL revenue was released at $36 million, marking the highest annual revenue in the league. Forbes gave the Current the second-highest league valuation at $ 275 million. Angel City FC earned the highest valuation at $280 million.
NWSL ANnounces Roster-Building Assets
June 2025
The NWSL announced roster-building assets for its two 2026 expansion teams, Boston Legacy FC and Denver NWSL, as well as the availability of intra-league player loans. The roster-building assets include $1.065 million in allocation money, transfer fee thresholds, and a temporary waiver of the player salary cap.
NWSL, theSkimm Enter Media PArtnership
June 2025
The NWSL entered into a new official media partnership with theSkimm on June 9. TheSkimm will provide regular coverage on all things NWSL, including player interviews, on-the-field coverage, rivalry commentary, and behind-the-scenes access to NWSL players.
NWSL ANnounces Roster-Building Assets
June 2025
Denver City Council approved the NWSL stadium agreement, allowing the $70 million project to move forward. In other Denver NWSL news, Mikaela Shiffrin, a professional alpine skier, joined the ownership group, and Curt Johnson was named General Manager.
NWSL Re-Evaluates Emergency PRotocol After ACFC Incident
May 2025
The NWSL re-evaluates its emergency protocol in the aftermath of a medical emergency during the Angel City FC versus Utah Royals FC match.
Angel City player Savy King collapsed on the field due to a heart abnormality and was treated by medical staff for ten minutes before being taken to a local hospital.
“In no world should that game have continued,” said Trinity Rodman in a post on Instagram. Rodman’s words represented the sentiments of other players and fans alike after the distressing event.
The NWSL announced that it is reviewing its current protocols and will make revisions to prioritize the well-being of the players, staff, and fans.
Denver Approves NWSL Stadium Agreement
May 2025
Denver City Council approved the NWSL stadium agreement, allowing the $70 million project to move forward. In other Denver NWSL news, Mikaela Shiffrin, a professional alpine skier, joined the ownership group, and Curt Johnson was named General Manager.
Alex Morgan Joins Wave Ownership Group
May 2025
Alex Morgan returned to the spotlight with the announcement of becoming the latest minority investor of her former team, San Diego Wave FC.
NWSL Submits Bid for Division II League
April 2025
The NWSL submitted a bid to the U.S. Soccer Federation to start an NWSL Division II league with a target launch date in 2026.
A second NWSL division would begin with eight clubs in the opening season and would scale up to all NWSL clubs attaining a Division II team by year four.
The first eight clubs targeted for a Division II team include Bay FC, Kansas City Current, North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Racing Louisville FC, Seattle Reign FC, and Washington Spirit.
NWSL Players Announce Major Life Updates
March 2025
Wedding bells and baby announcements rang out across social media during the off-season as players tied the knot and posted updates with sonograms and baby bumps.
With new nuptials comes new names for fans to know: Lindsey Horan is now wearing Heaps on the back of her jersey, Lynn Williams changed her last name to Biyendolo (the Congolese name that was gifted to her father-in-law), and Sophia Smith took the last name Wilson.
Ali Riley married former Swedish soccer player Lucas Nilsson in January, just mere days after a wildfire destroyed her childhood home. Riley shared on social media in March that she started a needle-free IVF treatment.
Kristie Mewis posted social media updates that showcase her growing baby bump of her first child with fiancée Sam Kerr.
Andi Sullivan shared with her Spirit teammates in mid-February that she and her husband, Drew, are expecting their first child in July.
Newlyweds Sophia and Michael Wilson posted pictures on social media in early March showing sonogram images and announcing Sophia’s pregnancy.
The latest pregnancy announcement came after the second week of NWSL play when Canada Women’s National Team and San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan shared that she and wife Dominique were due in September.
Denver Wins Bid for NWSL Expansion Team
March 2025
Denver won its bid in January to become the NWSL's 16th team with a record $110 million expansion fee.
The NWSL Denver expansion fee is the league's highest yet, far surpassing Bay FC's and Boston Legacy FC's recent expansion fees of $53 million.
The franchise is scheduled to start playing in the league in the 2026 season, entering the same time as the NWSL's 15th franchise team, Boston Legacy FC.
Fans in the Mile High City shared their excitement and support for their new club by securing 5,280 season ticket deposits within days of the club's announcement, making the new Denver NWSL team the fastest in NWSL history to secure 5,000 season ticket deposits.
Just two weeks later, the club launched a campaign to allow its fans to help choose the Denver NWSL team name.
In March, Denver NWSL announced plans to construct a purpose-built stadium and recreational complex for professional women's soccer in Santa Fe Yards, just a few miles south of downtown.
The Denver NWSL stadium is scheduled to open in Spring 2028.
The club announced it is building a temporary stadium in Centennial, CO, to house the team's home games for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The facility will also include a training complex.