Women’s basketball sensation Caitlin Clark (pictured), who a season ago was playing college basketball and has just finished her first pro-season with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, has joined the Cincinnati ownership group bidding to bring an NWSL franchise to the city.
The NWSL is expected to announce its 16th franchised club before the end of the year. Currently the NWSL is deciding between bids from Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver for the expansion slot that would see the team begin play in the 2016 season.
MLS team FC Cincinnati’s ownership group is leading the bid and alongside Cleveland looks to be the favourite.
Boston were the last NWSL franchise awarded in 2023 at a cost of $53 million. Bay City FC, who began play this year, paid the same amount for their expansion slot.
With valuations of NWSL team skyrocketing – Angel City FC was the most recent club to see new owners valuing the team at $250 million – the 16th franchise could cost as much as $100 million, according to some estimated.
In terms of star power in US women’s team sports they don’t currently come any bigger than Clark.
Having broken every record in the college game to become the all-time NCAA Division 1 scorer she moved into the WNBA where she won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, made the All-WNBA First Team and WNBA All-Star Game.
“The NWSL Cincinnati bid team is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our ownership group in pursuit of bringing a women’s professional soccer team to our city,” said an NWSL Cincinnati bid team statement.
“Her passion for the sport, commitment to elevating women’s sports in and around the Greater Cincinnati region, and influence as an athlete and role model for women and girls around the world, make her a vital part of our compelling bid to become the 16th team in the NWSL.”
Cleveland also believe they have a compelling bid, driven by The Cleveland Soccer Group’s (CSG) securing of land to develop a downtown stadium. The Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners announced the purchase of 13.6 acres of state land to build a $150 million, 12,500-seat stadium on what is currently undeveloped land in the city’s downtown.
