After announcing Louisville as an expansion city this week, the NWSL is looking to expand even moreGETTY IMAGES
NWSL President Amanda Duffy and a number of league owners are "bullish about growth in the number of teams, the salary cap, TV coverage and sponsorships," according to Grant Wahl of SI.com. Chicago Red Stars Owner Arnim Whisler said, "We're going to look like we're on rocket fuel next year after a couple years of sort of flatline movement." Whisler: "We're poised to announce some great expansion news. We have a long list of very good upgrades to our league that want to be a part of what we're doing and will propel us to a new television deal." The league this week announced Louisville will join as an expansion team in '21, but Duffy said that they expect to have 10 teams in '20, which "means another expansion announcement is coming soon." Sources said that the "most likely possibilities" are Sacramento or Atlanta, with "additional interest from Cincinnati, Austin and LAFC" for '21 or '22. Portland Thorns Owner Merritt Paulson said the "goal is to get to a 14-team league." Meanwhile, with the NWSL's digital deal with Yahoo Sports expiring, it "seems like a good bet that the league will end up on ESPN's digital and linear platforms" in '20. The league also recently added Budweiser as a sponsor with a multiyear deal, and Nike "extended its contract with the league as well." Whisler said the Red Stars, who will face the N.C. Courage in the NWSL Championship on Sunday, are "setting our all-time attendance record and our all-time sponsorship sales record" this season (SI.com, 10/24).
