NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said that the much-discussed opening of the K.C. Current’s CPKC Stadium was a “significant moment” for the leagueGetty Images
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman yesterday discussed the start of the 2024 season with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and noted the much-discussed opening of the K.C. Current’s CPKC Stadium was a “significant moment” for the league. Berman noted the stadium, which is the first venue built specifically for a women’s pro soccer team, is symbolic of the fact that “what is happening in women’s sports is not just a moment, it is a movement.” Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are among the main investors in the Current, and Berman said, “It just punctuates the relevance we see in women’s soccer. It isn’t just that there are these celebrities who are interested in the NWSL, but they have an authentic connection.” She added, “We’re not the only league that has celebrities and athletes investing in them, but for us it really does feel authentic and genuine. They showed up at the games and they’re watching and they’re cheering and they’re loving it. I think that’s why you’re seeing it transcend the fan experience.”
RELATED: KC Current mark historic opening of CPKC Stadium
KEEP CASHING IN: The Portland Thorns last week signed F Sophia Smith to a $2M annual contract, making her the latest player to hold the claim as being the highest-paid player in the NWSL. Berman said, “It’s the continuation of what we’ve seen over the last couple of years, which is a recognition, frankly by our ownership groups, that we have to invest in these athletes.” She later added, “This season, I think it’s the fourth time that the record has been broken for the highest-paid player in our league, all in the last three to four weeks.”
NEVER FORGET: Storm noted it is “amazing how this league has moved on from such a dark period” just a couple years ago that was marked by emotional abuse and sexual misconduct. Berman, who was not with the league when that was taking place, said, “We listen to the players. We had to really understand and recognize what their experience had been in order to meet them where they are, and then figure out what the solutions are to be able to build the future league that they had dreamed it could be.” She added, “We put the systems in place that the players knew had their fingerprints on it and was built to trust. That is something that is not a one-and-done. That is a forever journey that we will forever be rooted to in this league” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 4/1).
