The National Women’s Soccer League awarded an expansion franchise to Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday. The new team will join the league in 2028 as its 18th member, alongside an expansion team in Atlanta. Two other new clubs, Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC, debuted this season.
The franchise is owned by a consortium led by the Haslam Sports Group, which also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and MLS’s Columbus Crew and holds a stake in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. The ownership group includes the insurance company Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards. A source stated the group paid an expansion fee of $205 million, surpassing the $165 million fee paid by Atlanta.
The team will play at the 20,000-seat ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, which will be refurbished to accommodate the women’s team. Plans include a new training facility funded by $50 million in public funds, split evenly between the city and the county. While the facility faced criticism for being located in a park in an underserved community that was slated for renovation, the owners will instead contribute toward a new park for the community.
Official team names, colors, and crests will be determined with input from fans across Ohio. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman noted that Columbus has a rich soccer tradition and a proven track record of support at the highest level. HSG managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson expressed excitement about the power of women’s sports and the significant impact the league will have on Columbus within and beyond sports for future generations.