NWSL announces Denver as its 16th franchise, to begin play in the 2026 season

It's official: The NWSL is coming to Denver. The league announced on Thursday that Denver will be its 16th franchise, beginning play in the 2026 season. It will be Denver's first women's professional sports team in a major national league.

A group led by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen is reportedly paying a record expansion fee of $110 million. That total is more than double the $53 million paid by Bay FC and Boston when they were awarded entry, and is reportedly the largest expansion fee ever paid for a U.S. women's sports team.

The franchise is finalizing plans to build a dedicated stadium and performance facility for professional women's soccer. The team name, crest and colors will be announced later.

“As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match,” commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “The club’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike. With this ownership group’s vision and dedication, we are confident that Denver NWSL will set new standards for excellence on and off the pitch, inspiring the next generation of players and supporters across the Rocky Mountain region.”

Bay FC and the Utah Royals played their inaugural seasons in 2024. Boston will be the NWSL's next team to enter, beginning with the 2026 season, and is currently "revisiting" its team name after the initial rollout received backlash.

Denver was one of three cities that NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said last November were in the running for an expansion franchise along with Cincinnati, where Caitlin Clark was part of the ownership bid, and Cleveland, where a development group recently bought land intended for a women's soccer stadium.