US women’s soccer’s elite NWSL has announced the location of its newest expansion franchise as Columbus, Ohio, with regional multi-sport ownership group Haslam Sports Group (HSG) leading the ownership consortium.
HSG, which already owns the Columbus Crew men’s soccer franchise and the Cleveland Browns American football team, will be joined by insurance company Nationwide and individual investors Christine and Pete Edwards as the franchise’s ownership group.
Speaking on the announcement, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said: “We are setting a new standard for what's possible in women's soccer, with a powerful signal of where women's sports is headed. Columbus is the next chapter in the story.
“This is a city that has long been at the heart of American soccer, a community that understands the power of sport and the power of community.”
Whitney Haslam Johnson, HSG managing partner, added: “We believe in the power of women’s sports and are humbled to be part of the number one women’s soccer league in the world. Sports are one of today’s greatest unifiers and are incredible for their communities. The NWSL will have a significant impact on Columbus within and beyond sports, now and for future generations.”
The franchise will play its games at the 20,371-capacity ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, home of the Columbus Crew, which has hosted the US Women’s National Team no fewer than 13 times.
Alongside the stadium, the Columbus NWSL ownership group has also committed to building a new training center in the area that will open ahead of the 2028 season.
HSG acquired the Columbus Crew in 2019 and completed the construction of the stadium in 2021.
Since the acquisition, the team has remained one of the best-supported teams in MLS and has won the MLS Cup in 2020 and 2023, as well as the regional Leagues Cup in 2024.
Reportedly, the group paid an expansion fee of $205 million, which would be an NWSL record, far exceeding what US business magnate and multi-sport team owner Arthur M. Blank reputedly paid ($165 million) for the upcoming Atlanta NWSL franchise.
The league announced Atlanta as its 17th franchise in November, and that team will also enter the league in 2028.
The NWSL has seen rapid growth since its inaugural season in 2019, which featured nine teams, and Berman has made it her goal to continue the positive expansion trend.
