Commissioner Berman’s next moves could shape NWSL’s future – Equalizer Soccer

Photo Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

This holiday season brings a mix of cheers and jeers for National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman.

A record eight NWSL teams made the Forbes annual list of the world’s most valuable sports teams. Atlanta will join the league as its 17th team, having paid a record-high $165 million for expansion rights. The league also garnered record-breaking TV audiences this year for its Championship game on platforms like ESPN. 

Crucially, two of the United States women’s national team’s brightest stars, Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman, are seemingly choosing to remain stateside. On December 16, Sportico first reported that Wilson officially became the league’s highest-paid player as she exercised her $1 million player option with the Portland Thorns. 

It serves as a counterpoint to the narrative about the league’s difficulty retaining elite American players, like Alyssa Thompson and Naomi Girma.

However, that is where things get complicated.