National Women's Soccer League owners

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) owners own a share in the National Women's Soccer League and have the right to operate a team. Players' rights to play in the league are controlled by a team.[1] Each NWSL team has an investor-operator that is a shareholder in the league. The league has a profit-sharing arrangement amongst the teams.[2]

As of December 2020, the league has 11 investor-operators for its 10 current and one future clubs.

List of NWSL owners
Angel City FC (starts play in 2022)
Chicago Red Stars
  • Arnim Whisler (2012–present)[5]
Houston Dash
Kansas City
  • Lead investors: Angie and Chris Long; other minority investors including Jen Gulvik and Brittany Matthews (2020–present; starts play in 2021)[8]
North Carolina Courage
Orlando Pride
  • Flávio Augusto da Silva (majority) and Phil Rawlins (minority) (2015–2018)
  • Flávio Augusto da Silva (majority), Phil Rawlins (minority), Albert Friedberg minority (2018–present)[10]
OL Reign
Portland Thorns FC
Racing Louisville FC
Sky Blue FC
  • Phil Murphy (majority), Steven Temares, Thomas Hofstetter (2012–present)[12]
Washington Spirit
  • Bill Lynch (2012–2018)[13]
  • Steve Baldwin (majority) and Bill Lynch (minority) (2018–present)[14]

List of defunct NWSL teams
Boston Breakers
  • Michael Stoller, Boston Women's Soccer, LLC (2012–2018)[15]
FC Kansas City
  • Chris Likens, Brad Likens, Greg Likens, and Brian Budzinski (Missouri Comets owners) (2012–2017)[16]
  • Elam Baer (2017)[17]
Utah Royals FC
Western New York Flash

See also

References
  1. "Roster Rules". National Women's Soccer Legue. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. Murray, Caitlin (October 13, 2017). "A Blueprint for Women's Sports Success. But Can It Be Copied?". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. "Natalie Portman part of L.A. ownership group for NWSL expansion team in 2022". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  4. "Angel City Confirms Name as Angel City Football Club and Officially Joins National Women's Soccer League" (Press release). National Women’s Soccer League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  5. Herrera, Sandra (2018-03-09). "Independently Chicago: One-On-One With Red Stars Owner Arnim Whisler". Hot Time In Old Town. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  6. "MLS: Brener is new Dynamo majority owner". ESPN.com. 2015-12-16. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  7. "Rockets' James Harden joins ownership of Dynamo and Dash". Houston Chronicle. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  8. "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. Editors, Soccer Stadium Digest (2017-01-10). "New for 2017: North Carolina Courage". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved 2019-03-09.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  10. "Orlando City owner sells minority stake". ESPN.com. 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  11. Oregonlive.Com (2012-12-15). "What they're saying about Portland Thorns FC crest and team name (links)". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  12. "Reports: Phil Murphy's soccer team struggles with poor management, housing and facilities". North Jersey. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  13. Goff, Stephen (December 27, 2018). "NWSL's Washington Spirit hires Richie Burke as head coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  14. October 10; 2018. "Washington Spirit Owner May Sell Majority Stake In NWSL Club". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. "Last-gasp bid to save Boston Breakers soccer team fell short - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  16. "FC Kansas City announces new ownership". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  17. "FC KANSAS CITY UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP". SoccerToday. 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  18. McDonald, Ryan (2018-09-12). "'Jump on this train, because it's going somewhere': Utah Royals FC ends 1st season with eye toward future". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  19. "WNY Flash moving to North Carolina, report says". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
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