Columbus pro women's soccer team announced
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Columbus has been awarded the 18th National Women's Soccer League franchise. Photo: Courtesy of the Columbus Crew
A day after the city of Columbus approved a deal paving the way for a National Women's Soccer League expansion franchise, the league officially awarded the city a team that will start play in 2028.
Why it matters: An NWSL franchise marks the biggest step toward the city's "women's sports capital" ambitions. The announcement follows a contentious exchange with the public over using city funds and park space for the team.
Driving the news: NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman was in Columbus on Tuesday to award the league's 18th team to an ownership group including Crew owners Haslam Sports Group (HSG) and Pete Edwards, plus the company Nationwide.
- The yet-unnamed team will play its games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field and build a "premier training center" on the McCoy Park space given by city council.
Behind the scenes: Berman said the league has been in touch with HSG leadership about expansion since 2022 and that "this was moving forward in a very serious way" around six months ago.
- The ownership group is paying a record $205 million expansion fee to join the league, the Dispatch reports.
- Columbus and Franklin County both contributed $25 million in addition to the park space.
Between the lines: The NWSL team will leverage Crew amenities and shared services but will "have its own resources" for ticketing, marketing and operations, HSG managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson told reporters.
Friction point: Crew president of business operations Mary Shepro tells Axios the team is "committed" to community park space.
- Berman said the public-private partnership that resulted in the training ground space was "a critical component to how we evaluate an expansion bid."
- City Council is also requiring park development ideas in Southwest Columbus in lieu of new amenities that had already been proposed for McCoy Park.
The big picture: Ownership and city leaders touted NWSL's importance to Columbus' girls at the team announcement.
- Berman referenced Billie Jean King's famous "If you can see it, you can be it" quote about how pro women's sports can open pathways and imaginations.
- "We are so fortunate in 2026 to be at a time where this next generation doesn't view it as an aberration that they can dream of playing professionally," Berman told reporters.
What we're watching: Johnson immediately set high expectations for Columbus' support of the team.
- "We're going to sell out the stadium, just like we do every Crew game."