NWSL Expands to the Bay Area

(from left) Aly Wagner, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, and Danielle Slaton

TERRELL LLOYD

San Francisco (PSF) - This morning, the NWSL announced their newest expansion team. A woman-led ownership group is bringing women’s soccer back to the Bay Area in 2024. USWNT legends, Aly Wagner, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, and Danielle Slaton. These women, known as the Founding Four, all have connections to the Bay Area, especially through Santa Clara University. The biggest financial investment is coming Sixth Street CEO Alan Waxman and his wife Charlotte. They’ve committed $125 million. $53 million of it will be for the expansion fee, and the rest to building the team’s facilities and staff. Other notable investors include former San Francisco Giants VP of communications Staci Slaughter and Former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and husband Tom Bernthal.

The team has yet to establish a name, but will likely announce it soon. Fans have expressed interest in them choosing names reminiscent of the past women’s teams, the San Jose CyberRays and FC Gold Pride. I would love to see a return to one of these names, or see a name tied closely with the Bay Area.