Photo credit: Barbara J. Perenic-Imagn Images
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced the awarding of its 18th franchise to Columbus, with a record expansion fee of $205 million. This exciting development was reported by multiple sources on Tuesday.
Columbus will join Atlanta as the league’s latest expansion teams, both set to make their debut in 2028.
The new team will play its home games at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, the current stadium for Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC. The ownership group spearheading this expansion includes the Haslam Sports Group, which also owns the Crew.
As reported by ESPN, the ownership group will indeed be paying the unprecedented expansion fee of $205 million. Additionally, plans are in place to renovate the stadium, which will include the addition of a specialized locker room tailored for the NWSL team’s needs.
The announcement comes just a day after the Columbus City Council approved a proposal that includes $25 million aimed at establishing a new training facility to support the professional women’s soccer team in the city.
This latest expansion follows the introduction of Denver Summit and Boston Legacy, who made their NWSL debuts in 2026. Denver set a league record for single-match attendance during its inaugural home opener on March 29, highlighting the growing popularity of women’s soccer in the United States.
