Soccer-Denver to join NWSL in 2026 after franchise award

Jan 30 (Reuters) - Denver, Colorado has become the latest city to benefit from the National Women's Soccer League's rapid expansion after being awarded a franchise on Thursday that will join the NWSL in the 2026 season.

Denver is the second franchise awarded by the NWSL during this round of expansion and brings the total number of clubs in the league to 16 with Boston, who were awarded a team in 2023, also scheduled to begin playing next year.

The ownership group of the Denver club, which is the first women's professional sports team in a major national league to call the Mile High City home, is led by insurance brokerage IMA Financial Group CEO Rob Cohen.

"As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match," NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a news release.

"The club's plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike."

The team's name, crest, colors and brand identity will be announced at a later date.

Cohen was part of the Salt Lake City bid committee that was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games, and in 2001 founded the Denver Sports Commission whose mission is to bring professional athletic competitions to Colorado's capital city.

"We believe that bringing NWSL to Denver will be impactful and transformative," said Cohen. "Our goal is to work closely with Denver's diverse communities to build a club that will operate with integrity and excellence from day one."