Denver lands new NWSL franchise with plans for new stadium
Denver NWSL becomes the first women’s professional sports team in a major national league to call the Mile High City home.
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DENVER — The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has awarded a new team to Denver, the league announced Thursday.
The Denver NWSL team will be the league's 16th franchise and will begin play in the 2026 season. The new team becomes Denver's first women’s professional sports team in a major national league.
The new Denver NWSL franchise said it is finalizing plans for a purpose-built stadium for professional women’s soccer and a dedicated, purpose-built performance facility for female athletes. The team said more information about the stadium will be available as plans are finalized.
The team's name, crest, colors and brand identity will also be announced at a later date.
Gov. Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, NWSL Commission Jessica Berman, controlling team owner Rob Cohen and others will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. to celebrate the new team.
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The NWSL said the new team will be owned by local and national investors including:
- Rob Cohen
- Project Level, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Chairwoman Mellody Hobson and former Washington Commanders President Jason Wright
- FirstTracks Sports Ventures LLC (FTSV), led by siblings Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri and Molly Coors.
Cohen will serve as the club’s controlling owner and governor with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s alternate governor.
Cohen is the Chairman and CEO of insurance brokerage IMA Financial Group. Cohen is a founding member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) and is the Chair of the Games Hospitality Committee.
Hobson is a part-owner of the Denver Broncos, part of the team's Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group.
“Denver is one of the best sports cities in the United States and we are thrilled to bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado,” said Cohen. “We believe that bringing NWSL to Denver will be impactful and transformative. 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. We look forward to collaborating with our community to make Denver NWSL an inclusive and special club that all of Colorado can rally behind.”
“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,” said Jessica Berman, Commissioner of the NWSL. “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. With this ownership group’s vision and dedication, we are confident that Denver NWSL will set new standards for excellence on and off the pitch, inspiring the next generation of players and supporters across the Rocky Mountain region.”
Fans can place a deposit for season tickets for the Denver NWSL club at DenverNWSL.com.
