Jeff Kassouf
Nov 21, 2024, 07:35 PM ET
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is a part of the possession group making an attempt to deliver an NWSL growth workforce to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is one in every of a handful of finalists bidding for an NWSL growth workforce that’s anticipated to be awarded earlier than the top of the 12 months. The workforce would start play in 2026, becoming a member of a beforehand introduced growth workforce in Boston to deliver the NWSL to 16 groups.
“The NWSL Cincinnati bid workforce is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our possession group in pursuit of bringing a ladies’s skilled soccer workforce to our metropolis,” the NWSL Cincinnati bid workforce stated in an announcement to ESPN.
“Her ardour for the game, dedication to elevating ladies’s sports activities in and across the Higher Cincinnati area, and affect as an athlete and function mannequin for girls and ladies all over the world, make her a significant a part of our compelling bid to turn into the sixteenth workforce within the NWSL.”
Clark was chosen first within the WNBA draft this 12 months by the Fever after breaking the NCAA scoring document on the College of Iowa. She received WNBA Rookie of the 12 months in 2024 and have become the primary rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Workforce.
The possession group of MLS workforce FC Cincinnati is main the bid. Additionally in rivalry are teams from Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia. Cincinnati is taken into account one of many favorites within the course of due to its possession backing and present infrastructure, sources advised ESPN, with a stadium already purpose-built for soccer.
Cleveland, Denver and Philadelphia all hope to construct stadiums and play in non permanent venues upon launching in 2026 if their bid is accepted, a number of sources stated. The group in Cleveland, which a number of sources additionally contemplate to have a robust bid, not too long ago introduced that it acquired the downtown land on which it intends to construct a stadium.
A number of sources stated the growth price for the sixteenth NWSL workforce might method $100 million. Boston and Bay FC, which started play this 12 months, every paid $53 million to enter the league after being chosen in 2023.
The latest course of began earlier this 12 months with a few dozen serious inquiries in the first stage of bidding.
Caitlin Clark a part of Cincinnati group in NWSL growth bid
