The NWSL will add two teams in 2024, ESPN reported Thursday. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed that the league is courting investor groups and aims to select the expansion franchises by the end of this year.

Berman has heard from “over 30 investor groups” interested in the NWSL, she said, though just a handful are ready to hit the ground running, sources told ESPN. While 2023 is “100% off the table,” Berman said, the league plans to add teams the following year.

Utah is expected to host one of those teams, according to ESPN. David Blitzer and Ryan Smith bought MLS’s Real Salt Lake earlier this year, and they have been vocal about wanting to bring a NWSL team back to the area. Blitzer said in January that the return of the Royals was a matter of “when, not if,” and sources told ESPN they expect a team in Utah in 2024.

Road blocks to the Royals’ return remain, though. A fixed fee for the reactivation of the franchise, believed to be approximately $2 million, was set 18 months ago by a previous NWSL commissioner, and the fee has since been increased to keep pace with rising NWSL valuations.

“We’re working with them to figure out what that means,” Berman told ESPN. “The process is underway. There are steps that need to be taken still in order to be in a position to be able to say, yes, in fact, that is happening.”

As for other possible expansion destinations, soccer journalist Grant Wahl reported in May that MLS teams in Atlanta, Austin, Cincinnati and Toronto all are interested. St. Louis and Nashville have also expressed interest, according to ESPN.

Prospective teams must meet three criteria at minimum, Berman said: a wealthy ownership group that is committed to the team, a strong market for fans, and a viable venue for professional soccer.

“I want to approach this group in a very transparent and democratic process, because we really want the best investors and partners for our board,” Berman said. “It’s not necessarily the case that just because someone has contacted us more, that we favor them. We’re going to make the best decision for the league.”

The fee for an expansion team could sit around $10 million, league sources told ESPN. But according to Berman, the market will determine the price when the time comes.

The possibility of relocation was also addressed. USL W League team Minnesota Aurora FC, which recently made its debut, has showcased the market for professional soccer in the state and the Pride were sold last year to the Wilf family, who also owns the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

But according to Berman, the relocation of a franchise like the Pride is not on the table, at least right now. Jarrod Dillon, Orlando’s President of Business Operations, also dispelled the rumors in a tweet Friday, saying “there are ZERO discussions selling or relocating” the Pride.

“Relocation is always the last resort, absolutely last resort,” Berman said. “I don’t think there’s a single market that we’re in today that can’t be successful. I believe that we have some work to do to help our teams be better, but relocation would be an absolute last resort.

“We have so much going on right now. As I describe it, the plane is in the air while we are also trying to think about the future of the league.”

The 2025 NWSL Championship claimed a major viewership milestone on Saturday, as Gotham FC's 1-0 title win over the Washington Spirit became the first-ever league match to record an average of more than one million viewers.

The CBS evening broadcast averaged an impressive 1.184 million fans and peaked at 1.55 million viewers, making it the most-watched NWSL match of all time.

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The 2025 final marked a 22% viewership increase over the 967,900 fans who watched 2024's Orlando Pride victory — the previous NWSL viewership record-holder — and a 45% ratings gain over Gotham's 2023 championship win, which averaged 816,800 viewers.

Saturday's gains both matched the 22% viewership increase the NWSL regular season saw this year and also far exceeded the 2025 postseason's pre-final year-over-year increase of 5%.

Calling the one-million viewer mark "an extraordinary achievement" in Tuesday's league statement, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman also noted that the "record-setting audience demonstrates the deepening connection fans have with our players, our clubs, and the world-class competition on the field, and it underscores the growing demand for women's soccer on the biggest stages."

"We're incredibly proud of what this moment represents for the NWSL and for everyone who continues to invest in and believe in the future of our game," Berman added.

Incoming offseason league Project B scored more major WNBA signings this week, as the upstart venture continues stacking its roster ahead of a planned November 2026 launch.

Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both publicly signed on with Project B, joining already announced talent like Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, and Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd.

Also inking deals to join the inaugural season of Project B are Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, and Li Meng, a former Washington Mystics guard and current player in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association.

The multi-continent, Formula One-style traveling tournament circuit will ultimately sign 66 international stars, as Project B looks to field six 11-player teams in its debut 2026/2027 campaign.

Project B player signings will undoubtedly impact other offseason leagues like Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited, but the new venture is also looming large over the ongoing WNBA CBA talks.

With negotiations racing toward this Sunday's extended deadline, Project B is putting WNBA compensation offerings under increased pressure, as the new league is reportedly anteing up multimillion-dollar salaries to its signees — far exceeding the 2025 WNBA maximum as well as the $1.1 million-max currently on the negotiating table.

World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.

The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.

Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.

To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.

Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.

While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.

A full 19 months removed from their back-to-back Final Four runs, No. 11 Iowa basketball refuses to go away, with the Hawkeyes already notching one Top-25 win in the young 2025/26 NCAA campaign so far.

The still-unbeaten Hawkeyes took down No. 15 Baylor 57-52 last Thursday, with Iowa starting post players Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combining for 28 points while guard Taylor Stremlow added another 12 off the bench in the marquee win.

"We have nice pieces," said Iowa head coach Jan Jensen this week. "But it's knowing when to play which pieces and with whom, and we're six games in."

The Hawkeyes have been finding their new identity under Jensen after a transformative period saw Iowa's longtime head coach Lisa Bluder retire while superstar guard Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA.

"Jan's been amazing," Stuelke told JWS at the Big Ten Media Day in October. "She stepped up like she needed to, and she's been growing every day since she's been the head coach, which it's really cool to see she cares. And it's a great environment for all of us."

"I have a year under my belt," Jensen echoed. "I know what this chair feels like now, and I have a little better of understanding of what that first road trip feels like, what that first big win feels like, or the tough loss feels like."

Iowa's season heats up with a ranked rivalry matchup against No. 10 Iowa State on Wednesday, December 10th.

The state rivals will tip off at 7 PM ET, with live coverage airing on ESPN.