Bay Collective announced it acquired a majority stake in Sunderland AFC this week, expanding its global women's football portfolio beyond the NWS's Bay FC.
The multi-club ownership platform, led by Kay Cossington MBE and backed by investment firm Sixth Street, aims to launch a new era for the historic Northeast England mainstay.
"We are committed to honoring Sunderland Women's DNA and legacy, protecting what makes this club and community so special," said Cossington.
"We're supporting the players, staff, and the Academy with cutting-edge resources, infrastructure, and training models tailored to the unique needs of women athletes."
Sunderland AFC currently sits eighth in the second-tier WSL2 standings with two matches remaining this season. The club also houses a productive academies, after developing England national team stars Beth Mead, Jill Scott, Steph Houghton, and Lucy Bronze.
Founded in 1879, Sunderland represents one of English football's most historic institutions. While Bay Collective assumes operational control, the club will retain a minority stake pending approvals.
The acquisition mirrors recent trends in women's soccer as NWSL ownership groups expand internationally. Bay FC now joins the Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current as operating under multi-club models with European investments.
Bay Collective launched in 2025 with Bay FC as its inaugural franchise. The platform focuses on building women's football clubs that win on the pitch while subsequently thriving on a commercial level.
WSL side Liverpool opened their 2025/26 League Cup campaign with an emotional 5-0 win over WSL2 club Sunderland on Wednesday, dedicating the shutout victory to former manager Matt Beard after the 47-year-old's sudden passing last Saturday.
The match marked the Reds' return to the pitch following the postponement of their Sunday regular-season game against Aston Villa due to Beard's passing.
"It's a good win for Matt. We played with a lot of emotion," Liverpool defender Jenna Clark said afterwards, calling Wednesday "a really emotional night and an emotional few days for everyone involved with the club."
"We have pulled through together as a team the best we could and you saw that on the pitch tonight," Clark added.
Beard won back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014, departing the Reds in 2015 for a two-year stint with the NWSL's Boston Breakers.
He made his return to Liverpool in 2021, lifting the club back into the top-flight WSL by earning promotion his first season back at the helm.
"Matt will leave a huge void in the women's game," USWNT head coach and former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said in a statement earlier this week. "He was one of a kind, and his loss will be felt by all. My heart goes out to his family, but I want to take the time to acknowledge what a special man he really was."
How to watch Liverpool this weekend
Liverpool will continue their 2025/26 WSL campaign against Manchester United this Sunday, kicking off live at 7 AM ET on ESPN+.