NWSL awards expansion team to Boston, takes league to 15 clubs
Professional women’s soccer is coming back to Boston.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced on Tuesday that it has awarded its next expansion club to Boston. The team, which will begin play in 2026, will be owned and operated by Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSC), which the league calls “an all-female core ownership group led by a diverse and dynamic leadership team with deep local ties.”
“I’m excited to expand the NWSL’s footprint and continue its transformative growth in our return to Boston, one of the world’s most iconic sports cities,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, adding that BUSC brings “an impressive roster of business leaders committed to continuing Boston’s legacy of sports excellence and delivering a successful team to a very passionate fanbase.” Several of BUSC’s investors are tied to other Boston sports teams, including the Celtics and the Red Sox.
The ownership group’s current plan is to renovate White Stadium in Franklin Park, expanding its seating to approximately 11,000 and adding an event space. The NWSL’s average attendance across the league has grown from 7,917 in 2022 to 9,667 so far in 2023.
Boston NWSL team will become the region’s seventh pro sports team across all sports and the second pro soccer team after MLS side New England Revolution, who are based in Foxborough, Mass.
The news of Boston being awarded a team comes five months after it was confirmed that a consortium led by led by four former United States women’s national team players had been approved to launch the 14th team in California’s Bay Area in 2024, later revealed to be titled Bay FC. The 13th team, also joining in 2024, are the returning Utah Royals.
