Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Denver are finalists for the NWSL's new expansion team, expected to launch in 2026. Cleveland's bid includes a plan for a 12,500-seat stadium.

On the eve of the NWSL championship in Kansas City, commissioner Jessica Berman addressed a wide range of issues facing the league. She reflected on a historic 2024 season with record viewership after the first year of the league’s new media rights deal and hinted at some of what lies ahead for NWSL expansion.

After nearly a year of the expansion race to earn the league's 16th franchise, groups vying for the bid from Cincinnati, Denver and Cleveland comprise what's left of the race, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said during a Friday news conference. Not mentioned during the prepared remarks on expansion were the groups from Nashville and Philadelphia.