NWSL Commissioner spoke to the media on Sunday.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–On Sunday, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Commissioner Jessica Berman spoke to the media during halftime of the match between the Chicago Red Stars and Gotham FC and spoke of the opportunities and challenges facing the women’s game following the successful Women’s Euro 2022 in England last month.
Berman started with how Women’s Euro 2022 as well as recent games involving FC Barcelona Women validated the game in Europe and what opportunities that could be learned on this side of the Atlantic in translating national team success into success of the domestic league.
“Starting with the sporting side, it was very validating,” said Berman. “Anyone who was there in person certainly walked away seeing what’s possible. It reminded me of the Angel City opener when people were really there to watch the soccer and because the sport was taking over. The fact that it was women’s soccer was just a bonus. It wasn’t about a social statement or anything like that. It was really more the sport at its best, globally.
“I think [England] did a good job translating the country discussion into club and really beginning to educate the soccer fan which I think we need to do here as well. This ecosystem is symbiotic. We need the club side to be successful in order for the country side to thrive and vice-versa.
“You can’t just come out to support the national team. You have to go buy your season ticket and support the club team because that’s actually where these players are becoming great. That’s the same for us as well.”
Berman was at the World Leagues Forum and presented on behalf of the NWSL and what she called a unique value proposition as they work independent of US Soccer and Major League Soccer.
“Our league is independent of the men’s league and independent of the federation,” said Berman. “That is a unique construct globally and puts us in a unique position to really to claim our authenticity about how we grow our game.
“Some of the challenges that some of the women’s leagues face in other countries is that they’re in the shadow of the men’s league and we don’t have that challenge for a number of reasons. Some of it is structure and governance other is that our sort of halo and tailwinds is really the US Women’s National Team and the fact that those players are playing in our league. That’s what they observed as our unique value proposition. I think our challenges here in this country are quite different than the men’s game and certainly there are areas where we will and already do partner to solve mutual challenges. I know it was really interesting to understand how we are perceived globally and what they perceive is our superpower.”
Indeed, leagues like the Barclay’s Women’s Soccer League (coming to Paramount+ who also streams NWSL matches), La Liga Feminina, and Frauen Bundesliga are among the leagues that may stake a claim to being the best women’s league in the world if they’re not doing so already. One test will come later this month when the Women’s Cup takes place in Louisville featuring Racing Louisville and OL Reign of the NWSL, Tokyo Verdy of Japan, Club America of Liga MX Feminine, Tottenham Hotspur of FAWSL, and AC Milan of Italy.
FIRE: Chicago Fire FC have gone from worst in the league to above the playoff line in five matches. They are 4-0-1 in those five matches and won consecutive road matches for the first time in league play in almost nine years. It was a challenge to go to Vancouver and Charlotte to get six points total, but now the challenge will be going to East leaders Philadelphia and get something out of that match to keep around the playoff line.
RED STARS: After the Red Stars snapped a mini-losing streak over Gotham FC on Sunday, they now face a challenge of four successive road matches starting on Sunday against Angel City FC (7pm CT, CBS Sports Network). The Red Stars currently sit fourth in the table, but just two points from first-place Portland. Angel City are currently in seventh and three points behind sixth-place OL Reign. The LA club have won just one of their last five and will be looking to get back on track at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday night.
Chicago Fire
Chicago Red Stars
