In November, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman announced Atlanta as the league’s 17th franchise. At the same time, Berman let the soccer world know that No. 18 was on its way by the end of 2026.
The wait ended on Tuesday, as the league announced Columbus as its latest expansion city. Columbus will begin play in 2028.
With a backdrop of ScottsMiracle-Gro Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, Berman announced the addition of the new franchise under the ownership of Jimmy and Dee Haslam, owners of the Crew, the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and partial ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. and a list of ownership and local officials made Columbus’ addition to the league official.
“Columbus has shown what’s possible when a community rallies behind its team, and that same spirit is reflected in this ownership group,” Berman told the audience.
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Haslam Sports Group managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson and investor Dr. Christine Edwards also spoke on the historic day for women’s soccer in Ohio’s capital city.
“We will build world-class facilities, including a brand new training facility and a state-of-the-art women’s locker room here at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field,” Haslem Johnson told the audience.
Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker was also on hand for the announcement to represent the Columbus-based insurance and financial services company. The Fortune 100 company is part of the ownership group alongside the Haslam family. Since March 2021, Nationwide sponsored the NWSL, and in the last two seasons sponsored the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, which honors one league player for their community service.
“As we thought, how could we celebrate our 100th anniversary and celebrate and give back to our city and the state that has been so incredible to us,” Walker told the audience. “Helping to bring an NWSL team to Columbus and the state of Ohio is our way of saying thank you to this community.”
When Columbus Mayor Anthony Ginther took the stage, he talked about the timeline of bringing the team to the city. “In June of last year, Shannan and I met with Dee and Jimmy Haslam, talking to Dr. Pete [Edwards], Dr. Chris [Edwards] and we said, ‘let’s take this journey together,'” Ginther told the audience.
That training center was a requirement to earn the bid, although it did not come without its bumps. The Columbus bid had a contentious last month in the public spotlight due to a proposed training ground in Southwest Columbus. McCoy Park, a large plot of green space that featured sports fields frequented by residents, landed in the hands of the Haslam family through work with Ginther’s administration.
However, local leaders and the city began plans in 2023 to turn the land into a recreation center. Those plans included adaptive fields and playgrounds for area youth.
On Monday, the Columbus City Council ended the public debate when it voted 5-3 to allow the Haslam land purchase contingent on a $3 million payment to the city from the NWSL ownership group towards the new park and a rapid timeline to buy land and plan for a new park in Southwest Columbus.
“No one will be left behind in the opportunity this team will create that includes girls and women, boys and men, taxpayers and the residents of the southwest side,” said Ginther.
Ginther was on hand for the announcement, alongside Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley. Absent was Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, who was listed on the event announcement. The city and county gave the Haslam ownership group $50 million dollars towards the franchise’s training center. Half of that comes from a 2% tax on events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field until the $25 million dollars is paid back.
This season, Columbus hosts the NWSL Challenge Cup on Jun 27, 2026, between Gotham FC and KC Current. In addition, the stadium will host 2028 Summer Olympic matches for both the men’s and women’s competitions.