Bend It Like Berman

jessica berman
A lot of NWSL’s growth has taken place under commissioner Jessica Berman, who announced last week that the league had signed a new labor deal a full two years before the current one expires Photo: Tim Heitman/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images
John Ourand
August 27, 2024

The National Women’s Soccer League has been on a recent tear—locking in significant revenue increases via its new media deals, signed last fall, and enjoying the bounce provided by Willow Bay and Bob Iger’s purchase of a controlling stake in Angel City FC, which values the franchise at $250 million. Of course, the Olympic women’s team gold medal victory in Paris, watched by 9 million people—the most viewers since the Athens Games in 2004—further enhanced the sport’s profile.