NWSL Kicks Off 14th Season with New Teams and Returning Stars

League looks to capitalize on surge in women's sports popularity and summer soccer focus

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:08pm

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The National Women's Soccer League is embarking on its 14th season with two new teams, the Denver Summit and the Boston Legacy, bringing the league to 16 teams. The season will feature the return of star players like Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman, who re-signed with the Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit respectively. The league has also expanded its broadcast partnerships and is hoping to benefit from the attention on soccer during the men's World Cup being held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada this summer.

Why it matters

The NWSL is looking to build on the growing popularity of women's sports and capitalize on the increased focus on soccer during the men's World Cup. The addition of two new teams and the return of high-profile players like Wilson and Rodman should help drive interest and viewership for the league.

The details

The NWSL season kicks off on Friday with a matchup between the Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit, featuring the star duo of Sophia Wilson and Trinity Rodman. Wilson sat out last season to give birth to her daughter but has signed a one-year extension with the Thorns. Rodman re-signed with the Spirit after lengthy contract negotiations that led to the league's new 'High Impact Player' rule, which allows teams to exceed the salary cap to sign elite players. The league has also expanded its broadcast partnerships, adding a new deal with Victory+ to air 57 games for free this season.

  • The 2026 NWSL season begins on Friday, March 14.
  • The Denver Summit will play their home opener against the Washington Spirit on March 28 at Empower Field at Mile High.
  • The Boston Legacy will make their debut on Saturday, March 15 against defending NWSL champion Gotham FC.

The players

Sophia Wilson

A star player for the Portland Thorns who sat out the 2025 season for the birth of her daughter, but has signed a one-year contract extension with the team for the 2026 season.

Trinity Rodman

A high-profile player for the Washington Spirit who re-signed with the team after lengthy contract negotiations that led to the NWSL's new 'High Impact Player' rule.

Denver Summit

One of two new NWSL expansion teams joining the league for the 2026 season, set to play their home games at Empower Field at Mile High.

Boston Legacy

The other new NWSL expansion team for 2026, set to play their home games at Gillette Stadium.

Jessica Berman

The commissioner of the NWSL, who has overseen the league's expansion and broadcast deals.

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What they’re saying

“The mechanism of the High Impact Player rule actually rewards or creates an incentive for clubs to not only go out and sign elite players, but it creates space within the salary cap to surround that player with other top talent.”

— Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner (washingtonpost.com)

“I hope, when we look back on the season, that the challenges it created will dwarf in comparison to the opportunities it created because of the benefit and halo effect of the men's World Cup more broadly. Our strategy around the summer of soccer is going to be a key area of focus for us.”

— Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner (washingtonpost.com)

What’s next

The NWSL will pause play during part of the men's World Cup this summer, but the league is hoping to capitalize on the increased attention on soccer during the tournament.

The takeaway

The NWSL is poised for a strong 14th season, with the return of star players, the addition of two new expansion teams, and a focus on leveraging the popularity of women's sports and the men's World Cup to drive viewership and interest in the league.