Reign players Lou Barnes, Jess Fishlock and Olivia van der Jagdt, along with NJ/NY Gotham FC's Sam Hiatt, represent the new investors who are working to bring an amateur women's soccer league, USL W, to Ballard. The professional soccer team will be a sister club to Ballard FC and the new investors will share ownership, providing a path for all soccer players to advance to a first division team.
Ballard FC made the announcement Tuesday, adding that former soccer player and athletic trainer Tiffany Malick has been hired as vice president to oversee the women's team. The club name and brand will debut this fall, and the team is scheduled to play its inaugural season at Interbay Stadium in May 2025. Doubleheaders with sister clubs are also planned.
“As I near the end of my career, I am excited to stay in the sport and continue to grow in the way that I want to,” said Barnes. “What better way to do that than to invest in the city that gave me my career and the community that has welcomed me in so well. It would be awesome to give young girls who want to go professional the same opportunity and show them the path to do so. That was a big factor for me and it's going to be really special going forward.”
Barnes is close friends with former Sounders midfielder and Ballard FC co-founder Lamar Neagle, a men's USL League 2 team playing its inaugural season in 2022 with hopes of providing similar opportunities for women.
Neagle first reached out to Barnes to help her start up a girls' team when she and Fishlock were 12 years old.Number Barnes led the NWSL in games played and minutes played during his season with the Reign.
Van der Jagd (Kent) and Hyatt (Kirkland) are locals, while Ginny Gilder's Seattle Storm supporters, Rough & Tumble Pub owner Jen Barnes in Ballard and former Sounders midfielder Kerryn Rowe are also part of the expanded ownership group.
Ballard FC (7-3-2) will celebrate the announcement of their new investors and new team with Bridges' final home game on Friday at Memorial Stadium. Ballard, which won the USL2 championship last year, is currently second in the Northwest Division standings.
“Playing, training and experiencing in a pre-professional environment is such an important part of a player's development,” Ballard co-founder Sam Gizzetto said. “Obviously, we want to create a cool community atmosphere, but we're also heavily invested in the player experience aspect. Providing these players with that platform and helping them achieve their dreams is something that we care deeply about. That's at the core of what Lou, Jess, Sam and Olo are all about.”
The USL W-League will have its inaugural season in 2022 and currently has 79 teams across the country. Ballard's addition will see it join the six-team Northwest Division, which includes FC Olympia, which recently won the women's division title but lost in the quarterfinals of the USLW playoffs.
Those interested in attending Friday's game can purchase tickets at GoBallardFC.com. For more information about the women's team, including upcoming announcements about branding and tickets, sign up at USLWtoBallard.com.
“I've seen the success Ballard has had and I have a good feeling about the women's side and the support from the community,” Burns said. “The path to going pro has changed a lot now and it's really important to give these girls an opportunity to see if this is what they want to do and give them the resources to get where they want. This will be beneficial for our young players and a great pipeline not only to the NWSL but overseas too. I'm really excited about it.”
