COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Indianapolis works toward applying for an MLS expansion club, there are also discussions about potentially adding a professional women's soccer team.
Mayor Joe Hogsett told local media at Lower Dotcom Field on Tuesday night that there have been discussions but no decisions have been made.
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“I think there's every reason why it would be beneficial for Indianapolis to have both a professional men's MLS team and a professional women's league team, but that's something the ownership group has to decide.”
Indianapolis' current women's team, Indy Eleven, launched in 2022 as part of the USL W-League, a 65-team pre-professional league that began the same year.
Hogsett did not provide details, but there are currently two professional women's soccer leagues: the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the USL Super League.
The NWSL began as an eight-team league in 2013 and has since expanded to 14 teams, with a 15th team (Boston) scheduled to begin play in 2026. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told ESPN's Jeff Kassoff in April that the league was “on track” to select a location and ownership group for its 16th team “early in the fourth quarter.”
NWSL franchise values have risen sharply in recent years, which will undoubtedly lead to increased expansion fees: Bay FC (San Francisco) and Boston paid $53 million, more than 10 times what previous expansion teams paid to join the league.
The USL Super League is scheduled to begin in August 2024 and will feature eight teams in its inaugural season. The USL Super League will conform to the standards of the Division 1 of United States Soccer and, like other leagues, will play a regular soccer schedule from fall through summer.
The USL Super League is the pinnacle of the USL youth-to-professional path, following the USL W-League, USL Academy and USL Youth.
Hogsett said he is involved with the ownership group, but added: “I would really encourage more national teams in soccer, both men's and women's, just as Indy Eleven and the women's team are doing well at the USL level right now.”
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This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: Indy could also add a women's professional soccer team if MLS expansion goes ahead
