NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman to Make Major Soccer Announcement in Columbus on April 21 at 3:30 p.m.

The National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman is scheduled to make a major announcement in Columbus on April 21, 2026, regarding the potential addition of an 18th franchise to the league.

The press conference is set for 3:30 p.m. At a location in Columbus and will include Haslam Sports Group managing partner Whitney Haslam Johnson, Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther, City Council president Shannon Hardin, Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley, Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker, and Crew investor Dr. Christine Edwards.

Haslam Sports Group, led by Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who also own the Cleveland Browns, has spearheaded the bid to bring an NWSL franchise to Columbus. The ownership group also includes Columbus-based insurance company Nationwide, Crew minority-owner Dr. Pete Edwards, and Haslam Sports Group managing partners J.W. Johnson and Whitney Haslam Johnson.

If the bid is selected, the franchise would make its NWSL debut in 2028, with home games played at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, where Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew currently hosts its home matches.

Earlier on April 21, 2026, the Franklin County Commissioners agreed to contribute $25 million to help build the team’s training facility. The Columbus City Council had previously agreed to provide an additional $25 million in public funds for the same facility, which will be constructed at McCoy Park in Downtown Columbus.

The public funding package includes provisions for upgrades at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to accommodate a second team. Under the City Council agreement, the city will be repaid for its contributions through a 2% ticket tax on all events held at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The county agreement requires the team to remain in Columbus for 25 years if the franchise is awarded.

Columbus was the first city to publicly confirm a bid for the 18th NWSL expansion franchise. As of the date of the announcement, no other city has been publicly linked to a competing bid for the expansion slot.

The NWSL’s most recent expansion franchise was awarded to Atlanta, which began play in 2024 after Arthur Blank’s AMB Sports & Entertainment paid a reported $165 million for the expansion fee. A Columbus team would follow a similar timeline, with league play scheduled to start in 2028 if approved.