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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is part of the ownership group bidding to bring an NWSL expansion team to Cincinnati, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The NWSL, which has already added Boston as an expansion destination, is planning to add one more team to bring the league to 16 teams. Cincinnati is one of five cities considered to be a finalist for an expansion team.
Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia are the other four teams in the mix for an expansion team. According to ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf, the ownership group of MLS’ FC Cincinnati is leading the bid.
Cincinnati already has the infrastructure for a team with TQL Stadium, the home of FC Cincinnati, already in existence. Cincinnati’s backing from an MLS ownership group also helps its case.
Should Cleveland, Denver or Philadelphia be selected as an expansion team, they would build temporary venues ahead of 2026, when the new teams will make their debuts. According to Kassouf, the group making a bid in Cleveland has already acquired land downtown where a stadium would be built.
Nashville already has a stadium built for soccer where Nashville SC of the MLS plays.
Clark, who was drafted No. 1 overall earlier this year after breaking the NCAA scoring record at Iowa, had an outstanding rookie year, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game on her way to the Rookie of the Year award. She was also the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Team.
Now in the WNBA’s offseason, Clark seems to be staying busy as she tries to get Cincinnati a new soccer team.
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