WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined the investment group behind the bid for a National Women’s Soccer League team in Cincinnati, according to sources at The Athletic.
The Indiana Fever guard has taken the WNBA by storm this season, winning the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star team — the first rookie to achieve this since Candace Parker in 2008. Now she wants to invest in women’s soccer.
Clark, who is well-known to have played both basketball and soccer growing up, has joined the NWSL Cincinnati bid team, which consists mostly of members associated with MLS team FC Cincinnati. This investment group is led by Jeff Berding, President and co-CEO of FC Cincinnati.
The current finalists for the NWSL expansion team are narrowed down to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Denver, with a decision expected before the end of the year. The winner will be the 16th team in the NWSL, joining newcomers Boston. Having the star power of Clark, who has already become an icon in women’s sports at 22 years old, will surely do wonders to help their chances. According to ESPN, sources have stated that Cincinnati is already considered favorites due to its infrastructure already in place.
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, Berding compared Caitlin Clark’s ownership legacy to be like Magic Johnson’s:
“I look at someone like Magic Johnson, who has not only been an iconic player but has since owned teams, has helped run teams and really brings his business and playing acumen to what has been a very successful post-playing career. I’m not going to speak for Caitlin, but I believe she has a similar mindset.”
The ownership group also recently announced plans to build a brand-new stadium to support the potential NWSL team, although construction hinges on the result of the bid.
The No. 1 draft pick played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2020 to 2024, where she became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points. She was selected by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft and finished the season with 19.2 points, 8.4 assists (led the league), and 5.7 rebounds over 40 games.
