Bobby Hammond

Today marks an important milestone for @TheNCCourage as we welcome Avenue Sports Fund to our ownership group. Aligned in both vision and ambition - now positioned to invest further in our players, our fan experience, and the long-term growth of the sport in this community.

In the space of just six years, NWSL expansion fees have risen by an incredible 100 fold from $2 million for a team in Los Angeles to $205 million for the latest new team, announced on Tuesday, in Columbus. Has there ever been a league that has undergone a surge like that in such a short space of time? I don't think there is. The investor profile is changing too. Think back to when Angel City FC joined the league, among much excitement, the original ownership group was made up of a vast cast of celebrities and entrepreneurs, including Natalie Portman and Alexis Ohania. The most recent clubs to have joined have the most traditional and established American sports ownership groups you could imagine: Atlanta with Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL's Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United and of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In Columbus, the NWSL's 18th club, Jimmy Haslem and his wife Dee, are well known as owners of the NFL's Cleveland Browns and MLS's Columbus Crew. In both cases - the NWSL doesn't have to worry about the often painful process of a club building a stadium - the new clubs will play at the existing MLS venues. This is more than NWSL expanding to 18 teams - it's the women's league entering the mainstream of American sports business. If I have one slight concern about these developments it is that in choosing two more markets with MLS teams, the league may gain the instant benefit of a stadium, but it also creates challenges in terms of building a strong fan base in these cities. Will soccer fans buy season tickets for both clubs? Is the support base strong enough to sustain two professional clubs? Or is there a completely different type of fan profile that supports NWSL? Clearly Blank and Haslem will have done their homework and are confident the model will work. We've heard a lot about the rise of women's professional sport and the NFL owner class has clearly been listening. They've bought in. And precedent suggests their judgment is usually sound.

Great News Coach! Sending love to you both

Only player with multiple goals this weekend! HAS TO BE ASH!

TODAY'S THE DAY 🗣️ 🆚: @RacingLouFC 📍: First Horizon Stadium @ WakeMed Soccer Park 📺: NWSL+ 🎟️: tickets.nccourage.com

@peet2 @DallasGuardians @3rdDegreeNet @usopencup Wish, I could have made it last night. But heartwarming to see such agreat turnout for Buzz!

What a great evening. The number of people who showed up for @3rdDegreeNet include this group, missing just two, of the eight who traveled to Indy for the Burn’s 1997 @usopencup victory and 1st trophy. 🫡

34 years of @premierleague Academy 🤝 #DallasCup. See the stars of the future March 29th - April 4th.

Built for the biggest stage. Good luck to the 10 active Longhorns playing on Championship Weekend, the most of any program 🤘

Want to wear the same shirt as WNBA stars like Paige Bueckers? The 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' Nike Shirt is on sale right now. bargainhunter.com/paige-bueckers…

@realmadmarkus @BourbEnthusiasm That is the Angel's Envy Cask Strength, a yearly special release. That price is close to MRSP

@BourbEnthusiasm I would grab the blood oath. Don’t know enough about the other ones sitting there to have an opinion. Curious why the angels envy is so expensive what special about that bottle? ( I usually have a bottle of that in the cabinet -normal stuff)

Any takers?

Retweet if you're moving on to the fantasy championship!! 🏆 Come break down ALL of Week 16 w/ @Between_SethFF @ItsTeraTime @SportMDAnalysis twitch.tv/fantasypros

MIDFIELD MAGIC 🪄 Manaka Matsukubo is the 2025 @NWSL Midfielder of the Year!

NC Courage fans gear up for record-breaking attendance at Sunday's sold-out game abc11.com/post/nc-courag…

@SharpFootball @LordReebs either A or A-. Definitely better than a B

so my son just finished his 1st ever fantasy draft he drafted in a 12-team PPR using @LordReebs rankings if was graded a B per ESPN what grade do you give this team?

RIP Gordon Jago A true Dallas soccer legend. 1932 - 2025, 92 years young.

"She's clutch, she's always got it for us." Kaleigh Kurtz on Brianna Pinto after her late goal gave @TheNCCourage three points. #LAvsNC

Malia Berkely (@millib13) and @KaleighKurtz of @TheNCCourage were mic'd up in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final! 🎤 #StanleyCup 📺: @Canes vs. @FlaPanthers Game 3 TONIGHT at 8p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, @Sportsnet and @TVASports

A new chapter begins in Courage Country! We're excited to welcome Dr. Ceri Bowley as our Chief Soccer Officer & Sporting Director! A global expert in football leadership, he's ready to shape our future. 📰 Read more: nccourage.com/news/north-car…

THE TEXAS LONGHORNS ARE YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS🤘

Just met the crew from @TheNCCourage out doing promo in #Raleigh, use this link to book tix to next week's home opener and get your first round of drinks included! tickets.nccourage.com/offers/1071