Honestly, I don't care what MLS is doing. I don't think they have much relevance to the women. That said, I'd like to know what kind of crossover in fan attendance there is. Yeah, that's where I am. I think the heat is worse than the cold. Additionally, I wonder how much those bubble-type practice fields are possible so they can train in relative warmth (of course, these are also probably effective to make relative cool in the summer).
I know there is some, maybe a lot maybe a little, depending on location and fan appeal which varies based on too many factors to even try to list. By playing in the same seasons both are either helped or hurt by simple exposure. If I lived in a city that had both available and I physically could i would probably attend both unless one or the other priced themselves out of my price range. If i had to choose most probably I would choose watching the NWSL over MLS as MLS' quality, relative to the rest of the soccer world. When there are two entity's vying for the same dollar it is not always clear why one gets chosen over the other. When I was growing up there were two American football teams playing in Dallas. One, the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and the other The Dallas Texans (AFL) (moved later on to KC and became the Chiefs). The Cowboys were absolutely horrible and had several seasons with only 3 wins or fewer while the Texans were always playing for the league championship. But the Cowboys outdrew the Texans by a factor of 4 or more. (They both played in the Cotton Bowl) To this day i really do not understand why that was but it was. When they played on the same day the upper deck of the Cotton Bowl was only opened for the Cowboys but it was closed for the Texans. People make choices for reasons that often are almost incomprehensible. But in this case I think that only about 10-15% of MLS fans attend NWSL matches and the other way around. The main reason I think it matters some is that both MLS and NWSL both can expose people to soccer and, in the USA, that exposure is needed to grow the sport. I recently (last season) gave MLS a chance by watching at least one match every weekend and that has made me decide that I have been correct in distaining what passes for soccer in MLS. BTW: I think that the HORRIBLE refereeing in MLS is the primary reason the matches are so boring. But i now believe that MLS and NWSL should be completely separated as any attempt to overlap or combine operations hurt both, NWSL more than MLS. But they do effect each other.
Yeah, I'm absolutely certain there is crossover, but it would be interesting to see some data. I'd also be interested in seeing how many NWSL fans also attend WNBA games. Or specifically watch women's sports. Man, I'm starting to go down a rabbit hole that is PhD dissertation level. I get this. Grew up in LA Dodgers v. Angels. Lakers v. Clippers. Raider v. Rams (when I was there). I understand some of the reasons for attendance being higher for the Dodgers and Lakers, but it was still a choice. I agree both this.
Louisville looking for investment/partial sale https://bsky.app/profile/jeffkassouf.bsky.social/post/3mlojcronyc2b It's a Kassouf video in the link.
https://www.thecutback.com/p/exclusive-nwsl-change-high-impact-player-rule-sam-kerr Exclusive: NWSL set to change High Impact Player rule, opening door for more star signings Flo Lloyd-Hughes May 13, 2026 Because Sam Kerr (and apparently other wanted players) couldn't meet any of the criteria of the original HIP (Rodman) Rule, the League is going to remove the criteria and allow it to be applied to any player! So the League doesn't do basic homework to know who are the world-class players it wants to attract and gets surprised by who its new rule excludes. From the article: The current iteration of the rule also limits clubs from offering HIP contracts to several high-profile players, including Sam Kerr, who is expected to head to the NWSL when her contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the season. I wonder who else might be considering coming here.
Bunny Shaw? Emily Fox? (Though I think she would qualify having won the Olys in 2024 and playing with the US). Beth Mead? This also has a list of players out of contract (or at least 4 months ago). https://womensfootballtalk.substack.com/p/these-players-across-europe-are-out
However many players that would have qualified under the original standards, there could have been twice as many that would have similar value and the League has come to realize this. Sam Kerr is a good example having been injured for the better part of a couple of seasons would have kept her off, but she's still valued by Teams who know what she's done and still capable of doing. Bunny Shaw got #6 in the ESPN list for 2024 would that have been good enough?
https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2026/gotham-fc-queens-nycfc-stadium-move-nwsl-1234899222/ Gotham FC in Advanced Talks to Move to NYCFC’s New Queens Stadium May 13, 2026 Negotiating with MLS side NYCFC who are funding the 25,000 seat stadium. NYCFC are going to open it for their 2027-28 season and Gotham would like to start using it for the 2028 season.. Hope this gets done.
EXCLUSIVE: @GothamFC is in advanced talks to play in the new soccer stadium that NYCFC is currently building in Queens, according to multiple people familiar with the talks.The new $780M Queens venue is expected to open in 2027. pic.twitter.com/F9xSBIEfYp— Sportico (@Sportico) May 13, 2026
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...gues-discuss-inter-league-competition-sources Sources: U.S. women's pro leagues discuss interleague competition May 15, 2026 Would begin in 2028 and include NWSL, USL Super League and a new 2nd division league to be called WPSL PRO, may also include amateur yeams may also be included.