Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and his wife, Tracy — who played soccer at DePauw University, where the pair met — have joined Boston Unity Soccer Partners.
This week, the National Women’s Soccer League awarded the league’s 15th franchise to Boston. The currently unnamed team will begin play in 2026.
“It’s cool to be on that ground floor,” Stevens said. “We’re very small with regard to our own investor status, but we’re certainly thrilled to help in any way, whether it’s the board as they’re building up a soccer operations group, or looking at recruiting coaches or players down the road… Whatever the case may be, we want to help in whatever way we can.”
Boston Unity’s ownership group includes controlling partner Jennifer Epstein, Stephanie Connaughton, Ami Kuan Danoff, and Anna Palmer.
“Here in Boston, we have these five storied franchises and our fans are used to an elevated and very exciting fan experience, and we want to create something similar,” Epstein told reporters on Tuesday. “We want to sell out that stadium from day one and have it be the same unrivaled fan experience that Boston fans are used to.”
The Celtics have certainly provided that type of fan experience under Stevens: Since he took over in his current role, Boston has been to two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and has ranked top five in the NBA in average attendance percentage.
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/USATSI_25429594_168416385_lowres-e1739674194139.jpg?quality=100&w=1024)
