Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Gotham FC’s First Title Highlights Turnaround and NWSL’s Growth

  • Gotham FC defeated OL Reign to win the club’s first NWSL championship.
  • The league will begin next season with a new set of media rights deals.
Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Gotham FC defeated the OL Reign 2-1 on Saturday to win the club’s first-ever NWSL championship, completing an incredible run for the franchise.

In 2022, Gotham was the worst team in the NWSL, finishing last out of the league’s 12 teams while losing 17 of its 22 matches. This season, the club representing New Jersey and New York squeaked into the postseason, earning the sixth and final playoff berth. Gotham then won its next three matches to be crowned 2023 champions.

More than 25,000 fans, an NWSL championship record, filled Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Saturday night, capping a banner year for the league. During the regular season, more than 1 million fans attended games — the most ever for the NWSL.

When the NWSL retakes the field next spring, it will welcome the league’s 13th and 14th clubs as franchises launch in Utah and the Bay Area. The league is also exploring the possibility of adding two more teams by 2026.

The 2024 season will also mark the start of a historic new set of media rights deals. Amazon, CBS, ESPN, and Scripps Sports will pay a combined $240 million over four years to broadcast NWSL games, an increase of more than 40 times over the previous deals.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Hall of Fame quterback Troy Aikman stands with his Monday Night Football Broadcast announcer Joe Buck before a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Buck, Aikman Avoid the Elephant in the ‘MNF’ Booth

Aikman and Buck focused purely on football in their ‘MNF’ intro.

WNBA Finals Goes Hollywood With ‘Orange Carpet’ Show

E! is bringing red carpet coverage to Game 2 of the Finals.

Ballhalla Lays Out the Blueprint For the WNBA

Golden State has sold out every home game this year.

Engelbert: Next Commissioner Must Build on WNBA’s Growth

Adam Silver announced Engelbert’s retirement in September.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/20/26 – Knicks’ $4K Opener, Brewers’ $2,800 World Series, Colts Call Peyton?

0:00

Featured Today

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Blake Griffin Front Office Sports

Blake Griffin: Clippers Haven’t Honored ‘Lob City’ Team

Griffin said the Clippers releasing Chris Paul was “disappointing.”
Soccer Football - Spain's Football Federation elects a new president - Ciudad del Futbol, Las Rozas, Spain - December 16, 2024 LaLiga president Javier Tebas speaks to the media REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
October 20, 2026

Tebas’s Goebbels Comparison Is Latest Escalation in His Real Madrid Feud

The LaLiga president continues to stand by the analogy.
October 20, 2026

Brewers Fans Could Find Cheaper World Series Tickets in Tampa

The ticket resale market for the event shows two very different situations.
Sponsored

Why Brands Are Betting On Major League Soccer

Discover why brands are investing in MLS as the league builds on World Cup momentum to drive fan engagement and sponsorship growth.
October 19, 2026

Rays Clinch Pennant, Head to Small-Market World Series

The Rays clinched their third American League pennant.
October 19, 2026

5 Biggest Storylines of the NBA Season

The 2026–27 NBA season starts Tuesday.
Oct 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) before kick off against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
October 19, 2026

Hurts to Miss Rest of Season, Leaving Eagles Without Their $255M QB

Blood clots were found in Hurts’s lungs.
October 18, 2026

The Chiefs’ Revival Has Given the NFL Its Marquee Team Back

With Mahomes back, they’re 5–0.