Thursday, May 7, 2026

From USWNT Star to NWSL Franchise Founder

In Season 3, Episode 3 of Portfolio Players presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Leslie Osborne, former USWNT midfielder, Bay FC cofounder, and LOVB San Francisco owner, shares how athletes are moving from the pitch to the ownership table.

Osborne details the Bay FC origin story, lessons learned from Angel City’s celebrity ownership model, and how NWSL expansion fees reflect surging demand for women’s franchises. She also explores the importance of player-first governance, global talent acquisition, and media-rights growth.

From Trinity Rodman’s league-wide influence to volleyball’s professional emergence, Osborne outlines why women’s sports is entering a transformative investment era and how athlete equity is building long-term value both on and off the field.

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