NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman talked to media via Zoom on Thursday. She expanded on what was considered at the league’s board of governors meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in New York City.
According to a press release on the NWSL website, a few of the topics discussed included league expansion, enhancing the quality of game broadcasts and improving the experience for referees. The league also partnered with CarMax to help put more money in players’ pockets.
I had the chance to attend Thursday’s Zoom call, where Berman explained what all of those changes mean for the NWSL moving forward.
Berman’s Resume Speaks for Itself
Berman is up to the task of promoting the NWSL’s brand and values, especially with her proven record.
Prior to beginning her four-year term as commissioner of the NWSL, Berman spent three years as deputy commissioner and vice president of business affairs for the National Lacrosse League. She also served in a variety of roles with the NHL. Those roles included vice president, deputy general counsel, and executive director of the NHL Foundation.
She became the first female deputy commissioner of any men’s sports league.
Berman was hired as commissioner of the NWSL back on March 9. She officially began her four-year term on April 20.
Despite being on the job for only about two and a half months, she already knows exactly what her efforts are capable of.
“This week’s meetings have underscored what I have believed from my first day on the job. The NWSL will be the tip of the spear in driving transformational change in the professional sports landscape in this country,” Berman said earlier this week.
Increased Fan Support Leads to Upgrades for Game Broadcasts
One of the main discussions at the board of governors meeting was improving the quality of game broadcasts for fans.
The NWSL has seen an increase in fan participation. According to a press release on the league’s website, the overall audience who stream games has grown 24%, year over year. Social media followers across all platforms have also increased by 28%.
Four teams were also added to the league since its first ever game in April of 2013. Two of those four teams, Angel City FC (based in Los Angeles) and San Diego Wave FC, began to play this year. A total of 12 teams now play in the NWSL.
Berman and the NWSL have partnered with Inner Circle Sports, a New York-based investment firm. The goal between the two parties is to expand the league to 14 teams in 2024.
One of the topics discussed at the board of governors meeting was the league’s broadcast operations. Next month, the NWSL will invest more resources to improve the broadcast streams on Paramount+ and Twitch. That includes purchasing higher quality cameras and hiring more staff to operate the equipment.
With the increase in fan engagement, Berman believed it was critical for viewers to receive the best experience when watching an NWSL game.
“Even though the season (was) underway at the time I joined the league, it was one of the areas we thought immediate response was appropriate,” Berman stated Thursday. “We have a lot of our fans who are watching on P+ (Paramount+) and we want to make sure that the quality of the picture is appropriate.”
Officiating Investment, Application of VAR
Berman and the NWSL will implement the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the 2023 season. It will assist referees in deciding a call based on a situation that would be difficult to conclude with just the naked eye.
One of VAR’s key features includes the use of goal-line technology to determine whether the entire ball crosses the white line and should count as a goal.
Taking initiative in something such as this speaks volumes in describing Berman’s ultimate vision for the NWSL.
“We are aligned around sustained investments to serve our league, a bold strategy to continue our growth, and a commitment to deliver the greatest product in professional soccer,” Berman said earlier this week.
League’s Headquarters to be Relocated
Another topic discussed at the board of governors meeting was the relocation of the NWSL headquarters, which is currently based in Chicago.
Berman plans to relocate the headquarters to New York City later this year. The Big Apple is already home to the headquarters of the WNBA, MLS and the four major men’s professional sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL).
According to a press release from the NWSL website, the league’s offices in New York City will open in September.
Berman believes the move will help the NWSL gain traction in the professional sports landscape in the United States.
“It’s probably the thing I’m most excited about,” Berman said Thursday, “For us (the NWSL) to be in the city where all of the other professional sports leagues are based is very important perceptually.”
NWSL Partners with CarMax
The NWSL and vehicle retailing corporation CarMax announced a multi-year partnership on Thursday. It makes CarMax the Official Auto Retailer of the NWSL.
But for the league’s players, it means so much more.
With that partnership, each player on the team that wins the NWSL Shield will earn an extra $10,000—doubling the previous amount they made in previous years.
“We’re excited to welcome a partner who shares both our passion for the game and a commitment to leveling the playing field for the remarkable athletes that call our league home,” Berman said earlier this week.
All Things Are Heading in the Right Direction
The one word Berman used to describe her experience during this week’s meetings was “inspiring.”
“Everything that we (the board of governors) have been talking about got very real over the last (week). I think what we learned is that everything that we’ve been working on is being supported and that we’re all growing in the same direction. It’s exciting to see where this all leads,” Berman said in Thursday’s Zoom call.
With all of the new changes, she is certain that the NWSL will continue to progress and represent the very best of what women’s soccer has to offer.
