On Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced that one of its new expansion teams will head to Atlanta. The club comes with a record-breaking expansion fee of $165 million. It becomes the league’s 17th franchise and will feature star players such as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Barbra Banda.
The team begins playing in 2028 under the ownership of Arthur Blank and AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE). It marks the fourth team in Blank’s sports portfolio. He already owns the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and the Atlanta Drive Golf Club.
A powerhouse in sports
Arthur Blank and AMBSE continue to show their commitment to the world’s biggest sport and its impact on Atlanta. Over the past decade, the city has proved itself a powerhouse of soccer in the United States.
Atlanta is now home to a Major League Soccer team (Atlanta United) and an MLS NEXT Pro side (Atlanta United 2). Blank also holds the rights to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center and headquarters.
The city has reached many major soccer milestones. It won the 2018 MLS Cup, hosted the 2018 MLS All-Star Game, and staged the opening match of the 2024 Copa América. Atlanta will also host games for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
A step forward for female athletics
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will take center stage again in 2026 as a host site for eight World Cup matches and a semifinal. Atlanta’s growth and passion for soccer have made the city an unrivaled hub for the sport in America.
The arrival of an NWSL team in Atlanta is another step forward for women’s sports. Women’s leagues are drawing more fans, gaining major media attention and securing significant investments. For girls in Georgia, watching top-level athletes in their own city helps them imagine new possibilities. It opens doors that didn’t exist even a few years ago.
A professional women’s team in Atlanta brings stronger attention to female athletics. It challenges old ideas about who shapes sports culture and supports a movement that continues to push women’s sports into the spotlight.
