Latest news with #UtahRoyals
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Cities That Believe In Women's Soccer, And The NWSL, The Most
Earlier this week, Forbes released its 2025 list of the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) most valuable teams. The release of the list comes in the wake of a year of record-setting attendance for NWSL clubs across the league with a six percent increase in attendance compared to the previous season. The league also welcomed Bay FC and the Utah Royals for their inaugural season. Together, these milestones underscore the league's accelerating momentum, not just on the pitch, but in the boardroom, where team valuations are beginning to reflect a growing belief in the commercial power of women's soccer. This belief is not evenly distributed across the league. By comparing NWSL and Major League Soccer (MLS) team valuations in cities where both leagues operate, we can see clear patterns in investment and market confidence. Using the MLS team as a baseline also helps control for the overall level of soccer interest, infrastructure, and market potential in each city, making it easier to isolate where women's soccer is outperforming or underperforming relative to local conditions. Some cities are rapidly embracing the business potential of women's soccer, with NWSL teams that exceed expectations relative to their MLS counterparts. There are 11 U.S. cities that host franchises in both the NWSL and Major League Soccer: Los Angeles, Kansas City, San Jose, Washington, D.C., Portland, New York City, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Orlando, Houston, and Chicago. Using the most recent team valuations from Forbes, published in June 2025 for the NWSL and February 2025 for the MLS, I compiled a city-level dataset comparing each NWSL club with its MLS counterpart. To better understand the relationship between team values across leagues, I ran a linear regression using MLS team value as the independent variable and NWSL team value as the dependent variable. This produced a trend line that reflects the average market relationship between the two leagues. Cities where NWSL team values exceed the trend line are considered to be outperforming expectations relative to their MLS peers, while those below the line are underperforming. Los Angeles and New York City each have two MLS franchises, but for the purposes of this analysis, I selected the higher-valued club in each market to align with the NWSL team. In Los Angeles, LAFC serves as the logical counterpart to Angel City FC, given their affiliation. Given LAFC's significantly valuation compared to the LA Galaxy, I used New York City FC as the MLS stand-in for New York City's Gotham FC, as it holds a higher valuation than the New York Red Bulls. Using a simple regression model, I estimated how much an NWSL team should be worth based on the value of its local MLS counterpart. On average, the model suggests that NWSL teams are valued at roughly 20% of their MLS equivalents. While that trend holds at the league level, the city-level picture reveals a more dynamic landscape. Los Angeles and Kansas City emerge as clear overperformers in this analysis. Angel City FC, now the most valuable team in the NWSL, holds a valuation equal to 22.4% of LAFC's, the more valuable of the city's two MLS franchises. The Kansas City Current have surpassed expectations even more dramatically. With a valuation at 42.3% of Sporting Kansas City's, the Current have redefined the ceiling for investment in women's soccer, driven by aggressive private funding and the league's first purpose-built stadium. Bay FC also outpaces the national average, reaching 31.5% of the San Jose Earthquakes' valuation despite being in its inaugural season. The club's early momentum will be on full display later this summer when it hosts the Washington Spirit in the first NWSL game ever played in an MLB stadium. Meanwhile, the Utah Royals, another expansion franchise returning to the league, are tracking close to the leaguewide average relative to Real Salt Lake. For a newly reconstituted club, this signals strong early alignment with broader league investment trends. As the NWSL continues to expand and attract new investors, this kind of market-by-market analysis will become even more important. It not only highlights where women's soccer is flourishing but also surfaces where there is still untapped potential. If the league's current trajectory holds, today's valuation gaps may become tomorrow's growth stories, and the cities investing early will be the ones setting the standard.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
🎥 New names shine as USA crush Jamaica and Canada beat Haiti
The women's international break continued on Tuesday with North American sides busy on the pitch. Here is what went down in the latest round of friendly action. USWNT pull off dominant Jamaica win Scorers: Sentnor 19', 28', Biyendolo 60', 89' Advertisement It was one-way traffic at Energizer Park in St. Louis as the United States Women's National team beat Jamaica 4-0. With 21 shots to two and a staggering 82% possession of the ball, the Americans toyed with their opponents on the pitch over 90 minutes. One Ally Sentnor was the star of the first half. Two goals in nine minutes had the hosts in cruise control, with her first seeing the ball struck off the ground to find the left corner. The Utah Royals star then made it for goals in four starts by poking home into the opposite corner from less than 10 yards out. Jamaica frustrated the USA during the second half and impressively kept their attack at bay. However, their initial resistance was broken by the experience of Lynn Biyendolo (formerly Williams). Advertisement After only three minutes on the pitch, the substitute acrobatically forced the ball over the line following a corner kick for 3-0. She then made it a brace of her own after racing into the box and smashing a low cross into the netting from only a few yards out. According to Opta, Biyendolo "has scored 12 goals as a substitute in her #USWNT career, more than any other player since she made her debut in October 2016." Additionally, "Phallon Tullis-Joyce has joined Mary Harvey as the only two goalkeepers to start each of their first three USWNT appearances and keep clean sheets in all of them." Holly Ward impresses as Canada beat Haiti Scorers: Viens 16', 42', Ward 23'; Dumornay 45+2' (P) Advertisement The Canadian Women's National Team cruised to a 3-1 victory over Haiti, with Holly Ward having an impressive individual performance on her first international start. But it was not all smiles on the pitch initially as the hosts were forced into an early change when Liverpool starlet Olivia Smith was stretchered off after receiving a ball to the face from only a few yards out. Having settled after the substitution, Canada captain Jessie Fleming drove to the byline and chipped the ball toward Evelyne Viens, who headed home the opener. Immediately after, it was time for Vancouver Rise attacker Ward to make her mark. The 21-year-old scored her first international goal after directing a header to the back post following Fleming's assist. Minutes later, Ward sent a reverse ball to Viens to set up Canada's third. Advertisement Haiti erased any clean sheet hopes when Melchie Dumornay's penalty found the bottom right corner just before half-time. The goal boosted the visitors' energy, with Haiti registering more shots than Canada (11 to nine) over the 90-minute stretch. A handful of long-range shots from Dumornay threatened to make the game a one-goal affair and called goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo to make a last-ditch save in stoppage time. The late surge, however, was too little too late and the Canadians held on for victory. Matches to come: Mexico v Uruguay 📸 Ed Zurga - 2025 Getty Images
CBC
27-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Montreal Roses' Latifah Abdu called up to replace injured Nichelle Prince on Canadian women's team
Coach Casey Stoney has called in Montreal Roses forward Latifah Abdu to replace injured Kansas City Current striker Nichelle Prince for the upcoming home series against Haiti. Abdu is the second replacement summoned. Utah Royals winger Bianca St-Georges was earlier summoned to fill in for veteran Chelsea fullback/wingback Ashley Lawrence, who is unavailable due to personal reasons. The 23-year-old Abdu, the first signing by Montreal's Northern Super League team, won her first senior cap Dec. 1, 2023, against Australia in Langford, B.C. Seventh-ranked Canada hosts No. 53 Haiti on Saturday at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg and Tuesday at Stade Saputo in Montreal.
NBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Angel City defender Savy King discharged from hospital following heart surgery
Angel City's Savy King was discharged from the hospital Saturday following heart surgery after a mid-game collapse on the soccer pitch that stopped a match and left her teammates visibly shaken. The team said King, a 20-year-old defender, was discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is now home with her family and "resting comfortably" following heart surgery. It thanked the medical center for the expert care King received and added that it is prepared to support King and her family as she recovers. Earlier this week, the team said her prognosis is "excellent." It was not immediately clear whether and when King will return to soccer. "I'm still finding the words to express just how much your love and support have meant to me over these past few days," King wrote on Instagram. "What I do know is that I wouldn't be getting through this without my incredible family by my side, my amazing teammates who have shown up for me and prayed for me, the fans, the entire soccer community, and the outstanding medical team here at ACFC who saved my life and cared for me every step of the way." King collapsed on the field in the 74th minute of Angel City's May 9 National Women's Soccer League match against the Utah Royals. Trainers rushed to her side before she was taken off the field on a stretcher and then to the hospital. While being evaluated, doctors discovered a heart abnormality, prompting surgery Tuesday to remedy the problem, the team said earlier this week. No other information about the specific abnormality and surgery have been revealed. The team asked for respect for King's privacy as she continues to recover.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NWSL commissioner on decision to play after Savy King's collapse: ‘All we could do is learn'
SAN JOSE, Calif. — National Women's Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman spoke publicly on Saturday for the first time since Angel City FC defender Savy King collapsed during a game against the Utah Royals on May 9. During halftime of Angel City's game at Bay FC on Saturday, Berman said the league was focused on 'ensuring that all of our medical procedures were followed and that, on a go-forward basis,' games do not continue under any similar circumstances. Though the commissioner reiterated that the match should not have continued, she provided little detail on how the decision was made or the specifics of her involvement that night. Advertisement King, 20, collapsed on the field in the 74th minute of the regular-season game against the Royals last week with her team up 1-0. She was down for several minutes and received care from Angel City's medical staff, who have been praised by the NWSL, players and NWSL Players Association for their quick action, before being transported via ambulance to California Hospital Medical Center. 'Our focus was really on making sure that the player was cared for during the game, and so we were quite relieved and pleased that she had the resources and that Angel City's medical team really managed her care effortlessly and amazingly,' Berman told reporters Saturday. 'All we could do is learn from the experience and conclude that in a future situation, we will ensure that our policies and protocols do not allow the game to continue.' When asked whether she was awake last Friday night at the time of the incident, which occurred over an hour into a game that kicked off at 10 p.m. ET, Berman said, 'As we've reviewed the situation, I don't think it's constructive to recount who did what and when.' When asked Berman if a replacement ambulance had been ordered to the field before the game restarted, she said, 'I would have to double-check on that because I wouldn't want to answer that specific question without confirming.' Advertisement The full medical guidelines for NWSL are not publicly available. However, the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players' association states that teams shall secure a medical provider and agreement and/or association with a medical center to provide emergency care 'for necessary medical treatment for players from the home and visiting teams.' Earlier in the week, King was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she underwent successful surgery to address a heart abnormality. Angel City said her prognosis is 'excellent.' Utah Royals head coach Jimmy Coenraets said he was not sure the game should have continued after King's collapse. 'You're emotionally — not only them but also our players were just scared,' Coenraets told reporters after the May 9 game. 'That's not the right situation to be in, but in the end, we played on. That's the decision other people have taken, which is fine. It was a really tough moment.' Advertisement Monday, Angel City and Bay FC players and front offices came together to discuss the best way to honor King and decided to wear black shirts with 'SK3,' King's initials and jersey number. Angel City players also wore black armbands during the game. NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke told the 'Full Time' podcast that the league needs to implement 'bright-line rules' around stopping games in the face of a medical emergency. The organization later praised the league for acknowledging that the game should not have continued. Berman said the league learned to ensure it handles future situations appropriately and that matches will not continue when similar medical emergencies take place. Advertisement 'I think a lot of communication and learning and, most importantly, a focus on really ensuring that we are showing up for the people who were in that stadium. I can't imagine what that was like for everyone who experienced it and wanted to make sure that our focus was on the resources that they need to process and digest what they all experienced,' Berman said. 'Secondarily, our focus was on the player and her family and making sure that she was OK, and thankfully, she was.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Angel City, Utah Royals FC, Soccer, NWSL 2025 The Athletic Media Company
