The National Women’s Soccer League announced plans on Tuesday for San Diego to become home to the league’s 12th expansion team. The new SoCal club is set to begin play in Spring of 2022.
A Big West Coast Welcome @SanDiegoNWSL makes it official
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 8, 2021
San Diego, are you ready? pic.twitter.com/kC5Zq7jG10
— San Diego (@SanDiegoNWSL) June 8, 2021
Investor Ron Burkle is the owner of the club with former USWNT head coach Jill Ellis serving as president. Burkle was initially going to be the lead investor for an NWSL and Major League Soccer team in Sacramento. In April, Burkle pulled his interests out of California’s capital and has now resurfaced in San Diego with NWSL’s 12th team. It’s also worth noting that Burkle owns a home in San Diego.
As for the expansion club’s president, the two-time World Cup winning manager told the San Diego Union Tribune that she has big plans for the San Diego club. Some of those plans include the hiring of a head coach and executive staff exclusively comprised of women.
“They really wanted to do something special in the female landscape.”
President Jill Ellis offers an insight into the ownership’s decision to bring an NWSL franchise to San Diego. pic.twitter.com/rDukSPWktC— San Diego (@SanDiegoNWSL) June 8, 2021
Developing and showcasing female leadership…
— San Diego (@SanDiegoNWSL) June 8, 2021
Ellis said that being the president for San Diego’s expansion team is a unique opportunity for her to stay involved in the game while also growing.
Why Jill Ellis signed on for San Diego NWSL pic.twitter.com/uF4PIyq7wX
— San Diego (@SanDiegoNWSL) June 8, 2021
All the details aren’t ironed out just yet. The club’s name, colors and logo are set to be announced at a later date. The team’s permanent stadium and training facility also don’t exist yet. The San Diego expansion side will play its initial games at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium with a capacity of 6,000.
One event that soccer fans can look forward to will be the battle for Southern California. Los Angeles’ Angel City FC will also begin NWSL league play in 2022. With just a little over 120 miles separating LA and San Diego, a seriously entertaining rivalry could be in the cards.
This will be the second time in history that San Diego is home to a professional women’s soccer team. From 2001 to 2003, the San Diego Spirit played in the Women’s United Soccer Association before the league folded.
