The National Women’s Soccer League has its eyes firmly set on the future, and Angel City’s Chris Paul and Julie Foudy will help guide the league as it prioritizes players and expansion.
On Thursday, November 6, the NWSL announced the formation of its new league Advisory Board, a “first-of-its-kind initiative with a collective of investors, cultural leaders, and soccer legends united by a shared commitment to accelerate the league’s growth, deepen its cultural impact, and shape the future of the women’s game.” The main goal is to push more new partnership opportunities while expanding the league’s reach and position as a top professional league globally.
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League Commissioner Jessica Berman leads the board, and up to two delegates represent each NWSL club for Angel City, its co-founder and former US Women’s National Soccer Team Captain Foudy, and newly announced club minority investor Paul. Alongside them will be prominent athletes and influential voices in business and entertainment —all current investors in NWSL clubs.
Foudy is a founding co-owner of Angel City FC and is an analyst and commentator on soccer for the TNT Sports network, after ending her 20-year tenure with ESPN. The two-time FIFA World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist retired from the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2004 with 274 international caps under her belt. Foudy was the first American and first woman to get the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1997.
Paul is one of the four latest minority stake owners in the club, joining in late September. The current NBA Clippers star will represent Angel City and the community on the board.
The board features multiple former league players, offering a crucial perspective on how the league can adapt to better fit players’ needs and support the development of younger generations. “As players, we’ve seen firsthand how much the NWSL has grown and how much potential still lies ahead,” said Alex Morgan, an NWSL legend who now serves as a Board Member and Investor for her former club, the San Diego Wave FC. “What makes this Advisory Board so special is that it brings together people who share our belief in what women’s soccer can be — not just as a sport, but as a movement. I’m proud to be part of helping shape the next chapter for the league, the players, and the fans who make it all possible.”
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Inaugural Advisory Board members include:
● Chris Paul (Angel City FC)
● Julie Foudy (Angel City FC)
● Brandi Chastain (Bay FC)
● Sabrina Ionescu (Bay FC)
● Elizabeth Banks (Boston Legacy FC)
● Aly Raisman (Boston Legacy FC)
● Jordan Angeli (Denver Summit FC)
● Brittany Mahomes (Kansas City Current)
● Sue Bird (Gotham FC)
● Eli Manning (Gotham FC)
● Lauren Holiday (North Carolina Courage)
● Grant Hill (Orlando Pride)
● Tamia Hill (Orlando Pride)
● Joey Harrington (Portland Thorns FC)
● Bryce Young (Portland Thorns FC)
● Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Reign FC)
● Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC)
● Lindsey Vonn (Utah Royals FC)
● Dominique Dawes (Washington Spirit)
● Magic Johnson (Washington Spirit)
The Advisory Board will start convening in 2026, hosting bi-annual meetings to identify opportunities for growth and innovation. Working alongside existing ownership and leadership groups, the Board’s objective is to ‘fuel collaboration and creativity across the NWSL ecosystem”. The NWSL will work with Rich Kleiman and his team at Boardroom to program the inaugural summit in Spring 2026.
“When we looked across our Clubs’ investor base, we realized how fortunate we are to have such an extraordinary group of cultural icons, athletes, and leaders who believe – and have invested – in the power and potential of this league,” said NWSL Commissioner Berman in a statement. “Their experience and influence will be instrumental as we continue building not just a league, but a movement—one that redefines entertainment and what’s possible in sports.
“Women’s sports are rewriting the rules of what’s possible — and the NWSL is leading that charge,” said Elizabeth Banks, Board Member and Investor of Boston Legacy FC, a new expansion club set to debut in 2026. “This league has incredible athletes, incredible stories, and an incredible fan base. I’m proud to help amplify that energy and make sure the next generation sees women’s sports not as the exception, but as the standard.”
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“The NWSL is one of the most exciting leagues in sports today, with growth that rivals anything we’ve seen before,” said Eli Manning. The former New York Giants quarterback is a board Member and investor in Gotham FC. “I’m honored to be part of this Advisory Board and to help continue building a league that inspires communities, empowers women, and sets the standard for excellence on and off the field.”
The Advisory Board’s creation marks another milestone in the NWSL’s continued evolution, cementing it as a premier league in women’s soccer.
