“Where All the People From 3 Years Ago” – Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Questions the Doubters of Women’s Soccer in America

Alexis Ohanian, the husband of Serena Williams, has hit out at the doubters of women’s soccer in the country after the big announcement by NWSL. American investor has been a vocal supporter of women’s soccer in the country for years now. He was the first investor in the NWSL expansion club, Angel City FC, when Natalie Portman brought the rights for the club.

Ohanian is striving to better women’s soccer in the country. He feels women’s soccer has given more glory to the country than men’s team. USWNT players are more famous than their USMNT counterparts in the country and are role models for many. Many claim women’s soccer is growing in the country, and a recent NWSL announcement has stamped on this claim.

NWSL expansion announcement makes Serena Williams’ husband happy

NWSL, which comprises 12 teams currently, announced three more expansion teams recently. Moreover, the franchise fees have drastically gone up from what they paid in 2020. The announcement has made the supporters of women’s soccer and NWSL happy, with Ohanian one of them. He tweeted, “Where all the people from 3 years ago who said women’s football was a dead end???”

He took a sly dig at those who thought the NWSL hit the ceiling three years back. NWSL is on the right path, and a substantial rise in franchise fees shows women’s soccer is getting popularity. When two expansion clubs were announced in 2020, the franchise fees were between $2 million-$5 million. Now, two of three new franchises will pay $50 million in fees. 

The NWSL is set to add three clubs based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, and Utah. San Francisco and Boston will pay $50 million in fees, whereas Utah will pay between $2 million-$5 million as per the previous agreement. The details of who the owners of the new clubs have also come forward after the announcement. 

More information on three NWSL expansion teams

San Francisco and Utah will start playing in the 2024 season, while Boston will later. 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup USWNT star Brandi Chastain will be starting a new role as an investor as she is part of the investor group of the Bay Area franchise. The group led by Sixth Street Partners also includes other former USWNT players. 

Read More: Serena Williams’ NWSL Team’s No. 1 Draft Pick Gets LA Excited as She Bears Witness to Joel Embiid & LeBron James’ 35-Point Masterclass

A women’s group similar to that of Angel City FC backs the Boston franchise’s bid. It includes Jennifer Epstein, who is the daughter of Boston Celtics’ co-owner Robert Epstein. The remaining franchise, Utah, is a kind of revival of the Utah Royals that played in NWSL between 2018 to 2020. 

Watch this story: Serena Williams’ and Natalie Portman’s Success With ACFC Inspires Another Female Led Group to Invest in Women’s Soccer

The tremendous rise in franchise fees shows more investors are ready to invest in women’s soccer. It will further pave the way for an improved TV rights deal for the NWSL. The future of women’s soccer looks good, and Alexis Ohanian will be happy to be one of the contributors to its upliftment. 

Let us know your opinions on the future of women’s soccer and your thoughts on the NWSL expansion.