“Burn it all down,” wrote a frustrated Megan Rapinoe back in 2021 when the NWSL was caught between a hard and rock place. That season saw the league become embroiled in scandals involving systemic abuse and sexual misconduct. It came to a point where U.S. Soccer launched an independent investigation, leading to the resignation of the previous commissioner. At a crucial time when interest in women’s sports was on the rise, trust in the league from both players and fans had nearly collapsed. But just a year later, Jessica Berman emerged and successfully managed to put out the fire.

Today, things have completely changed for the NWSL. Having worked as a former labor lawyer for the National Hockey League and as deputy commissioner of the National Lacrosse League, Berman didn’t waste any time in re-establishing the stature of the American women’s league. No wonder that today, it proudly competes with the likes of England’s WSL and Spain’s Liga F.

But don’t think that NWSL operates like other sports leagues in the States. As the league’s commissioner, only Berman knows what it’s like to wear so many hats at once. “The NWSL is not the NFL, for example, in terms of how we operate,” began Berman during an exclusive interview with The Cut. “We are much more like a start-up. It requires a degree of scrappiness — it doesn’t have to be pretty if you get the job done. I’m the CEO and the entire organization ladders up to me. I’m responsible for the day-to-day business and for reporting to and managing our board of governors, the owners of the 16 teams in our league. I maintain the relationship with our players association and our media and brand partners. Then there’s the external-facing part of the job, where I’m speaking at events or meeting with potential investors. Any given day will be different, depending on where we are in the season.”

As a CEO, Jessica knows the entire organization of the league ladders up to her. So it’s her responsibility to remain accountable for all the day-to-day agenda. That typically involves reporting to the board of governors and the owners of all teams. Additionally, Berman is also required to maintain the relationship with the players association, media, as well as brand partners.

Rest, the external aspects of the job go without saying, including addressing events and meeting with potential investors, regardless of the day or time during the season. In short, the job requires her to remain omnipresent. This explains how far the NWSL has come, with Berman willing to go the extra mile to serve the league’s best interests.

Jessica Berman stands ‘ready’ for the welfare of NWSL

This week, on March 14, the new season of the National Women’s Soccer League is kick-off. Though it may seem it would be a regular advent of the tournament, Berman thinks otherwise. “My primary focus is ensuring we’re ready to launch the season in as big a way as possible,” she added in the same interview. She is making sure all the 14 sides are ready and have a plan in action. The commissioner also insisted on giving them full support.

Berman likened her role to being ever-ready for action, stating, “I sometimes say, ‘Put me in, coach!’ My job is to stand at the ready, to make sure that they feel really solid about how we’re going to go to market.” She emphasized that what truly sets sports apart from other industries is its unwavering timeline—once the season begins, there’s no turning back. “Ready or not, the curtain goes up,” concluded the 48-year-old.

Berman’s leadership is exactly what helped the NWSL undergo significant changes, like media negotiations, for instance. She transformed the league’s previous $4.5 million deal with CBS into a lucrative $240 million agreement spanning multiple broadcasters. Additionally, Jessica also spearheaded a new collective bargaining agreement two years ahead of schedule.

It includes securing a 2024 deal with the players’ association that presented revenue sharing, extended paid maternity leave, and substantial salary increases to attract top talent worldwide. Now in the following year, she is also set to welcome two additional NWSL franchises, Boston and Denver being the 15th and 16th side respectively.

Level up—that’s the only word that revolves in Jessica Berman’s mind concerning the NWSL!