Jessica Berman Remains at the Helm of the NWSL: Contract Extension Secured
Jessica Berman has secured her continuity as commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) thanks to a contract extension. Sources close to the league confirmed the news, which ensures her permanence until the 2028 season. The new agreement, with a duration of three years, comes before the expiration of his original contract. Although an official statement was requested, the NWSL chose not to comment.Berman’s contract renewal was negotiated for months, and although there was no unanimous consensus among all members of the board of directors, the league’s executive committee was in charge of finalizing the agreement. Under Berman’s leadership, the NWSL has experienced significant growth in the commercial sphere. Highlights include the media rights agreement for $240 million, the league’s continuous expansion, and the increase in team values, which have gone from around $5 million to over $250 million in a few years. In addition, the league has attracted new major sponsors and ratified a new collective bargaining agreement.My intention is to stay here. I joined this league because I believe in the future of women’s sports and professional women’s soccer, and that’s all I can say.
Jessica Berman
These commercial improvements have been well received by many owners, who have seen an increase in the value of their teams and the league in general.
However, some sources have expressed concerns about the future direction of the league and its ability to compete with growing global competition. Renowned European teams are offering higher salaries to the best players in the world, something the NWSL cannot match due to salary cap limitations, established until 2030 in the new agreement. Berman’s handling of several recent controversies has also come under scrutiny. In May, a match continued after Savy King, defender for Angel City FC, collapsed on the field and received treatment for more than ten minutes before being taken to the hospital. The NWSL was criticized and eventually admitted that the game should not have continued, indicating that any similar incident in the future would result in the suspension of the match. In September, the game was suspended when Savannah DeMelo, midfielder for Racing Louisville, collapsed on the field. In August, Berman allegedly threatened the owners of the Kansas City Current over a disagreement about heat policies. A match in Kansas City was delayed more than three hours due to extreme heat. The delay was so long that the NWSL lost a significant national television slot, which, according to reports, motivated Berman to want the game to continue. Sources indicated that some members of the board of directors expressed concern about the possibility that a change in leadership would disrupt the league’s progress and generate instability, especially as negotiations for new media rights agreements approach. Berman took over as commissioner before the 2022 NWSL season, at a time when the league was facing a crisis over alleged abuse of players by coaches and staff. Marla Messing served as interim CEO until Berman began her tenure in the spring of 2022. Before her role in the NWSL, Berman was deputy commissioner and executive vice president of business affairs at the National Lacrosse League. Previously, she spent 13 years in the NHL in various roles, including collective bargaining negotiations and the resolution of a lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season. Berman’s new contract includes a financial incentive based on the results of the upcoming league negotiations over broadcasting rights.
