Jessica Berman Extends Her Contract as NWSL Commissioner
Sources confirm that Jessica Berman will remain as commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) following a contract extension. The agreement, according to a source close to the matter, is for three years, which will keep her at the helm of the league until the 2028 season. When asked by this media outlet, a spokesperson for the NWSL declined to comment.Berman’s reappointment as commissioner has been the subject of negotiation for months. The board of directors did not have a unanimous opinion on how to proceed. A four-member executive committee led the process. Under Berman’s leadership, the NWSL has experienced significant commercial growth, including a media rights deal for $240 million. The league has also expanded and there has been an increase in team valuation, from approximately $5 million to over $250 million in a few years. The league office has also expanded and the NWSL has attracted major sponsors. The league ratified a new collective bargaining agreement last year and implemented reforms to improve player safety, following an abuse scandal that preceded Berman and led to the resignation of her predecessor, Lisa Baird, in 2021. These commercial advances have gained the support of many owners, who have seen the value of their teams and the league increase rapidly. However, several sources have expressed concern about the league’s direction and its ability to compete with growing global competition. Top European teams are paying the world’s best players more than the NWSL can offer due to salary cap limitations, set until 2030 under the new agreement. Berman’s handling of several recent controversies has come under scrutiny. In May, a match continued after Angel City FC defender Savy King collapsed on the field and received treatment for more than 10 minutes before being taken to the hospital. The NWSL was criticized and admitted the game should not have continued. When Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the field in September, the game was suspended. In August, Berman allegedly threatened the owners of the Kansas City Current after a disagreement over heat policies. A match in Kansas City was delayed more than three hours due to extreme heat. The delay was long enough that the NWSL lost a major national television time slot. Some board members also expressed concern that any leadership change could disrupt the league’s progress and create an image of instability, especially as the league will begin negotiating new media rights deals soon. Berman took office as commissioner before the 2022 NWSL season, when the league was in crisis over alleged abuse of players by coaches and staff. Before becoming NWSL commissioner, Berman was deputy commissioner and executive vice president of business affairs for the National Lacrosse League. Prior to that, she spent 13 years in various roles in the NHL. Berman’s new contract includes a financial incentive tied to the results of the league’s upcoming broadcast negotiations.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
