Jessica Berman Extends Her Contract as NWSL Commissioner
Sources close to the situation confirm that Jessica Berman will continue to lead the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), after extending her contract as commissioner. The agreement, according to sources, is for three years, which would extend his mandate until the 2028 NWSL season. Berman’s original contract was about to expire in the coming months. A spokesperson for the NWSL declined to comment when contacted.Berman’s contract renewal has been under negotiation for months. The board of directors did not have a unanimous opinion on how to proceed. The league’s executive committee, composed of four members, led the process. Berman’s agreement was finalized this week without a final vote by the full board of directors. Under Berman’s leadership, the NWSL has experienced significant commercial growth, including a media rights deal for $240 million. In addition, the league has expanded and the value of the teams has increased, from around $5 million to over $250 million in a few years. The league office has also expanded, and the NWSL has attracted new major sponsors. The league also ratified a new collective bargaining agreement last year and has implemented reforms to improve player safety, following an abuse scandal that preceded Berman and forced the resignation of her predecessor, Lisa Baird, in 2021. These commercial advances have gained the support of many owners, who have seen how the value of their teams and the league has increased 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, which is set until 2030 according to the new collective agreement. Berman’s handling of several recent controversies has also come under scrutiny from league sources. 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, where doctors discovered a heart anomaly. The NWSL was heavily criticized and ultimately admitted that the match should not have continued, and that any similar event in the future would lead to the suspension of the game. 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 so long that the NWSL lost a primetime national television slot, which, according to reports, was the reason Berman wanted the match to continue. Several sources indicated that some board members also expressed concern during the summer that any change in leadership could disrupt the league’s progress and create an image of instability, especially as the league is about to negotiate new media rights deals. Berman took over as commissioner before the 2022 NWSL season, when the league was in crisis due to accusations of abuse of players by coaches and staff. Baird resigned in October 2021 under intense pressure for his handling of the scandal, and Marla Messing served as interim CEO until Berman began as commissioner in the spring of 2022. Before becoming NWSL commissioner, Berman was deputy commissioner and executive vice president of business affairs for the National Lacrosse League. Previously, Berman worked for 13 years in various roles in the NHL. Her work in the NHL, initially as outside counsel, included collective bargaining negotiations and the resolution of a lockout that canceled the 2004-05 NHL season. 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
