The sales of two NWSL clubs — the Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars — are in “advanced stages,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in a wide-ranging preseason press conference Monday.
Berman addressed the media via videoconference ahead of the NWSL’s 11th season, discussing league reforms and their implementation, marketing partnerships and more.
Merritt Paulson announced he planned to sell the Thorns in December, but updates from both Paulson and the league have been scant since. Berman said Monday the league is doing its due diligence for prospective owners of both the Thorns and Red Stars.
“The process is ongoing, and it’s something I personally check in on, on an every few weeks basis,” Berman said. “Ownership transfer processes are underway and are in advanced stages of due diligence with several qualified owners. No specific news to share, but we are working in partnership with those club owners to make sure the teams are put in the hands of the right owner to be able to join the league and support the league’s macro goals.”
The league will not set an artificial deadline for the completion of ownership changes, Berman said, but her comments indicated the process is far along for both clubs. She and league leadership have been directly involved in the process, including individual conversations with interested investors.
“The most important thing is that we have the right ownership in place who are not just resourced appropriately but willing to invest what is necessary to provide the professional environment that we all know is necessary,” Berman said. “So long as we feel that the process is moving forward in good faith, we will continue to make sure that is the utmost priority.
“To the extent it’s been helpful or probative to the process, I have had individual conversations. Certainly both clubs are aware that I am available to have conversations, and some of those prospective investors have reached out to me separately to understand the vision for the league and what we’re looking for in an owner. We’re ultimately the ones recommending the new owner to the board for approval. The process has been very collaborative, moving relatively quickly and at an appropriate pace. We’re very excited and confident in the future of how those will conclude.”
Berman was quick to assuage concerns about Portland or Chicago moving out of their current markets under new ownership.
“It would really be an absolute last resort for a team to have to leave a market,” Berman said. “There is nothing I have seen to date in terms of the sales process or level of interest from qualified investors that would make me concerned in any way that we would have to consider taking those teams out of those markets.”
The Thorns open the 2023 season against the Orlando Pride at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Providence Park, with a live broadcast on Fox 12 Plus and streaming on Paramount+.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
