Welcome to this week’s edition of Goalside Gossip!

If you like your soccer with a side of venture capital and a dash of penalty shootout drama, you’re in the right place. This week felt like a fever dream of "new era" energy. On the pitch, the USWNT reminded us that winning ugly is still winning, grinding out a SheBelieves title that felt more like a chess match than a track meet. Meanwhile, north of the border, Kailen Sheridan continues to prove she might actually be a wizard in goal.

But honestly? The loudest noise this week wasn't a stadium crowd. It was the sound of Marc Lasry’s $40M pen hitting the paper. Seeing the NC Courage hit a $155M valuation feels like a "we’ve arrived" moment for the league, even if the streaming schedule for 2026 is starting to look like a puzzle no one quite knows how to solve yet. From billionaire pivots to the "halo effect" of the upcoming Men's World Cup, the business of the NWSL is moving faster than an Alyssa Thompson sprint. Let’s dive into it.

What’s in store:

• Notable Matches (Int’l)

  • Canada vs Argentina (0)3)-(0(2)

  • USA vs Colombia (1-0) - SheBelieves Cup Final

  • Mexico vs Brazil (1-0)

• News

  • Marc Lasry Invests in NC Courage

  • What’s New in 2026 in the NWSL

  • Berman Eyeing More Growth

Canada vs
Argentina (0)3)-(0(2)

Canada secured a second-place finish at the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, overcoming a resilient Argentina 3-2 on penalties after regulation ended in a scoreless draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Despite Casey Stoney’s side controlling the tempo and outshooting their opponents 11-3, they lacked the edge to dismantle a compact Argentinian defense led by captain Aldana Cometti. Goalkeeper Solana Pereyra was a wall for Argentina, notably tipping a Jordyn Huitema strike onto the crossbar to maintain the deadlock through 90 minutes. However, NC Courage's Kailen Sheridan proved to be the difference-maker in the shootout, saving two of Argentina's first three attempts.

🏆 USA vs
Colombia (1-0)

The USWNT secured yet another SheBelieves Cup trophy with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, powered by a stunning 82nd-minute strike from tournament MVP Alyssa Thompson. After second-half substitutes Olivia Moultrie and Lindsey Heaps injected life into the attack, Thompson linked up with Jaedyn Shaw at the top of the box to fire a right-footed shot into the top corner, marking her first career international game-winner. Colombia utilized a physical approach and tactical delays to stifle the American offense early on, even outshooting the U.S. in a dangerous first half that required a goal-line intervention from veteran Emily Sonnett. The night also featured a historic milestone for Sonnett, who became the sole record-holder for the most SheBelieves Cup titles won by an individual with eight.

Mexico vs
Brazil (1-0)

Brazil suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico in Mexico City on Saturday night, marking their second consecutive loss in the season's opening FIFA window. Despite controlling much of the match and creating numerous opportunities—including hitting the woodwork twice through Jheniffer and Tainá Maranhão—the Amarelinha could not find a breakthrough at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes. Goalkeeper Letícia kept Brazil level early by saving a Mexican penalty, but she was eventually beaten in the 75th minute when Greta headed home the winner from a corner kick. The match, played before a crowd of 24,876, served as a key preparation milestone for Brazil's hosting of the 2027 World Cup and was notably marked by the emotional return of midfielder Luana, who made her first appearance in nearly two years following health treatment.

Billionaire Marc Lasry Invests
in NC Courage

Billionaire Marc Lasry is officially doubling down on his interest in the NWSL. His Avenue Sports Fund reached an agreement to inject $40 million into the North Carolina Courage, valuing the club at a staggering $155 million. This deal marks a significant pivot from his previous attempt to buy a controlling stake in the team. Instead, Lasry is settling into a minority role as an LP. The shift likely avoids the league's messy private equity restrictions that tanked his earlier 2024 bid, and it’s a massive jump in valuation for a franchise that was worth just $66 million during its 2022 funding round.

This investment reflects a broader, almost frantic rise in NWSL asset prices. While the Courage struggled with middle-of-the-pack attendance in 2025, their 21% growth in gate receipts led the league. That trajectory makes the $155 million price tag look less like a gamble and more like a calculated entry into a booming market. Lasry already sold his stake in the Milwaukee Bucks for a windfall. Now, he is using that capital to join an ownership group that includes tennis superstar Naomi Osaka. The deal still needs a green light from the league office. Once approved, it cements the Courage as one of the most valuable teams in American women's sports.

Looking Ahead to the
2026 NWSL Season: Whats New?

New Media Hubs and High-Stakes Sunday Slots

The NWSL is entering a major streaming era with the addition of Victory+ as its fifth national broadcast partner for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Yes, it’s another app to download, but 57 free matches is a hard price to argue with, accounting for nearly 25% of the league’s regular-season schedule. Simultaneously, the league is stepping into a premier linear television spotlight via ESPN’s "Women’s Sports Sundays". This nine-week window, which features 12 total games shared with the WNBA, serves as a critical viewership test for the NWSL as it prepares to market its next round of media rights for 2028.

A Traveling Challenge Cup and C-Suite Shuffles

The 2026 Challenge Cup is ditching its traditional format to reach a broader audience by moving from the preseason to the summer. On June 26, the reigning NWSL Championship and Shield winners will face off at a neutral site for the first time, with ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, playing host. Off the pitch, several franchises have overhauled their front offices with major business-side hires. Bay FC added Stacy Johns as CEO and Brenden Mallette as CRO, while the Seattle Reign and Houston Dash raided the NBA and MLB to fill critical CFO and CMO roles.

HIP Rules and the Race for 2028

Roster construction has reached a historic milestone under the league's new High-Impact Player (HIP) rule, which allowed the Washington Spirit to retain Trinity Rodman with a record-breaking deal worth over $2 million annually. However, the rule has sparked immediate controversy, with the NWSL Players Association filing a grievance claiming its "unilateral implementation" violates the current CBA. Amidst this legal friction, the league is already eyeing its next growth spurt. Following Arthur Blank’s $165 million entry for an Atlanta squad in 2028, the NWSL is expected to seek a expansion franchise to maintain an even competitive schedule.

Berman Continues to
Think Big for the NWSL

Commissioner Jessica Berman is entering her second term with a mandate to drive further commercial growth for the NWSL's 16-team footprint. A primary focus for 2026 is leveraging the "halo effect" of the men’s FIFA World Cup in North America to catalyze attendance and viewership. While World Cup preparations have forced some clubs, like the Seattle Reign, to relocate games to adjacent markets like Spokane, Berman views this as a long-term opportunity to expand the league's fan radius.

Berman has high expectations for the league’s newest expansion teams in Boston and Denver, noting their strategic focus on "purpose-built infrastructure". She highlighted Boston Legacy FC’s early success in the sponsorship market and projected that Denver Summit FC would break league attendance records at its home opener, with ticket sales already approaching 50,000. Regarding future expansion, Berman confirmed the league has shifted to a "rolling process" for admitting new teams. This approach allows the league to vet bidders based on their individual planning cycles, with a goal of potentially identifying an 18th team to join the 2028 season alongside Atlanta.

As the league enters the third year of its current four-year media deals, Berman is focused on analyzing consumer behavior across diverse platforms like the ad-supported Victory+ and marquee linear slots on ESPN. She noted that NWSL viewership was up 20% on linear and 30% on digital last year, particularly among women aged 18 to 34, positioning the league as a "must-have property" for the next rights negotiation. Addressing the Players Association’s grievance over the new High-Impact Player rule, Berman expressed confidence in the rule's development, framing it as an essential investment to grow league revenue and long-term player compensation.