Report: Sacramento has landed an NWSL expansion franchise. The deal is being finalized

Sacramento seems to have added a top-level women’s soccer team.

A story by The Athletic reported Wednesday morning there is a done deal between Sacramento investors and a new team will join the NWSL in 2021.

Negotiations between the league and investors from Sacramento Republic FC are in the late stages and details of where and when the new expansion franchise will play are still being finalized, a league source told The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento Republic did not immediately comment on the report.

Another unknown factor and final hurdle for Sacramento to gain an NWSL franchise is the league expansion fee. Last month, a star-studded Los Angeles ownership group led by high-profile women helped land Angel City FC, Los Angeles’ NWSL expansion franchise. The founding core of celebrities, athletes and businesswomen include Natalie Portman, Kara Nortman, Julie Uhrman, Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner and more.

Last month, Major League Soccer announced Sac Republic FC and two other expansion franchises would have their entry into the MLS pushed back a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sacramento and St. Louis will join MLS in 2023 and Charlotte will join the league in 2022.

The delay also stems from uncertainty about how to design a stadium for the post-COVID-19 era. Construction for Republic’s $300 million downtown Sacramento stadium is expected to start in the fall.

It’s unclear where Sacramento’s new NWSL team will play next year. Papa Murphy’s Park, located at the Cal Expo, holds about 11,500 fans. The new Railyards stadium in downtown Sacramento will be able to host 21,000.

Film producer Matt Alvarez is the Sacramento owner leading the charge on NWSL expansion. According to The Athletic, the California Storm wants to be involved with the NWSL expansion process, including partnering directly with any expansion group. The Storm is a Sacramento team that plays in the second tier of women’s professional soccer.

This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Report: Sacramento has landed an NWSL expansion franchise. The deal is being finalized."