April 21 : The National Women's Soccer League announced on Tuesday that it had awarded an expansion franchise to Columbus, Ohio, which will bring the league to 18 clubs when the team joins the competition in 2028. The ownership group is led by Haslam Sports Group, whose portfolio includes ownership of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns and operating rights to Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew. “As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, expanding to Columbus is a natural next step,"