Peyton Manning joins ownership group for NWSL expansion team
Photo Credit: Denver NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League is growing, and so is its wealth of celebrity owners.
Five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning has joined the ownership group for Denver’s NWSL expansion team that will begin play next season.
“It’s a real honor to be part of something so meaningful to the Colorado community,” said Peyton Manning in a statement. “I’m proud to support the growth of women’s sports and excited to help build a club that our city and our state can rally behind.”
Denver’s NWSL team, which still does not have a name or logo, will join Boston Legacy FC as the league’s two newest teams in 2026. Denver will be the 16th franchise in league history. When the 2026 season kicks off, the NWSL will have added seven teams since 2020, with expansion happening about every two years. The $110 million expansion fee that Denver’s ownership group paid is the highest in league history, more than double the amount Legacy FC paid just over a year ago.
The popularity and growth of women’s soccer in the United States have led to the rapid expansion of the NWSL. Just like in Major League Soccer and major leagues overseas, the NWSL is attracting celebrity owners, with Manning being the latest to join the party.
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, Manning is one of the bigger names among NWSL owners. Three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an owner of the Kansas City Current, a 2021 expansion team. Peyton’s brother, Eli, is an investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC, along with basketball stars Sue Bird and Kevin Durant. 11-time NBA All-Star James Harden is invested in the Houston Dash. Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is part of the Washington Spirit ownership group. Other notable owners/investors include Grammy-nominated artist Jack Harlow (Racing Louisville FC), tennis star Naomi Osaka (North Carolina Courage), and three-time gold medalist ski racer Lindsey Vonn (Utah Royals).
The biggest ownership group is Angel City FC, a 2022 expansion side from Los Angeles, founded by Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman. Former No.1-ranked tennis player Serena Williams, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford, and Grammy-winning singer Christina Aguilera are all investors. A number of former United States Women’s National Team members own stakes in the club, including Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach.
Manning returns to Denver, where he spent the final four seasons of his 17-year NFL career. Manning won his second Super Bowl in his final season, bringing the Broncos their third Lombardi Trophy.
“Peyton’s legacy as a champion and a leader is second to none,” said Rob Cohen, controlling owner of Denver NWSL. “His impact on Colorado sports is unmatched, and we’re incredibly proud to have him as a partner. He brings passion, insight, and deep local roots -- all of which will help us shape the future of Denver NWSL.”
Manning will join two-time Olympic champion Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin as a member of the inaugural ownership group.
The unnamed team will play its first few seasons at a temporary stadium in Centennial, Colorado. The temporary 12,000-seat stadium will be built on the same site as the team’s new training center. A soccer-specific stadium in Denver’s Sante Fe Yards is set to open in 2028. This will be the league’s second venue specifically built for professional women’s soccer.
The Denver NWSL team will become the first major professional women’s sports team in the Mile High City, with one of the city’s most impactful figures helping lead the way.
