The Varsity The NWSL’s Moneyball Moment
9 snips
Mar 15, 2026 
Jeremiah Yolcutt, MLB operations chief for global events, talks national pride, storytelling, and the World Baseball Classic’s role in building fields and youth programs. Jessica Berman, NWSL commissioner focused on league growth, covers expansion standards, the High Impact Player rule, media rights strategy, and plans for a 30‑team future.
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Women's Teams Cross-Promote Locally And Nationally
- Jessica describes cross-property collaboration: owners and teams in women's sports share investors and run joint community and merch initiatives.
- Example: Gotham and New York Liberty run community boot‑the‑ground partnerships and merch collaborations.
NWSL Competes Globally For Talent And Locally For Attention
- NWSL competes globally for players and domestically for consumers' time, not just against U.S. leagues.
- Berman notes soccer's open global labor market means clubs worldwide vie for elite talent while fans choose among many leisure options.
Plan Growth Around 2031 World Cup
- Align growth milestones toward 2031 Women's World Cup and build foundational investments now.
- Berman emphasizes long-range planning to ensure the NWSL is sustainable and ready to capitalize on the 2031 event.