Hogan Lovells advises Rob Cohen and the Colorado Women's Soccer Coalition in acquisition of rights to expand new NWSL franchise in Denver

The Denver NWSL team is the league’s 16th franchise and is set to begin play in the 2026 season. It’s comprised of an ownership group that includes local and national investors including Rob Cohen, Project Level, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments led by Chairwoman Mellody Hobson and former Washington Commanders President Jason Wright, FirstTracks Sports Ventures LLC (FTSV), led by siblings Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz, Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri and Molly Coors. Cohen will serve as the club’s controlling owner and Governor with Hobson as Denver NWSL’s Alternate Governor.

Denver is the second franchise awarded by the NWSL during this round of expansion, following Team 15 in Boston, bringing the league from 14 to 16 clubs. Denver NWSL becomes the first women’s professional sports team in a major national league to call Denver home. The new franchise is finalizing plans for a stadium for professional women’s soccer and a dedicated performance facility for female athletes.

The Hogan Lovells Denver-based deal team was led by partner and global head of sports Matthew Eisler, partner Russell Hedman, associates Sam Spurrell and Hanna Wynn, and law clerk Alec Kohli.