Hope is dwindling for Caitlin Clark.

The Fever star has been a major part of the wave that ushered in a new era in the WNBA, and she has no intention of being limited to that. Apart from playing, the basketball star has plans to invest in women’s sports as well. For CC, soccer is her aim. While it’s a great initiative, she has a major hurdle to overcome.

As the NWSL gears up for an expansion to 16 teams, Cincinnati has been making headlines. The ownership group is in the spotlight not only because of its ambition to secure a team but also because it includes Clark as one of its members. However, the group faces tough competitors that could shatter the 22-year-old’s dreams.

According to NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, the league had finalized three groups: Clark, Cleveland, and Denver. Initially, the group faced competition from Cleveland, and now it’s Denver. As per Sportico, the league is in exclusive negotiations with the Denver group, which is reportedly the first choice for expansion.

The expansion fee is expected to range between $105 million and $150 million—more than double what it cost to join the NWSL previously. If the deal is successful, it would set a record as the highest fee ever paid for an expansion team in U.S. women’s sports history.

via Imago

And Denver appears close enough.

Apart from Clark, Cincinnati is led by the owners of MLS’ Cincinnati FC. The Denver group, on the other hand, is led by IMA Financial Group CEO Robert Cohen, who is likely to be the controlling owner. Other members of the group include Ben Hubbard (former Obama administration official and CEO of Parsyl), Tom Dunmore (sports business executive), Nicole Glaros (Phos CEO), and Jordan Angeli (former NWSL player and current league analyst).

As for the stadium, the Denver group has revealed plans to build a soccer-specific one. Until that stadium is complete, the team will play in a temporary venue. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark’s Cincinnati group has an advantage with the existing TQL Stadium, but such a significant investment could prove troublesome for the group. Considering the current trend, the costs are likely to rise in the future. However, it is still too soon to make any predictions.

The other two recent additions to the league are the Utah Royals and Bay FC. A Boston-based club, which will pay $53 million, is set to join the league in 2026. The new winning team will also join that same year.

As the race for NWSL expansion heats up, the stakes have never been higher. While Caitlin Clark and her Cincinnati group have a strong case with the TQL Stadium and Clark’s growing influence in women’s sports, Denver’s well-funded ownership group and plans for a soccer-specific stadium give it a clear edge.

With the league poised to break records in expansion fees and set a new precedent for investment in women’s sports, all eyes are on the NWSL to see which group secures the coveted spot. For now, Clark and Cincinnati will have to wait and see if their dreams can outshine Denver’s ambitious bid.