A Fan-Built Future for the NWSL
Back in graduate school, one of the first episodes I did for this project was focused on the long winding journey of women’s soccer in Kansas City.
The story of these fans mirrored many of the experiences fellow supporters of women’s soccer have experienced across the country; braving snow, wind, or rain to support their team, knowning full well that at any point their team could be shuttered due to lack of support.
These fans told me stories of their travels to small community fields or college stadiums, packing them out to support their players, and trying to turn those tiny rows of bleachers into an intimidating wall of sound.
Only in recent years has the investment into women’s sports matched the passion put forth by these fans.
Those teams that came from humble beginnings thirteen years ago are finding their footing. They’re graduating from the small college stadiums to their own state of the art facilities, Like our friends in Kansas City at CPKC Stadium. most important of all these developments are the stars of womens soccer and their fans getting the attention they deserve.
As another NWSL season comes to an end, I wanted to talk to with these fans that made this league’s growth over the last thirteen years possible and what they would do to keep their voice intact in this new era of women’s soccer.
I asked them:
What part of the club’s identity do you think needs the most love or clarity?
What’s one realistic thing fans or the club could do to strengthen community + belonging for supporters?
Here’s what they had to say...