Breaking: NWSL…

Jessica Berman has received a contract extension to continue her role as NWSL commissioner, as confirmed by multiple sources to ESPN.

According to a knowledgeable source, the extension is for three years, extending her tenure through the 2028 NWSL season, as her original contract is set to expire soon.

An NWSL spokesperson declined to provide a comment when approached by ESPN.

Last month, Berman briefly mentioned her future in a press conference held at the NWSL’s New York headquarters: “What I can say is that I intend to be here. I joined this league because I believe in the future of women’s sports and professional women’s soccer, and that’s all I can say.”

For months, Berman’s future as commissioner has been the subject of negotiations. Sources informed ESPN that the full board did not reach a unanimous agreement on the path forward.

The board’s executive committee, consisting of four members, guided the negotiation process. According to Sportico, Berman’s contract was finalized by the committee this week without a vote from the full board, a fact confirmed by a second source to ESPN.

Under Berman’s leadership, the NWSL has seen impressive growth in commercial aspects, including a $240 million media rights agreement, league expansion efforts, and team valuations skyrocketing from about $5 million to over $250 million in recent years. The league office has also expanded significantly, garnering interest from new major sponsors.

Last year, the league ratified a new collective bargaining agreement and implemented significant reforms to enhance player safety following a systemic abuse scandal that predated Berman and resulted in the resignation of her predecessor, Lisa Baird, in 2021.

These achievements have been well-received by many owners, who have witnessed their teams’ and the league’s values increase rapidly.

However, multiple sources have expressed concerns regarding the league’s direction and its long-term competitiveness against growing global competition. Top European teams are able to offer the world’s best players salaries that exceed what the NWSL can provide under its current salary cap, which is established through 2030 according to the new CBA.

Berman’s management of several recent high-profile controversies has also come under scrutiny from various sources within the league.

In May, a match continued after Savy King, a defender for Angel City FC, collapsed on the field and was treated for over 10 minutes before being taken to the hospital, where doctors later identified a heart abnormality. The NWSL faced significant criticism for this decision and acknowledged that the game should not have proceeded, stating any future incidents of this nature would lead to game suspensions.

Similarly, when Racing Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo collapsed in September, the match was immediately suspended.

In August, Berman reportedly threatened the Kansas City Current’s owners over a disagreement regarding heat policies, as per a report by The Athletic. A match in Kansas City faced a delay exceeding three hours due to extreme heat, resulting in the loss of a valuable national television window, which some sources indicated was part of Berman’s concern to continue the game.

Multiple ESPN sources indicated that certain board members had expressed worries over the summer that a leadership change could disrupt the league’s progress and create an appearance of instability—especially with upcoming negotiations for new media rights deals.

Berman took on the role of commissioner before the 2022 NWSL season when the league was in turmoil due to accusations of player abuse by coaches and staff. Baird resigned in October 2021 amid intense scrutiny over her handling of the situation, and Marla Messing served as interim CEO until Berman’s appointment in spring 2022.

Before joining the NWSL, Berman was the deputy commissioner and executive vice president of business affairs for the National Lacrosse League. She has a 13-year background in various roles within the NHL, initially as an external lawyer involved in CBA negotiations and in resolving a labor lockout that led to the cancellation of the NHL’s 2004-05 season.

Sportico, the first outlet to report this news on Friday, stated that Berman’s new contract includes a financial incentive tied to the outcomes of the league’s next broadcast negotiations.