The Seattle soccer landscape is seeing a major shift as the Seattle Sounders and international investment powerhouse Carlyle have wrapped up their acquisition of the Seattle Reign, part of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). In a deal first signaled in March by the OL Groupe, the former owner of the Reign, the finalized transaction sits at a tidy $58 million, as KIRO7 reported.
The Seattle Sounders have long been ambitious about their role in the global soccer scene, and this recent move shores up their position. "Our goal is to be a standard bearer in global soccer," Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer told KIRO7, emphasizing the need for "a first-class environment for players, staff and fans," while remaining true to the team's Seattle roots. Considering the rapid growth in team valuations across the NWSL, where San Diego Wave FC’s worth is being pegged between $113 million and $120 million, according to ESPN, the deal by the Sounders and Carlyle could be seen as a significant development in women’s soccer circles.
Seattle's NWSL side, which previously went by the title of OL Reign, has seen both the high of championship wins and the lows of instability off the field. The team's movement from Seattle to Tacoma in 2019 and the removal of "Seattle" from its name underscored the uncertainty that surrounded the club. However, their recent acquisition by the Sounders, coupled with Carlyle's involvement, is expected to provide "true stability in the Emerald City," as mentioned in an ESPN report. This eagerly awaited consolidation is set to align with the NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman's vision from last year for a smoother sale and ownership transition.
The Reign, who have held the NWSL Shield aloft on three occasions, appear to be undergoing a rough patch this season, ranking 13th out of 14 teams, with just eight points after 13 matches according to Reuters. Fans and stakeholders are no doubt looking at this acquisition as a pivotal step towards not just stability, but also resurgence on the pitch, where recent performances have belied the team's historic strength.
The broader implications of such alliances between major league soccer entities and investment firms could signal a new era of commercial vigor, and perhaps, expanded popularity for women's soccer in the United States. For the sport's aficionados and the hopeful Seattle fan base, this could very well be the beginning of a revitalized chapter for the Reign, one that springs from a long-awaited sense of firm ground beneath their feet.
