Two new National Women's Soccer League expansion franchises — Atlanta and Columbus — are beginning the process of building their rosters ahead of their planned 2028 league debuts. The clubs will have several mechanisms available to assemble competitive squads, including the NWSL expansion draft, free agency, trades, and the college draft.
Both ownership groups have been active in hiring front-office staff and establishing youth academy structures in their respective markets. Atlanta's bid, backed by a group led by former U.S. international Julie Foudy, and Columbus's ownership, which includes the Crew's investor-operators, have emphasized community engagement and long-term infrastructure investment.
The league has not yet announced the exact timeline for expansion-draft rules or the number of protected players each existing club may retain. Those details are expected to be finalized during the 2027 season, giving the new entrants roughly a year to execute their roster plans before kickoff.
