Kate Leinbaugh

Last month, a group from Denver won a competitive race to get a new team for the National Women's Soccer League. It paid $110 million to start a new team, a record amount for women's soccer and for all of women's sports. But something else about Denver's bid stood out to our sports reporter, Rachel Bachman.

Rachel says building a stadium signals a new level of investment coming for women's sports.

Rachel says building a stadium signals a new level of investment coming for women's sports.

Rachel says building a stadium signals a new level of investment coming for women's sports.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Monday, February 10th. Coming up on the show, how big money is making its way into women's soccer.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Monday, February 10th. Coming up on the show, how big money is making its way into women's soccer.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Linebaugh. It's Monday, February 10th. Coming up on the show, how big money is making its way into women's soccer.

When the National Women's Soccer League launched in 2013, its success was uncertain. Two previous attempts to start women's soccer leagues had failed. This time, the NWSL was starting with eight teams and not a lot of money.

When the National Women's Soccer League launched in 2013, its success was uncertain. Two previous attempts to start women's soccer leagues had failed. This time, the NWSL was starting with eight teams and not a lot of money.

When the National Women's Soccer League launched in 2013, its success was uncertain. Two previous attempts to start women's soccer leagues had failed. This time, the NWSL was starting with eight teams and not a lot of money.

What is the downside of being a renter, of playing at other people's stadiums? Oh, there's so many.

What is the downside of being a renter, of playing at other people's stadiums? Oh, there's so many.

What is the downside of being a renter, of playing at other people's stadiums? Oh, there's so many.

Things began to change for women's soccer in 2019 after the U.S. won the Women's World Cup.

Things began to change for women's soccer in 2019 after the U.S. won the Women's World Cup.

Things began to change for women's soccer in 2019 after the U.S. won the Women's World Cup.

Nobody. The tournament was huge, and the win cemented the U.S. team as a powerhouse of global women's soccer. Millions watched the final on TV. And in the stands, soaking up the excitement, was a couple from Kansas City, Missouri.

Nobody. The tournament was huge, and the win cemented the U.S. team as a powerhouse of global women's soccer. Millions watched the final on TV. And in the stands, soaking up the excitement, was a couple from Kansas City, Missouri.

Nobody. The tournament was huge, and the win cemented the U.S. team as a powerhouse of global women's soccer. Millions watched the final on TV. And in the stands, soaking up the excitement, was a couple from Kansas City, Missouri.

In 2020, the Longs bought an NWSL team in Utah and relocated it to Kansas City. And they wanted to go beyond that shoestring business model. They wanted to make a big investment, to do something no other women's professional sports team had done before, build their team its own stadium. But first, they needed a bank to finance it. How did that go?