Dynamo pursue expansion franchise in women’s league

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The Dynamo are in talks about securing an expansion franchise in the National Women's Soccer League, which features U.S. national team stars Alex Morgan, Hope Solo and Abby Wambach.

The eight-team NWSL played its inaugural season in 2013 with a commitment from the U.S., Canadian and Mexican women's national soccer federations.

"We're involved in the initial stages of this process and hope to learn more about the league and the opportunity over the next few weeks," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. "I'm a firm believer in women's athletics. I think there is a place in the sports landscape for professional women's sports."

Morgan, the young U.S. women's soccer star who has over a million followers on Twitter, has been spending much of her downtime in Houston with her longtime boyfriend, Servando Carrasco of the Dynamo.

Morgan's Portland Thorns, who are the only NWSL team owned by an MLS franchise, won the inaugural NWSL title.

"I think that in the Greater Houston area and even beyond, there's a very strong participation level for girls soccer," Canetti said. "It's a completely different relationship when young girls watch women.

Alex Morgan is one of the most popular female athletes in the world. Alex Morgan is one of the most popular female athletes in the world. Photo: Darren Abate, Associated Press Photo: Darren Abate, Associated Press Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Dynamo pursue expansion franchise in women’s league 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

"They really enjoy watching Tally Hall, Brad Davis and Bobby Boswell. But when they can relate to the women, I think it's a very powerful connection."

This area has a strong history of involvement in girls soccer. Houston's Challenge Soccer Club, Texas Rush and Albion are members of the Elite Clubs National League, which weekly pits the best girls clubs in the country.

"I think having a women's professional team in Houston would be huge," said Challenge SC training director Pat O'Toole. "I think it would be fantastic for our players to have an opportunity to watch the highest level of soccer other than the national team. It gives them something to aspire to."

The NWSL's 22-game schedule, which consists of 11 home games and 11 road matches, lasts from April to August. Seattle, Portland, Kansas City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, New Jersey and Rochester have teams in the league. Houston would be the league's first franchise in the Southwest.

If the Dynamo finalize their quest to land an NWSL expansion club, that team would play at BBVA Compass Stadium and train at Houston Amateur Sports Park, just as the men's club does.