“We’re certainly optimistic about expansion in 2020,” Reign FC owner Bill Predmore told The Athletic last week. That optimism hasn’t wavered since reports first started surfacing back in October about Sacramento Republic FC and the NWSL being in advanced discussion for 2020 expansion, and the return of women’s professional soccer to California for the first time in a decade.



Only a few days after the NWSL expansion reports, Sacramento Republic FC was officially awarded MLS spot after years of effort. But as December begins, there has not been a companion announcement on the NWSL side in Sacramento. And the crunch has been on for weeks now, after the NWSL and Louisville City FC had made 2021 expansion a reality.



“We understand the timing for 2020 is imminent, given the things that need to happen in preparation for the 2020 season,” NWSL President Amanda Duffy said during her media availability at the NWSL Championship in...