Jessica Berman, NWSL Commissioner, steered the league through turmoil to resuscitate women's soccer.

• In 2022, Jessica Berman became the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League and is working to create opportunities for the next generation of women in sports.
• After allegations of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were made across several teams, Berman became the leader.
• At a time when women's sports are experiencing unprecedented growth, Berman has focused on changing the league's culture and expanding its business.

At 16, Jessica Berman was determined to become a leader in the sports industry.

In 2022, the New York City native became the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League and is now helping to create opportunities for the next generation of women in sports.

"Berman stated to CNBC that our league is currently experiencing a crucial and transformative moment, as the world is increasingly recognizing the importance of valuing women and investing in girls."

Berman, who was included in CNBC's first Changemakers list, started her legal career at Proskauer Rose after interning at the National Hockey League and in college sports. She played a key role in ending the 2004-2005 NHL lockout by negotiating a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players.

For 13 years, she progressed in the NHL hierarchy, holding various positions, including vice president of community development and deputy counsel for the league, while collaborating with Commissioner Gary Bettman.

In 2019, Berman became the first female deputy commissioner of a men's professional sports league, joining the National Lacrosse League. She was later appointed to run the NWSL and tasked with revitalizing an organization in turmoil.

Taking the field

The women's soccer league appointed Berman as its leader following accusations of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct among multiple teams.

A yearlong independent investigation, led by former U.S. deputy attorney general Sally Yates, found systemic abuse in the NWSL just months after Berman was named commissioner. The league had failed to implement basic measures for player safety and had cultivated a "culture of abuse, silence and fear of retaliation," the report stated.

An apology was issued by Berman, and a pledge was made to make necessary changes to foster a safe and positive atmosphere for players, staff, and fans, and to restore trust in the league.

In 2023, Berman focused on changing the league's culture and expanding its business during a period of rapid growth in women's sports.

Berman played a key role in enhancing the league's first collective bargaining agreement, which resulted in improvements for players' compensation and working conditions. Additionally, she introduced the first million-dollar prize pool for U.S. women's soccer.

The league's personnel was cleaned up by her, with four former coaches receiving lifetime bans for their roles in the misconduct detailed in the Yates report. Additionally, the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns teams were fined $1.5 million and $1 million, respectively.

She attracted big-name investors with her vision for professional women's soccer.

Some of the notable names in the entertainment and sports industries, including Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Patrick Mahomes, Eli Manning, Kevin Durant, and Carli Lloyd, have equity stakes in NWSL teams.

The league is stronger and more financially sound than ever, as Berman stated today.

The NWSL secured a $240 million media rights deal with four major streaming and cable partners in November, which is 40 times larger than the previous deal. This agreement significantly expanded the league's reach and distribution to new audiences.

"At the time, Berman stated that these partnerships would fundamentally alter the league and the players who participate in games."

The NWSL announced an exclusive retail sponsorship with on Monday, naming the company as its partner. Under the deal, Amazon and streamer will launch an NWSL merchandise shop, and the league will move its digital archives to Amazon Web Services cloud storage.

Amazon Prime will stream 27 matches this season, which kicks off Friday.

The 2023 NWSL season attracted a record-breaking attendance of over 1.49 million fans, a 32% increase from the previous year.

The league has grown to 14 teams from 12 under Berman, with two more teams set to join in 2026.

Today, the average NWSL team is worth $66 million, with Los Angeles' Angel City FC being valued at $180 million, making it one of the most valuable women's teams in the world, according to Sportico.

The fundamentals

Berman stated that the validation she has received from those who have been striving for decades to alter the narrative regarding women's sports is what she is most proud of.

Berman stated that the authenticity of the game is carried by current and recently retired players who have embraced what is being built, which has greatly fueled his energy and excitement about the future of the game.

Berman recognizes the significant contributions of the "army of people" who have contributed to the league's growth.

She expressed her daily experience of feeling empowered as a woman, surrounded by remarkable leaders and athletes who have devoted themselves to achieving their goals.

She takes pride in giving her two young boys a front-row seat to history.

Berman, who frequently travels as part of her job, said that her boys have become personally invested in the league after getting an up-close view of their mom's work, including the sacrifices she had to make along the way of her career.

She stated that seeing the positive impact of her daily work on her colleagues' lives made the job feel more meaningful.

Her mother, a psychologist, instilled in her a sense of self-awareness that has been key to her career success, which she attributes to hard work, ambition, and being her authentic self.

Berman ensures that she prioritizes self-care, whether through spending time with loved ones, caring for her dogs, or engaging in exercise such as running or yoga, which she believes makes her a better commissioner.

Berman stated that it provides him with the energy to offer to everything else in his life.