Could OKC land NWSL franchise? Women's soccer will be 'component' of Energy FC's return

The new ownership group of Energy FC intends to bring high-level women’s soccer to Oklahoma City as a key component of the club’s rebirth.

Echo, the majority owner of Energy FC, announced Wednesday that the club is undergoing a community-driven brand review that will not only reconsider the Energy FC name, logo and color scheme, but also reimagine the club with a men’s team and women’s team in mind.

“What we’re committing to today is that we will have a women’s component to the club moving forward,” Court Jeske, president of Echo Soccer, told The Oklahoman.

While the men’s team is expected to resume play in the USL Championship, a second division league a tier below Major League Soccer, the club is in the early stages of finding the best league fit for a women’s team, whether it be in the amateur, semi-pro or professional ranks.

Spurring all of this is a plan for a $1 billion stadium district in Lower Bricktown.

Christian Kanady, the founder of local investment firm Echo, intends to donate the land to build the stadium, which was approved to be built under the MAPS 4 initiative.

Mussatto: The countdown is on for 2028 Olympics softball in Oklahoma City

“We want to make sure that this stadium is built from Day 1 with men’s and women’s sports in mind,” Jeske said.

Jeske, who joined the Echo group after working as chief commercial officer of the USL, has been in touch with U.S. Soccer to ensure that the planned stadium will meet whatever specifications are required for each level of soccer.

Building upon Oklahoma City’s support of women’s sports as the Softball Capital of the World, Jeske and his team have aspirations of bringing international women’s soccer to OKC.

“This should be a home where the U.S. Women’s National Team comes and plays their first match in the state of Oklahoma,” Jeske said. “It should be a stadium where we can host international women’s events through Concacaf or FIFA in future years as well.”

The growth of women’s soccer can be seen through the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Before this season, its 12th as a league, the NWSL agreed to a four-year, $240 million television rights package that includes four networks: ESPN, CBS, Amazon and Scripps Sports.

The NWSL’s Angel City FC recently sold for $250 million, becoming the most valuable women’s sports franchise in the world.

Over the next several months, Echo Soccer will conduct a review into what professional soccer — both men’s and women’s — should look like in Oklahoma City upon its return.

“We want to make sure we’re thinking not about the last 10 years,” Jeske said, “but the next 50 years of Oklahoma City and the way this club represents all of the different communities that are here.”

Energy FC suspended operations in 2022 due to renovations at Taft Stadium, where it played its home games. The new stadium, which has yet to break ground, could open as soon as 2027. It’s unclear if Energy FC will resume play at a different venue before the new stadium opens.

Energy FC, already under new ownership and soon to have a new stadium, could reemerge under a different name.

One thing is for sure though: Men’s and women’s soccer will be equal parts of the organization.

“This to me,” Jeske said, “speaks to the modern club and what it should be.”

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Energy FC eyes brand review, women's soccer franchise in Oklahoma City