Women's soccer is bringing private equity off the sidelines. While other major U.S. sports leagues – Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League – have allowed private equity investors to take passive, minority stakes, only the National Women's Soccer League has allowed these firms to take majority control of the economics. Sixth Street was the first to own a team in building out the San Francisco women's team, Bay FC, last year. The second-ever such deal closed a few weeks ago, as Carlyle partnered with men's team, the Seattle Sounders FC, to buy that city's counterpart in the NWSL, the Reign FC. Popov said NWSL attendance, up more than 40% this year, is evidence of the momentum in the sport.

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Persons: Jessica Berman, San Francisco women's, Carlyle, Adrian Hanauer, Alex Popov, Popov Organizations: – Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Women's Soccer League, CNBC, Sixth, San, Bay FC, men's, Seattle Sounders FC, FC, Sounders FC, Reign FC, NWSL Board