Underdogs, My Ass: NWSL Money Moves, Atlanta’s Bid and JuJu’s Power Play

A record NWSL expansion, a college star turned investor, and Messi popping up in two stadiums—this week’s episode has everything.Asli and Michael kick off with the NWSL playoffs, a weekend full of chaos and upsets that proved once again why this league delivers pure drama. Asli questions whether the short playoff format does the excitement justice, but Michael argues that if you’ve got heartbreak and high stakes, the system’s working.The big headline? Atlanta’s new NWSL franchise. At a record $165 million expansion fee—over 50% more than Denver’s deal—the city is cementing itself as a soccer capital. Arthur Blank’s AMB Sports & Entertainment (Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium) is behind the bid, and Asli notes that Atlanta’s also now home to U.S. Soccer’s new headquarters and World Cup matches in 2026.Then, a first for women’s sports: USC basketball star JuJu Watkins becomes the first college athlete to invest in a pro team, joining the Boston Legacy ownership group. Asli and Michael unpack how NIL is reshaping college sports, turning athletes into entrepreneurs with real equity and long-term strategy.The NWSL also announced its new advisory board featuring icons like Magic Johnson, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Paul, Brandi Chastain, and Alex Morgan—proof the league’s growth is attracting serious power players.And yes, Messi’s in the mix too—appearing at both Inter Miami’s new stadium and Barcelona’s revamped Camp Nou, just casually boosting global headlines.Finally, Michael shares takeaways from his trip to Germany and his visit to Union Berlin—a club literally built by its fans, funded by donated blood and sweat. It’s the kind of grassroots authenticity American sports rarely touch.From underdog clubs to superstar investors, this week’s episode shows how passion, purpose, and profit are reshaping the global game—one franchise, one boardroom, and one blood-donating fanbase at a time.---For more, follow Asli and Michael on InstagramAsli - @brefootcontessaMichael - @michale.loreAnd follow the show…On Instagram - @financeoffootballpodOn Facebook - /financeoffootball---The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRéEditing and Sound Design by Ryan HammondMixing and Mastering by Julian KwasneskiExecutive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky---Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.