Atlanta has long been a capital for Black excellence, and now it’s becoming a hub for women’s soccer, too.

The National Women’s Soccer League announced this week that Atlanta will become home to its 17th franchise, led by Falcons and Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank and his AMB Sports Entertainment group. The team is expected to launch in 2028, marking the league’s most significant expansion to date.

The Atlanta-based club will play home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and benefit from Blank’s organization's deep infrastructure and investment in youth and community programming. 

Nearly 47% of Atlanta’s population is Black, and Blank’s leadership brings a unique blend of business, philanthropy and community focus that has already made an impact across the city.

“The arrival of women’s professional soccer is about creating opportunities for players, staffers, and fans. And on a personal note, it makes me so happy to know that a generation of our daughters will now get to watch female athletes chase their dreams on the pitch. Progress has always been a part of Atlanta’s DNA,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. 

“Whether it has been equity in opportunity, innovation in design or unity through community, Atlanta is proud to show the world how inclusion can fuel growth. Thank you to Arthur Blank for again showing us what it looks like when we move Atlanta forward, together.”

Earlier this year, Blank’s foundation pledged $50 million to fund scholarships for students at Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities – Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College and the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Beyond the education-focused gift, his foundation has donated more than $1.5 billion to various causes, from youth services to healthcare. That track record gives the expansion announcement deeper meaning for many who view sports investment as part of a broader social investment. 

The NWSL investment, coupled with this new sports franchise, underscores Blank’s consistent belief that economic opportunity and representation should reach every part of Atlanta. 

“Atlanta is a city that embodies the energy, diversity, and ambition that define the next chapter of the NWSL,” Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “From its passionate fan base to its deep sports culture, Atlanta has all the ingredients to become one of the league’s most dynamic markets.”

In a city where hip-hop, HBCUs, and history collide, the arrival of a women’s professional soccer team feels right on time.