THE WOMEN'S PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH SHEPPARD MULLIN TO ASSIST WITH BUILDING WPSL PRO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 7, 2023) - The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced today its new partnership with Sheppard Mullin - the international and leading front-runner in sports law headquartered in Los Angeles. With the announcement, Sheppard Mullin will serve as official representation for WPSL PRO as it accelerates the development of the newly announced Division III women’s professional soccer league.

“We are thrilled to have secured the partnership of Sheppard Mullin, and to have them now join us in our effort to bring a world-class Division III pro league to the women’s soccer community,” Sean Jones, WPSL president, said. “Their sports practice has a track record that is second to none, which includes some of the largest recent projects in global soccer.  I look forward to working with them to make WPSL PRO the massive success that we all believe it can be.”   

By way of its Sports Industry Team, Sheppard Mullin has built a significant and honorable reputation that has placed it at the forefront of sports law. With notable clients such as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pac-12 Conference, the Rose Bowl Operating Company, and Chelsea Football Club, Sheppard Mullin has become a leader in the industry.

“Sheppard Mullin is thrilled to represent the WPSL on the launch of its new women's professional soccer league,” Brian Anderson, Sheppard Mullin partner and co-leader of its Sports Industry Team, said. “It is a unique opportunity for me personally to look at the big picture and advise on all of the legal and business issues involved in structuring and launching a new professional sports league from scratch. The WPSL's long history of operating the top amateur league in the world and its strong leadership team will give WPSL PRO a big advantage.”

The Sheppard Mullin Sports Industry Team is a multi-disciplinary team that offers the experience and insights necessary to provide full-service legal counsel to franchise owners, investors, teams, professional leagues, governing bodies, colleges, facility operators, key rights holders, advertising companies, brand sponsors, sports technology business, and others involved in sports-related transactions or disputes.

“The addition of Sheppard Mullin, and Brian Anderson, to the WPSL PRO project signifies the tremendous level of commitment that our league leadership is making to ensure that this effort is built for success,” Benno Nagel, WPSL PRO project director, said.  “I know that with Brian and his team, we have clearly picked the right group to help drive our overall process as we continue to gear up for 2025 and beyond.”

The WPSL confirmed in February its intentions to launch WPSL PRO as a professional Division III women’s soccer league with a tentatively planned kick-off scheduled for 2025.
 

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For more information on Sheppard Mullin, visit its official website at sheppardmullin.com or subscribe to the Sheppard Mullin Sports Page - a weekly digital publication designed to keep sports business executives informed of current events and important news impacting the sports world.

For more information on WPSL PRO visit wpslsoccer.com/wpsl-pro.

About Sheppard Mullin

Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm with over 1,000 attorneys in 12 domestic offices located in California, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York and Washington, D.C., as well as four international offices in Shanghai, Seoul, London and Brussels. With over 50 attorneys dedicated to its Sports Industry Team, Sheppard Mullin has collective experience in negotiating media rights and broadcast deals, selling majority and minority ownerships, securing sponsorships, bidding for expansion teams, working on stadium/venue and training facility projects and agreements, and licensing intellectual property. Their clients include the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants, Brooklyn Nets LLC, the San Diego Padres, the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club LLC, Topgolf International, the Pac-12 Conference, the Rose Bowl Operating Company, Chelsea Football Club, World Rugby Limited, and Fanduel.

About the Women’s Premier Soccer League

Celebrating its 25th season of play in 2023, the Women’s Premier Soccer League is the most tenured and largest women’s soccer league in the world – with an all-time high 130 teams competing in 33 U.S. states and 73 metro areas. Team rosters feature current and former collegiate players, the nation’s top prep prospects, and international standouts. The amateur summer league produced more than 70 percent of the selections in the 2023 NWSL College Draft and WPSL alumnae represent 50 percent of the members of the United States women’s national team.