EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW -- Gotham FC Minority Investor Jennifer Mackesy
- Abby Krug
- May 4
- 4 min read
Despite early skepticism, women’s sports in the US and globally are finally experiencing steady and sustained growth. The WNBA and NWSL embody this surge, with the NWSL increasing its annual revenue to $215 million and the WNBA to $200 million. While several factors have contributed to this rise, our group was particularly interested in what has fueled the growth of the NWSL.
To answer this question, our team had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Mackesy – minority investor of Gotham FC and well known soccer entrepreneur. She gave us incredible insight into the current and future state of women's professional sports, specifically soccer.
Mackesy is a former collegiate soccer player for William & Mary and an active member in the professional women's soccer universe. She joined the Gotham FC team in 2022, “Some of it was serendipitous,” she stated. “They were looking for minority investors and I was looking to get involved with the NWSL.” After speaking with the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC, Mackesy decided to join Gotham. Being from New York City, she loved the recent rebranding and pivot to include her community. She also believed that Gotham was an incredible investment that it had the ability to become a world-renowned global brand.
Given the tumultuous history of women's professional soccer, our first question to Mackesy was: What do you think is the most important factor for a professional team to stay in business? Her main answer was clear: lots and lots and lots of investors ($$$). Money makes more money!
She outlined that as more investors join these clubs will have more flexibility to take risks and reach a large audience. Specifically, she asserted that teams need to find people that are willing to see the value without the immediate profit. Although this kind of investment may seem risky, Mackesy commented that it has already begun to pay off as the value of teams has skyrocketed dramatically over the past few years. In fact, 3 years ago the value of a women’s soccer franchise was 2 million dollars, and today it is worth 250 million.
The last and largest aspect Mackesy stressed was to “fill a void.” She believes that there are multiple areas in the sports world that have yet to be tapped. For example, this conclusion inspired her to introduce and carry out the World Sevens Football League. This international league will broadcast multiple mini 7v7 tournaments with large cash prizes across the globe. Mackesy stated that this new form will hopefully attract new fans that find the original 11v11 structure to be slow and boring. (To read more about the Women's Sevens Football League, check out our Miscellaneous section!)
This new tournament, again, emphasizes the recent growth and popularity of women’s professional soccer. Mackesy also sees the future to be very bright, “As more clubs and leagues continue to invest, the sky’s the limit.” Mackesy commented. She thinks NWSL teams should focus on building a consistent fan base and providing them with content all year round. From there, they can attract new, younger fans as well. Moreover, the increase in creativity and media coverage will allow people around the world to watch and give professional players more opportunities to showcase their skills and grow their popularity.
Specifically for Gotham FC, Mackesy hinted at a few exciting upcoming projects. For starters, Gotham is competing in the CONCACAF tournament semifinals on May 21, 2025 against Mexican powerhouse Club América in Estadio Universitario. The winner of this will get to participate in the first ever FIFA Club World Cup, which is expected to launch in 2028. Gotham FC also has grown in their partnership with the NY Red Bulls. Their shared stadium was just sponsored by Sports Illustrated, increasing their ticket sales and improving their hospitality for fans and players. Lastly, Mackesy was very excited about the recent growth in Gotham’s philanthropic initiative: Keep Her in the Game. This program focuses on teaching coaches around the world to encourage young girls to pursue sports and not quit early. Recently, it has been able to reach areas around the world like Africa and Europe, motivating more female athletes to chase their athletic dreams.
Through talking with Mackesy, it was clear that her involvement with Gotham FC has also fed her eternal love for the game of soccer. She emphasized how fulfilling the experience at Gotham has been, noting her favorite memory being the NWSL Championship in 2023. Her engagement has also opened doors to other incredible opportunities such as visiting the White House after the championship win, attending the Olympics (and watching Gotham players!), and working with former players on projects (such as World Sevens Football).
Mackesy is a perfect example of what leagues like the NWSL need; investors who are passionate, innovative, and deeply committed to the sport. As the league continues to face the uphill battle in the professional sports landscape, the role of strategic investors and creative entrepreneurs has never been more critical. And as soccer fans ourselves, we’re excited to witness—and benefit from—the continued rise of the women’s game.
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