Inside the Facilities Powering the NWSL’s Next Generation

3 min readThe National Women’s Soccer League has proven to be a force in women's sports. And around the league, exciting new performance facilities are popping up that are built specifically for its athletes. After all, think about how much of a player’s work week happens here, from lifting before practice to treatment afterward.These facilities are designed with women in mind, from training and recovery needs to thoughtful inclusions for moms and caregivers (looking at you, Kaiser Permanente Performance Center). For players juggling practice and treatment with the demands of growing and raising a family, those details can make the job a little easier.Some are brand new, and others are still being built. Here’s a look at the facilities powering the NWSL's evolution.Kaiser Permanente Performance CenterOpened in: August 2026The Portland Thorns' new facility is shared with a WNBA expansion team, the Portland Fire. Women’s Health recently toured the new space and took careful note of all of the female-centric details.It features tall ceilings, a spa-like color palette, and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. There's also a 17,000-square-foot gym with two full-size outdoor soccer pitches, a yoga and pilates studio, and custom Portland weight racks, along with resort-like contrast therapy tubs and locker rooms boasting extra-wide cabinets. The nursing room is outfitted with the rocking chair that Thorns star Sophia Wilson has in her daughter's nursery, and strollers and high chairs are available to use.Angel City Football Club Performance CenterOpened in: January 2025While Angel City FC shares BMO Stadium with Los Angeles FC, the team acquired a dedicated performance center located on the campus of California Lutheran University in 2024. Sitting on nine acres with approximately 50,000 square feet of indoor space, it’s the largest performance facility in the NWSL.This space, which once hosted the Los Angeles Rams, underwent a multi-million dollar custom remodel to the interior and outdoor spaces to customize it for Angel City’s needs. Amenities include a massive gym stocked with the latest in performance tech, a dedicated hydrotherapy area, a children’s playroom, a content studio, and an outdoor relaxation lounge.Bay FC Performance CenterOpening in: 2027Like Angel City, Bay FC shares its stadium. But the team is opening a new 8.5-acre performance and training center on Treasure Island in San Francisco. It's slated to open in early 2027.Early photos released by Bay FC show a stunning facility with lots of natural light, a 360-degree view of San Francisco, and a distinct spa-like vibe. In addition to performance and recovery resources, there will also be space dedicated to career development, education, and business training.CPKC StadiumOpened in: March 2024Home to the Kansas City Current, this stadium is the world's first privately-financed stadium dedicated solely to a professional women's sports team. CPKC Stadium has 11 local food and drink partners, giving fans a taste of Kansas City at games. The stadium was designed to have no seat further than 100 feet from the pitch, too. Among other unique features is that the home locker room is built with an oval layout to make every player feel like an equal part of the team.“Every player who comes and plays in that stadium, every little kid, will have a completely different expectation now of what it means to be a professional female athlete,” team founder Angie Long told WH in 2024. “Once something like this is built…you can’t unsee it.”Gotham FCOpening in: 2027Next summer, the defending NWSL champions will move into the former Red Bull New York training facility in Whippany, New Jersey. The yet-to-be-renamed space will be the club’s first dedicated training facility.Expected amenities include three grass playing surfaces (one heated, with plans for an indoor turf field to come), a 3,000-square-foot gym, a player recovery room, and a dining area with meals prepared by a performance chef.Korin Miller is a seasoned freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Everyday Health, Food & Wine, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University and lives by the beach.