Mastercard and National Women’s Soccer League announce multi-year partnership centered on elevating visibility for the sport and fan engagement

Portland Thorns FC Star Crystal Dunn Named Mastercard Global Brand Ambassador as company curates Priceless Experiences and in-stadium engagement for fans

Mastercard announced today that it is joining the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) as an official partner, strengthening the brand’s commitment to women’s soccer and its fanbase. Mastercard and the NWSL will work together to elevate the experience for fans, with one of the top NWSL players, Crystal Dunn, joining the all-star roster of soccer players who serve as Mastercard Global Brand Ambassadors.

“We are excited to welcome Mastercard as one of our Top Tier Partners, a brand with a storied history of creating priceless fan experiences,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “We have the best fans out there. Their commitment to the sport is unrivaled. They deserve to have an experience on par with any major sports league, and that time has arrived. The planned Mastercard activations have the power to unite and energize not only our current fan base, but to bring even more fans in, truly benefitting our players and women’s soccer overall.”   

To celebrate the new partnership, Mastercard will begin rolling out Priceless experiences both virtually and in-person. Starting today, the VIP Game Day Experience is live on Priceless.com, with many more to come. This first experience is to be held in-person, outdoors, at NWSL games, in accordance with all local COVID guidelines and abiding by all state regulations.

• The VIP Game Day Experience will give fans the opportunity to watch their favorite National Women’s Soccer League team at a regular season match from the best seats in the house. The fan and three guests will receive a VIP game day experience for the NWSL team of their choice to enjoy pre-game warm-ups, premium seats, prepaid Mastercard for food and beverage, and a team gear swag bag.

“Growing passions and fostering connections is core to what Mastercard stands for,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard. “We are honored to support the very passionate NWSL fan base. Together with the league, we look forward to elevating their game day experiences all season long, bringing fans closer to what they love.”

The NWSL sponsorship also underscores Mastercard’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on and off the pitch. As part of this partnership, Mastercard will create a soccer-themed curriculum for its signature science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program, Girls4Tech™. Mastercard will also dedicate time and resources to educating players on their own financial wellness, better enabling them to pursue opportunities that will bring more ubiquity to sports across gender.

“I’m thrilled to be a global ambassador for Mastercard,” explained NWSL star player and Mastercard Global Brand Ambassador, Crystal Dunn. “Our values are aligned in connection, diversity and inclusion. I am confident that together we will build priceless opportunities for women’s soccer fans and players across the country.”

Mastercard believes too much of our world was designed without women in mind – and without women involved. The company has committed to leading the charge in reshaping the way our world is designed, coded and constructed by bringing diverse perspectives to the table to unlock powerful ideas that open up our industry and the world’s possibilities to women. 

Mastercard’s investment in women’s sports spans players, teams, competitions and now the most recognized women’s soccer league in the world with the NWSL. Over the past decade, Mastercard has developed one of the most well-rounded women’s sports portfolios globally. This includes partnerships across tennis, golf, football and rugby, as well as sponsoring players, teams and events, such as Naomi Osaka, Kadeisha Buchanan, Pernille Harder, Ada Hegerberg, Sam Kerr, Saki Kumagai, Wendie Renard, Alex Scott, Brooke Henderson, Annika Sorenstam, Chanel Alberts, Piwokuhle Nyanda, Arsenal W.F.C., CBF Women’s team, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, Copa America Women, The Australian Open and The AIG Women’s Open, among others.