Columbus NWSL expansion club names Lucy Rushton as its first general manager
The Columbus NWSL franchise set to begin play in 2028 has hired Lucy Rushton as its inaugural general manager, the club announced on October 16. Rushton, 41, brings two decades of professional soccer experience, including front-office work with MLS expansion club Atlanta United and NWSL expansion club Bay FC. Her previous GM tenures at D.C. United and Bay FC each ended early, but club president Tim Bezbatchenko said she answered questions about those departures directly and demonstrated a willingness to learn from them. Rushton said her ambition is to compete for the playoffs in the franchise's first season, noting that only two NWSL expansion teams have ever achieved that in their inaugural year.
When the team was announced, straight away I was like, 'Oh yeah, that's appealing to me,'
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and partners evaluating the Columbus franchise now have clearer organizational leadership to assess ahead of the club's 2028 launch.
For coaches: Coaching candidates interested in the Columbus expansion project can expect a GM with prior experience building expansion staffs from the ground up.
For athletes: Players pursuing opportunities with a new NWSL club will now have a known point of contact as roster construction begins.
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Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Columbus NWSL 2028 names Lucy Rushton as first general manager