For WSL sides, investment is a big issue. Striking out alone requires significant finances and, for clubs propped up by revenue streams from the men's side of the business, separation is a leap.

In January, the 2025 Deloitte Rich List showed WSL sides are in a healthy place in terms of revenue - with eight in the top 15 for women's clubs.

That list did not include US data, and analysis from American publication Forbes, external last summer suggested Kansas City were leaders for revenue generated with $36m (£26.6m).

That is not a large amount higher than European leaders Arsenal (£21.5m) and Chelsea (£21.3m) but is comfortably above the other six WSL clubs featured on Deloitte's list.

On top of that, in recent accounts detailing 2024-25 finances, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all mention "reliance" on their parent companies for funds.

Long is not blind to this financial barrier.

"It is very expensive – and when we started up, we approached 40 banks and got 39 noes," he says. "You need them to believe.

"There were plenty of naysayers too, saying we were wasting money and just being negative. That stopped when we opened the stadium!"

Read More