That interest follows Cincinnati’s unsuccessful bid for an NWSL expansion place in 2026. The report says the city was one of three finalists, alongside Denver and Cleveland, before Denver won the bid. The proposal included basketball star Caitlin Clark, an attempt to combine football infrastructure with wider local sports appeal.
Missing out leaves Cincinnati with two broad options: wait for another expansion process or seek a route into the league through an existing club.
Buying an established team would give Cincinnati a faster route into the NWSL than waiting for another expansion round. A relocation, however, would bring sporting, commercial and supporter questions, particularly for a club with an existing identity in Louisville.
The report says Cincinnati had made enquiries about Racing Louisville in previous years, but those efforts did not progress. That history makes the latest speculation notable, though not conclusive. The report also says Racing Louisville’s ownership group has explored selling a stake in the club.
FC Cincinnati have not said whether their next step would be a fresh expansion bid, investment in an existing club or the reported Louisville proposal. The report says Columbus has been awarded an NWSL team for 2028, giving Ohio another future presence in the league regardless of Cincinnati’s plans.
The next storyline is whether “aggressively explore” becomes a formal bid, ownership announcement or local partnership. Until Cincinnati names a structure, the Louisville link remains a report rather than a completed deal-but women’s football now appears firmly on the club’s strategic agenda.