Overview:
The age range for the women's team is expected to be broad, from as young as 17 up to 25 years old.
Brian Easler says the early buzz around Fresno’s new women’s soccer team has been overwhelming.
“My phone went crazy. People are still asking questions. Honestly, the buzz is stressful.”
Over the next month, Easler, president of Fresno Fuego, will be assembling a new women’s soccer team to fill a 4,000-seat stadium in central Fresno, near Fresno Yosemite Airport. The women’s team will be known as Fresno Fuego Femenil.
“I’ve noticed over the years that there’s a big appetite for more on the women’s game,” Easler said. “I truly believe that this place can achieve that next level, and that’s something that we’re aiming for.”
It is the next step for an organization that has been in Fresno for more than 20 years, Easler said.
As an amateur team formed in 2003, the men’s team went to the fourth round of the US Open Cup in its first year, later moving to Grizzlies Stadium in 2007 and building their own playing facilities. Now, they’re planning a new stadium that will be located in the backyard of local theme park Blackbeard’s.
In an interview with Fresnoland, Easler talked about stadium plans for both the men’s and women’s teams that will be completed in 2026. The facility will feature 4,000 seats, with room to expand to 10,000 — comparable to the size of Chukchansi Park or Selland Arena.
Fresno’s new women’s soccer team builds on Valley talent
Easler believes the new women’s team will tap into an extraordinary talent pool in Fresno. The San Joaquin Valley has produced notable soccer stars like Bullard High class of ‘09 great Lynn Biyendolo, the all-time scoring champion of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and an Olympic gold medalist.
“We want to find ways where we can maybe keep players from leaving and going to all these major hubs and continue growing here,” Easler explained. “Or if they do leave for school purposes, they will want to come back here. We want to be the reason for that.”
The age range for Fresno’s new women’s soccer team is expected to be broad, from as young as 17 up to 25 years old. Easler noted that in today’s women’s game, athletes are making bigger strides at younger ages, with 16-17 year olds now playing professional soccer.
“We don’t want to shut out any ideas because you never know who’s around,” he said. “We have a very big region to work with, so we want to hit those little towns as well because there’s that one gem laying around somewhere. We want to bring them out and help them become what they want to be.”
Women’s sports on the rise
The introduction of Fresno Fuego Femenil comes at a pivotal moment for women’s sports in America. Viewership for women’s soccer, basketball, and volleyball has surged dramatically over the past five years, with the 2023 Women’s World Cup final drawing record audiences.
Corporate sponsorships for women’s leagues have increased by over as much as 20% a year since 2020, reflecting growing commercial viability. The NWSL will expand to 16 teams next year, with franchise valuations climbing into nine figures and plans to potentially spread to 32 cities nationwide.
This momentum extends beyond professional ranks. College women’s basketball saw a 34% increase in attendance last season, while participation in girls’ high school soccer has grown steadily nationwide, including the San Joaquin Valley.
Women’s soccer deserves this attention in Fresno, Easler emphasized. “I think it’s a movement that’s needed, and the ladies here deserve it.”
The road ahead
For Fresno Fuego’s new women’s team, the journey begins on May 4 with a scrimmage showcasing local talent at 1 p.m., followed by a men’s home game at 4 p.m. This event will give the community a taste of what Fuego plans to bring to the women’s game.
“We have zero intentions to do anything different than what we’re doing for the men,” Easler said. “Whatever you see on the field for the men, that’s the same expectation we’re going to have for the women.”
As Fuego builds toward its future stadium at Blackbeard’s – which will complement rather than replace the theme park – Easler envisions game days becoming major community events.
“When the stadium’s there and we have game days, it’s just going to be a big day for families and really anybody that wants to spend a day out with sports and entertainment.”
