National Women's Soccer League, Delta and Carli Lloyd partner for '10 Years and Climbing' series

The National Women’s Soccer League and Delta, along with soccer legend and 2x Olympic Gold Medalist Carli Lloyd are celebrating the inspiring stories of resilience, unity and strength of the National Women’s Soccer League through the airline’s “10 Years and Climbing” miniseries. The series, recognizing the 10th anniversary of the league, highlights the people and places that make the sport great and shows how far the league has come in the past 10 years.       

The series is brought to life by Delta’s role as the official airline partner of NWSL and will showcase three teams this season from the NWSL that are a part of leading the way for women’s soccer in the United States and around the world.  

“We began our partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League to support and develop initiatives that highlight the diverse talent who play in the NWSL,” said Emmakate Young, Delta’s Managing Director of Brand Marketing and Sponsorships. “As we celebrate this important 10-year milestone, it is inspiring to see how our continued partnership will elevate the stories and accomplishments of teams who will be part of the success of the NWSL for many years to come.”   

Each episode, which can be viewed on Delta’s YouTube channel, will focus on the emerging success and excitement the league has captured in 10 years and its goals for the future. The distinct stories told through this year’s series discuss the culture, challenges and wins of NJ/NY Gotham FC, NC Courage and OL Reign and is hosted by Lloyd, who retired in 2021 from the NWSL and U.S.  national team. 

NJ/NY Gotham FC  

The series premiered Sept. 12 with the Gotham FC episode, which focused on the resilience and determination of NJ/NY Gotham FC,  a team who is as tenacious as the areas of New York City and New Jersey that it calls home. Lloyd visits the team and reflects on the past 10 years of the NWSL – a meaningful journey home for her, as Lloyd is a current minority owner of the team, was raised in New Jersey and spent the final years of her pro career with Gotham FC.   

North Carolina Courage  

The second episode, which will be released Oct. 4, showcases the unity of NC Courage. The team has attracted one of the most diverse rosters in the NWSL, pulling players from every corner of the globe, including New Zealand, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico and more. Lloyd explores the importance of community in guiding the team’s ability to face and overcome challenges.  

OL Reign  

The final installment, available Oct. 17, highlights the strength and character of OL Reign – discussing their ecstatic fan base and talented roster. The team has evolved in these first 10 years and will continue building on their confidence to reach their goals.  

“We’re grateful to the entire Delta team for their partnership and their commitment to telling the inspiring stories of the people and places who have helped build the NWSL into one of the premier sports leagues in the world,” said NWSL Chief Revenue Office Mitch Poll. “As we approach the end of our 10th year of competition, and our championship on Oct. 29 in Washington D.C., initiatives like this are invaluable to growing our audience and showcasing some of the best soccer in the world.” 

Delta and NWSL  

In March, Delta announced its sponsorship as the official airline partner of the NWSL. As the league’s first airline sponsor, Delta is committed to supporting the NWSL through athlete and fan engagement, investing in league programming and initiatives that uplift and share stories around diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.  

10 Years and Climbing is the first major programming announcement from this partnership and underscores Delta’s momentum and continued efforts to work with women’s sports, its leagues and individual female athletes on and off their field of play.