By OkayGoal
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has been hosting a Broadcast Bootcamp for current and former players since 2023. Since its inaugural bootcamp, the program has grown exponentially and helped launch media careers with support from the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) and e.l.f. Beauty.
“We wanted to do this because as the league grows, we have a need for newer, younger voices that our new viewers and fans know,” said Megan Buchan, NWSL’s vice president of Broadcast Production & Operations, to Sports Illustrated.
The idea started with Jordan Angeli and her struggle to build a career in media after retiring from playing in the NWSL. She was one of the first known former NWSL players to build a career in sports broadcasting and, in 2020, became the first full-time female TV Analyst in Columbus Crew history. Angeli now works as a TV Broadcaster for the NWSL and inspired the creation of the NWSL Broadcasting Bootcamp.
Despite starting with only two players, the bootcamp has grown into an immersive experience where current and former players can learn more about building a media career post-retirement. In 2026, 17 current and former players attended the Broadcasting Bootcamp.
“It’s a way to stay in the game that they love and that has given them so much, so when it’s that time, it can make that decision a little easier,” Buchan said to Sports Illustrated.
In 2024, the NWSLPA got involved with the Broadcasting Bootcamp with the launch of the “Beyond the Field” initiative. The initiative is a professional development program that helps players achieve their career goals off the soccer field.
e.l.f. Beauty also announced a multi-year sponsorship with the NWSL in March 2025 and served as the presenting sponsor for the 2026 NWSL Broadcasting Bootcamp. With help from e.l.f., attendees are able to receive full glam so they can feel confident on camera. This also allowed players to take professional headshots and create reels to use for future roles.
“Through our partnership with the NWSL…we are fueling a future where women athletes have limitless opportunities to lead the conversation and inspire the next generation,” said Patrick O’Keefe, e.l.f. Beauty’s Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, to the NWSL.
What started as an idea has now become an annual offseason event that sets current and former players up for success and keeps them involved with the game they love.
Featured image via NWSL.