# What evidence exists of actual MLS and NWSL demand?


### What do practitioner surveys establish?

American Soccer Analysis’s NWSL survey collected voluntary, anonymous responses from **seven of 14 clubs between June and September 2024** and was published on **6 August 2025**. All seven respondents reported using raw player-event data; **four** prioritised additional staff and **two** higher-quality raw data when asked what would most improve their analytics use. [ASA survey](https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/8/6/2024-nwsl-analytics-survey-a-retrospective-look-at-the-state-of-data-in-womens-soccer). ([americansocceranalysis.com](https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/8/6/2024-nwsl-analytics-survey-a-retrospective-look-at-the-state-of-data-in-womens-soccer))

This supports a bounded conclusion: some responding departments had both data use and capacity constraints. It does **not** establish current league-wide budgets, tracking-data adoption or willingness to buy another product. The small, self-selected sample and older collection period matter.

ASA’s **21 July 2025 MLS survey** reported that all **16 clubs responding to its functional-responsibilities question** worked on recruitment and match/opposition analysis. That is evidence of overlapping use cases within participating departments—not 16 separate recruitment-only budgets. [ASA MLS survey](https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/7/21/2025-mls-analytics-survey). ([americansocceranalysis.com](https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/7/21/2025-mls-analytics-survey))

### What are the more recent buying signals?

The Columbus NWSL Director of Scouting job description, available on **3 November 2026**, explicitly includes evaluating third-party sources, researching scouting software and consultancy services, and managing a scouting budget. This is a concrete capability-building signal, but not evidence of an open tender, a particular incumbent or a disclosed spending amount. [Employer job description on Indeed](https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=218a8a5e70416af3). ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=218a8a5e70416af3&utm_source=openai))

For interview preparation, the **27 October 2026 Soccerwise episode** includes a conversation with Columbus general manager Lucy Rushton and a chapter on starting an expansion club. Its episode metadata provides a useful current listening lead, not a substitute for contract or budget evidence. [Episode and chapter list](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-san-diego-catch-gotham-for-the-shield-nwsl-soccerwise/id1752138229?i=1000798427716). ([podcasts.apple.com](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decision-day-a-chat-with-columbus-nwsl-gm-lucy/id1752138229?i=1000798427716))

The practical qualification question is therefore: **What named purchasing decision, deadline and evidence gap would an independent evaluation resolve?** Hiring activity and expansion create reasons to ask; they do not prove a sale.