Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning becomes latest sports celebrity to join NWSL Denver's ownership group

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Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning becomes latest sports celebrity to join NWSL Denver's ownership group

2025-06-04 00:12 Last Updated At：00:31

DENVER (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning became the latest sports celebrity to join the ownership group of Denver’s National Women’s Soccer League expansion team on Tuesday.

Manning follows two-time Olympic champion ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, who was announced as an investor last month in a club that will make its debut next season.

Manning and Shiffrin join an NWSL group in Denver led by controlling owner Rob Cohen. Denver was awarded the NWSL’s 16th team earlier this year.

“Peyton’s legacy as a champion and a leader is second to none,” Cohen said in a news release. “His impact on Colorado sports is unmatched, and we’re incredibly proud to have him as a partner. He brings passion, insight, and deep local roots — all of which will help us shape the future of Denver NWSL.”

All around the NWSL, big-name athletes are investing in teams. Manning’s brother, Eli, is part of Gotham FC, while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is involved with the KC Current and NBA star James Harden backs the Houston Dash. Decorated Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn supports the Utah Royals FC.

Manning was a five-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner in a career that started with the Indianapolis Colts and ended in Denver after helping the Broncos to a title following the 2015 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 after throwing for 71,940 yards with 539 touchdowns and 251 interceptions.

Since his retirement, Manning has grown his entertainment company Omaha Productions, which produces ESPN's “Manningcast.” The show is hosted by the Manning brothers and offers an alternate way to watch “Monday Night Football.”

“It’s a real honor to be part of something so meaningful to the Colorado community,” Manning said of joining Denver NWSL. “I’m proud to support the growth of women’s sports and excited to help build a club that our city and our state can rally behind.”

Denver NWSL is building a 12,000-seat temporary stadium that will be its home during the 2026 and '27 seasons. The team also recently unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art, 14,500-seat stadium that will be located in downtown Denver.

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Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.