(upbeat music) - [Rochelle] It's an exciting time for women's team sports in the US.

- A WNBA season that's been like no other.

- [Rochelle] With attendance and television viewership hitting record numbers.

- Women professional sports in general, it's just fun.

- [Rochelle] Thanks to the popularity of WNBA players, like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and USA women's soccer winning Olympic gold, interest in women's sports has never been higher.

- My husband and I love women's soccer.

- [Rochelle] When Carolina Ascent FC, Charlotte's first and only top-level, professional women's soccer club arrived in August, 2024, Laura Williams and her husband bought season tickets.

The first game set a single-game attendance record for professional women's soccer in the Carolinas with 10,553 fans in the stands.

- To be here to see young ladies play at this level and to have her and I to spend that quality time together.

- [Rochelle] Darrell Johnson brought daughter Aubrey to American Legion Memorial Stadium to cheer on number 37, Jaida McGrew.

He once coached the Charlotte native in track.

It's great to come and see someone that I know play here.

- [Rochelle] Nearly a third of the team has roots in the Carolinas.

It's equally special for local players, like Waxhaw native, Josie Studer.

- I'm so fortunate to be in this city.

I mean, it's an incredible place and just to be surrounded by friends and family who care about what I do and come out and support it.

It's like the most heartwarming feeling ever.

- [Rochelle] The Ascent is one of eight clubs in the newly launched Division 1 USL Super League, on par with the National Women's Soccer League, except there's no draft, no salary cap, and it runs on a fall to summer schedule.

The club went undefeated in its first 10 matches.

- To see their confidence grow as they see these young players out on the field and to see what reality is possible for them, it just makes my heart overflow.

- Mint Hill mom, Sarah Macey, says it's important for her daughters, Ella and Olivia, to see local athletes like Studer playing professionally in front of cheering fans.

(team supporter cheering indistinctly) - It's just like this overwhelming sense of pride and love and just gratitude that I can't even express.

- [Rochelle] The 23-year-old defender says a typical work week involves training, lifting, treatments, and team meetings with games on the weekends.

When she has time off, Studer likes to visit family and spend time with her animals.

- [Josie] We have like a little bit of a hobby farm that I love to go and hang out with the critters.

- [Rochelle] Studer earned all-conference USA honors at Louisiana Tech.

Now she's the rookie, thankful to have mentors like co-captain, Taylor Porter, to help her with the transition.

- It's means so much to me to actually be in their company and to see what that leadership looks like, to be able to learn and to take those things from them and implement them into who I am as a human being so that I'm better equipped for the roles that I may have in the future is huge.

- [Rochelle] 27-year-old Porter played for the NC State Wolf Pack.

She says returning to the Carolinas for the Ascent's historic inaugural season has been a special experience.

- It's just amazing.

I think it's been a long time coming.

There's so many male professional sports, and I just think we need a lot of little girls to come out and support women's soccer.

- [Rochelle] Porter says supporting women's soccer will also help tackle gender disparities in professional sports.

Historically, women's soccer has been criticized for not paying players a living wage, something Porter knows firsthand.

- And still to this day, I do Rover.

I walk dogs and dog sit, just because I did it then, and I've liked it, even though I can support myself more off of my salary now.

But there's plenty of people that even still, have a second job.

- [Rochelle] Maryanne Bruce is managing investor representative for Empower Her Fund LLC.

The locally-based women's ownership group owns 25% of The Ascent.

Her daughter, Vicki, plays for the team.

- As more and more fans start watching it on TV, as more and more fans attend the games, that will give these teams the opportunity to be financially sustainable long term, and that in turn, should help increase salaries for the female players.

- [Rochelle] According to Bruce, the players earn between $45 and $60,000, depending on experience and expected playing time.

They also get housing and healthcare.

Still, compare that to major league soccer.

The average male player earns close to $475,000.

Bruce says getting more women involved with ownership will help drive some needed change.

- Our goal for the Empower Her Fund is that we would like to attract additional female investors for the next round, because we would love to have majority ownership and not minority ownership.

- [Rochelle] Porter says, "Living your dream means making a lot of sacrifices."

- At the end of the day, it's like when you are in a stadium filled with thousands of people, and you get to play and do what you love, it does make it worth it.

- [Rochelle] Their sacrifices and their successes are paving the way for the next generation of young girls in cleats.

For "Carolina IMPACT," I'm Rochelle Metzker.