Alexandra ‘Alex’ Cooper is “arguably the most successful woman in podcasting,” as Time Magazine put it. And that was almost four years ago. Since then, the creator and host of the Call Her Daddy podcast has made rapid strides in the realm of entrepreneurship. So the hype was real when Cooper’s Unwell Hydration became NWSL’s official partner in March. And now fans will see the next step in what the league called a “multifaceted partnership” with the Unwell Network that provides a platform “for this generation’s unique voices that embrace social challenges and personal insecurities through honest conversation” and “produces experiences for the most sought-after creators and talent across pop-culture, beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and more.”

Jeff Kassouf, ESPN’s lead NWSL and USWNT writer, took to X to spread the news. “The ‘Unwell FC’ fan section concept, which was widely panned when teased last month, will make its debut on May 17 for Angel City at Bay FC.” Unfortunately, the team-up hasn’t sparked a lot of excitement, with the name Unwell FC causing a lot of confusion.

Now, reading the letter FC behind the name signals to most NWSL fans that it’s the abbreviated form of Football Club. Then again, the confusion set in when the press release read Unwell FC will make its debut during the upcoming Bay FC vs. Angel City FC clash at PayPal Park in San Jose. The answer is that Unwell FC, despite the similarity in its naming scheme, is not an NWSL club.

Instead, Unwell FC is in spirit a club for soccer fans, “bringing game-day activations and surprises,” for those willing to pay for the experience. It’s an “innovative, community-driven initiative invites fans to become an integral part of the NWSL excitement, forging deeper connections with other fans,” the official Bay FC press release described the concept.

So, PayPal Park will become the first venue to house the special Unwell FC seating section. The tickets are already on sale on Bay FC’s official website and come with a number of perks. “Unwell FC merch, interactive on-site activations, complimentary Unwell Hydration products, and prime game viewing access,” explained the press release. Alex Cooper herself also expressed her excitement for the upcoming venture.

“As a former collegiate soccer player, witnessing this collaboration come to life and having the opportunity to unite the energy of the Daddy Gang with the NWSL community is thrilling,” said Cooper. What’s more? Those who buy the inaugural Unwell FC tickets will have a chance to meet with the podcast host in the flesh. Unfortunately, fans on X didn’t seem to share that same excitement.

NWSL fans had questions

While fans were onboard with the Unwell Hydration partnering with the NWSL, they didn’t know what to make of this information. “I’m so lost Jeff. What exactly is the goal here? And why is it called Unwell FC?” commented one fan. The netizen didn’t just question the naming choice of the new venture, but how it will help the league in general.

Another fan asked the same question. “Glorifying the term ‘unwell?’ What is this, and how does it improve the league and its fandom?” the NWSL fan posted in the comments section of Jeff Kassouf’s post. While neither the league nor Cooper’s company divulged the details, leagues don’t really enter partnerships that don’t boost revenue or get more eyes on the sport.

Surprisingly, while the exclusive Unwell FC tickets come with promising perks, they are not exorbitant in price. The exclusive tickets range from $25.66/ea to $30.27/ea. Meanwhile, the Concession Voucher Bundle tickets cost $35.91/ea. That seems reasonable, right? But a point that didn’t sit well with the fans about the Unwell FC seating sections was where they were positioned.

“Looks like this will block out some corner sections adjacent to Bay FC’s supporters section, which will be quite a juxtaposition,” explained Kassouf. “It might sound like a bad idea,” commented one fan after the ESPN journalist pointed out the detail. In fact, the Unwell FC section is only three sections away from the dedicated supporter terrace.

And guess what? This fan had a problem with the name, too. “The name is terrible,” added the fan. And that’s how it continued. None of the fans who commented seemed to like the name. “Unwell is such a stupid name!” pointing out how antithetical it is to the NWSL. “The players are extremely fit athletes!!??” added the fan.

Meanwhile, some were a lot harsher than others. “This seems like another really dumb US soccer-y sort of thing I need to know much more about,” commented one fan. However, the sentiment doesn’t seem to be completely negative. A glance at the official ticket booking page shows that at least some rows are already selling out. Alex Cooper herself explained that she can’t wait for May 17.

“I enjoyed kicking off the season at the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup in Orlando and I can’t wait for San Jose,” said the podcast host, rivaling Joe Rogan’s popularity. Now, only time and ticket sales will tell where the fan truly stands when it comes to Copper and NWSL’s Unwell FC.