Texas Woman’s and Dallas Trinity FC launch partnership

Aug. 20 2026 — DENTON — Even before its scheduled kickoff this fall, a new business program at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) has scored a decisive goal, thanks to a local professional sports club.

A new partnership between the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Dallas Trinity FC (DTFC) will create internships for students, advance mentorship opportunities for athletes and help raise the visibility of both entities.

The business college and women’s professional soccer team this week announced the partnership, which will support TWU students enrolled in a sports management bachelor’s degree program that begins in the fall semester. The partnership will also provide career guidance for DTFC players.

“Great partnerships, like great teams, are built on shared goals. At the MAK College, we believe the best business education happens at the intersection of the classroom and the real world — and this partnership brings that belief to life,” said Rama Yelkur, executive dean of the MAK College. “Dallas Trinity FC and the MAK College are showing what's possible when a university and a professional sports franchise commit to developing talent together, in the classroom and on the field.”

Nine internships at Dallas Trinity FC will be made available to TWU sports management business majors during the fall, spring and summer terms. The credit-bearing internships will focus on partnership development, marketing, operations and event management.

In turn, the university will support players with educational materials, career development content and class curricula, and will help structure guidelines for a mentorship program that pairs DTFC players with career professionals.

“TWU has long been a leader in preparing women to lead, which makes this partnership especially meaningful for the club,” said Charlie Neil, president and founder of Dallas Trinity FC. “By giving students hands-on experience within a professional sports organization while helping our players prepare for life beyond the pitch, we are creating opportunities that can make an impact well beyond a single season.”

“We are thrilled to team up with Dallas Trinity FC for a partnership that directly serves the next generation of sports industry professionals,” said Pushkala Raman, senior associate dean of academic affairs for the MAK College. “With the launch of our B.B.A. in sports management program this fall, our students are gaining an invaluable bridge to professional athletics. This collaboration elevates both our academic offerings and our commitment to student success.”

The partnership, which includes support from TWU’s Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership, will create additional mentorship opportunities that benefit business students and players through events coordinated at the Denton campus and the International Women’s Forum.

ABOUT DALLAS TRINITY FC
Entering its third season, Dallas Trinity FC is the first professional women's soccer club in Dallas and competes in the Gainbridge Super League, playing its home matches at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. Dallas Trinity FC is operated by USL Dallas, LLC, alongside Atlético Dallas, North Texas' newest professional men's soccer club, which will begin play in the USL Championship in 2027.