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List of owners of National Women's Soccer League teams

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National Women's Soccer League owners own a share in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and have the right to operate a team. Players' rights to play in the league are held an individual team.[1] Each NWSL team has an investor-operator that is a shareholder in the league. The league has a profit-sharing arrangement amongst the teams.[2]

As of April 2023, the league has 14 investor-operator individuals or groups for its 12 current and two future clubs.

Teams

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Angel City FC

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Angel City FC was founded in 2020 by Kara Nortman, Natalie Portman, Alexis Ohanian, and Julie Uhrman.[3] Other notable investors include:[4][3]

Bay FC (2024)

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Chicago Red Stars

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Main article: Chicago Red Stars § Ownership

Arnim Whisler was a co-founding owner of the Chicago Red Stars in 2007 in the Women's Professional Soccer, the top American league at the time.[8][9] He was owner of the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL from the inception of the league in 2012[10] until September 1, 2023, when Whisler and all minority owners of the Red Stars sold their stakes to an investment group led by Laura Ricketts, which included Debra Cafaro, Jennifer Pritzker, and Hilary Rosen.[11][12]

Houston Dash

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Main article: Houston Dash § Ownership and team management

The majority owner of the Houston Dash is Ted Segal.[13]

Other investors include Gabriel Brener, Oscar De La Hoya, Jake Silverstein, and Ben Guill.[14]

James Harden joined the ownership group in 2019.[15]

Kansas City Current

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Lead investors of the Kansas City Current are Angie and Chris Long. Other minority investors include Jen Gulvik and Brittany Matthews and her husband Patrick Mahomes.[16] (2020–present; started play in 2021)[17]

NJ/NY Gotham FC

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The founding investor of NJ/NY Gotham FC is Thomas Hofstetter[18] Since 2012, majority owners have included Tammy Murphy, Phil Murphy, Steven Temares.[19] In 2020, Ed Nalbandian joined as a minority owner.[20] In 2022, Kristin Bernert, Karen Bryant, Carli Lloyd, Sue Bird, Kevin Durant, and Rich Kleiman joined as minority owners.[21][22][23][24]

North Carolina Courage

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Since 2017, Steve Malik has been the majority and managing owner of the North Carolina Courage and served as its chairman.[25]

  • Naomi Osaka joined as a minority owner in January 2021.[26]
  • Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC), Ashlie and Michael Bucy, and Sara and R. James Toussaint joined as minority owners in May 2021.[27]
  • Jim and Sue Datin, Torry Holt, Downtown South developer Kane Realty, and nine other local investors joined as minority owners in July 2021.[28]
  • CBC increased its stake in the Courage and acquired a seat on the club's board of directors in August 2023.[29]
  • Ons Jabeur joined as a minority owner in August 2023.[30]

Seattle Reign FC

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Orlando Pride

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  • Since 2021: The Wilf Family (Mark Wilf, Zygi Wilf, Lenny Wilf) [33]
  • 2018–2021: Flávio Augusto da Silva (majority), Phil Rawlins (minority), Albert Friedberg (minority)[34]
  • 2015–2018: Flávio Augusto da Silva (majority) and Phil Rawlins (minority)

Portland Thorns FC

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Racing Louisville FC

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San Diego Wave FC

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Washington Spirit

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Utah Royals

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Former teams

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Boston Breakers

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  • Michael Stoller, Boston Women's Soccer, LLC (2012–2018)[46]

FC Kansas City

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  • Chris Likens, Brad Likens, Greg Likens, and Brian Budzinski (Missouri Comets owners) (2012–2017)[47]
  • Elam Baer (2017)[48]

Western New York Flash

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References

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  1. ^ "Roster Rules". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Murray, Caitlin (October 13, 2017). "A Blueprint for Women's Sports Success. But Can It Be Copied?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Angel City Confirms Name as Angel City Football Club and Officially Joins National Women's Soccer League" (Press release). National Women’s Soccer League. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Natalie Portman part of L.A. ownership group for NWSL expansion team in 2022". Los Angeles Times. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  5. ^ "Matthew Stafford joins NWSL's long list of athlete investors". Just Women's Sports. March 24, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Caron, Emily; Novy-Williams, Eben (April 4, 2023). "Sheryl Sandberg Joins Ownership of NWSL's Bay Area Expansion Team". Sportico. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (June 3, 2023). "NBA Champion Andre Iguodala Invests in New NWSL Club Bay FC". Sportico. Yahoo!. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "NWSL's Chicago Red Stars for Sale as League Overhaul Expands". Yahoo! Finance. December 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Introduce Groundbreaking New Ownership Group". March 2021.
  10. ^ Herrera, Sandra (March 9, 2018). "Independently Chicago: One-On-One With Red Stars Owner Arnim Whisler". Hot Time In Old Town. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Laura Ricketts-Led Group of Diverse Investors Buys Chicago Red Stars in $60 Million Deal" (Press release). Chicago Red Stars. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Montemurro, Meghan (September 1, 2023). "Why Laura Ricketts jumped at the 'opportunity to have a culture change, to really write a new chapter' as owner of the Chicago Red Stars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "New owner brings energy to the Club". houstondynamo.com. June 28, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "MLS: Brener is new Dynamo majority owner". ESPN.com. December 16, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Rockets' James Harden joins ownership of Dynamo and Dash". Houston Chronicle. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  16. ^ "Mahomes expands business empire with Kansas City Current investment". Sport Business. January 10, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  18. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (December 26, 2012). "Sky Blue FC gears up for NWSL – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "Ownership". www.gothamfc.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Sky Blue FC: Ed Nalbandian new minority owner, Tammy Murphy named chairwoman". Orlando Sentinel. February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Adds Two Top-Level Sport Executives to Ownership". NJ/NY Gotham FC. March 15, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  22. ^ "Carli Lloyd Rejoins NJ/NY Gotham FC in New Role as Minority Owner". NJ/NY Gotham FC. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  23. ^ LoRé, Michael. "Kevin Durant, Rich Kleiman Join Gotham FC As Minority Owners". Forbes. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  24. ^ Scott, Jelani (July 29, 2022). "Sue Bird Becomes Minority Investor in NWSL's Gotham FC". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "New for 2017: North Carolina Courage". Soccer Stadium Digest. January 10, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  26. ^ "Naomi Osaka invests in NWSL's North Carolina Courage, becoming team owner". ESPN.com. Reuters. January 28, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  27. ^ "North Carolina Courage Announces Expanded Ownership Group" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. May 14, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  28. ^ "North Carolina Courage Announces Additional Group of New Investors" (Press release). North Carolina Courage. July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  29. ^ "Capitol Broadcasting Company increases ownership in NC Courage". WRAL Sports (Press release). August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  30. ^ "Wimbledon, U.S. Open finalist Ons Jabeur invests in NC Courage". WRAL-TV. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  31. ^ Evans, Jayda (February 2, 2022). "OL Reign leadership changing as founders Teresa and Bill Predmore step down". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  32. ^ Evans, Jayda (April 12, 2023). "OL Groupe looking to sell ownership stake in OL Reign". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  33. ^ "Wilf Family Completes Purchase of Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride". orlandocitysc.com. June 21, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  34. ^ "Orlando City owner sells minority stake". ESPN.com. March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  35. ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (September 28, 2022). "LAFC Tops MLS' Most Valuable Teams at $900 Million". Sportico. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  36. ^ Clarke, Ryan (September 28, 2022). "Merritt Paulson sold minority stake in Portland Timbers, Thorns last year". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  37. ^ "What they're saying about Portland Thorns FC crest and team name (links)". oregonlive.com. December 15, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  38. ^ Small, Jordan (February 8, 2022). "Washington Spirit Finalize New Ownership" (Press release). Washington Spirit. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  39. ^ Caron, Emily (February 8, 2022). "Washington Spirit Sell for Record $35 Million to Michele Kang". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  40. ^ Anderson, Jason (December 29, 2020). "Y. Michele Kang joins Washington Spirit ownership group". Black and Red United. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  41. ^ Linehan, Meg; Maurer, Pablo (February 16, 2021). "Chelsea Clinton, Jenna Bush Hager among group buying stake in Washington Spirit". The Athletic. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  42. ^ "Washington Spirit Owner May Sell Majority Stake In NWSL Club". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. October 10, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  43. ^ Goff, Stephen (December 27, 2018). "NWSL's Washington Spirit hires Richie Burke as head coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  44. ^ McDonald, Ryan (September 12, 2018). "'Jump on this train, because it's going somewhere': Utah Royals FC ends 1st season with eye toward future". DeseretNews.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  45. ^ Rasmussen, Karl (March 11, 2023). "NWSL Announces Utah Royals to Return As Expansion Team in 2024". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  46. ^ "Last-gasp bid to save Boston Breakers soccer team fell short - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  47. ^ "FC Kansas City announces new ownership". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  48. ^ "FC KANSAS CITY UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP". SoccerToday. January 21, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  49. ^ "WNY Flash moving to North Carolina, report says". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
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