Naomi Osaka has joined the ownership group of the NWSL North Carolina Courage, the latest "galvanizing move for a league that stands to benefit from another infusion of name recognition," according to Linehan & Kamrani of THE ATHLETIC. Osaka's investment comes a few months after '22 NWSL expansion club Angel City FC "rolled out a star-studded ownership group" led by actor Natalie Portman and including Serena Williams and former USWNT stars Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, among others. A number of "powerhouse global names have joined the ranks of sports ownership" in recent years, and Osaka herself "lists those who came before her," from Williams joining Angel City FC to LeBron James at Liverpool, Kevin Durant at the Philadelphia Union and David Beckham at Inter Miami. The "idea to pursue joining NWSL ownership came when Osaka saw a tweet from Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, about their family becoming part of Angel City and discussing how NWSL is the most undervalued league in the country." Osaka said that her agent, Stuart Duguid of IMG Tennis, also "took notice." They contacted NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird "soon after," and Baird "put Osaka and her team in contact with a few clubs in the league." Only "a couple of phone calls" with Courage Owner Steve Malik "sold Osaka on joining North Carolina’s ranks." Both Malik and Baird said that Osaka’s involvement is the "start of a new generation of sports ownership, one whose influence can not only help financially, but from a marketplace standpoint" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/28).
OSAKA ON MOVE: Osaka said that the move is "part of her goal to bolster women's sports throughout the country." Osaka: "I've been wanting to get involved with the NWSL for a while, to promote women's sports and also as a business investment because I can see it growing rapidly. The commissioner of the league introduced me to a few teams and after lengthy conversations, I decided the Courage was the best fit for me." She added that North Carolina emerged as a front runner "for a number of reasons, including diversity among players and their success on the field" (PEOPLE.com, 1/28).
