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24-year-old Naomi Girma has landed a historic deal! The young soccer star was drafted to the NSWL league back in 2022 as a first-round draft pick selected by the San Diego Wave, notes NBC News. Widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the U.S., she has earned 44 national team appearances and a Paris Olympics gold — now, she’s taking her talents to Chelsea in England. “San Diego Wave has been such an important part of my journey,” said Girma, according to Forbes. “I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow here and for the incredible relationships I’ve built with my teammates, the sporting staff, and our amazing fans. I’m especially grateful to ownership and Cami for supporting my dream of playing in Europe. San Diego will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish nothing but the best for the team moving forward.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Naomi Girma (@naomi_girma) Reflecting on her transition, Girma commented, “I mean, this...
Former NBA teammates and Hall of Famers Tracy McGrady and Vinca Carter have invested in the Buffalo Bill’s organization, which is currently valued at $4.2 billion, per Forbes. According to a post shared on the team’s official Instagram account, the Bills announced 10 limited partners to join the franchise, marking the first time the team has added limited partners. According to ABC News, the group was approved on Dec. 11, 2024, by owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who purchased the team for $1.4 billion in 2014 and will retain a 79% stake. The Buffalo Bills’ ownership group now includes three former Black professional athletes: McGrady, Carter, and former U.S. Men’s National Team soccer player Jozy Altidore. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) Check out the breakdown below. McGrady McGrady is no stranger to the world of business. After retiring from the league in 2013 with $130 million in career earnings, he expanded his portfolio into real estate,...
Yo Gotti is seeing a return on his investment in D.C. United. The “Rake It Up” rapper purchased a minority stake in the league in 2021 at a time when it was valued at $730 million, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. His foray was driven by his admiration for Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, co-chairmen of D.C. United who have former ties to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, which represents Yo Gotti’s hometown. “What I’ve seen them do in Memphis with the Grizzlies and just as businessmen in general; I wanted to be in business with them. D.C. United, I think, is a great organization and D.C. has always been, overall, one of my favorite markets, even as an entertainer,” Yo Gotti told The Athletic. “It’s always been one of my favorite cities to come to — the whole DMV area has always been one of my favorite places to come to. Being from Memphis, even when I was building outside of my tri-state area, I want to say that Maryland, Baltimore, those were some of the biggest shows I’ve ever done. So...
Magic Johnson now has five teams in his investment portfolio. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the NBA-legend-turned-serial- entrepreneur has ownership in the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, MLS’s Los Angeles Football Club, WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and NFL’s Washington Commanders. Now, he is announcing his involvement with a fifth team. “CBS Mornings” reports he joined the investor group for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team Washington Spirit , which is led by Michele Kang, the first woman of color to have majority ownership in the NWSL. The pair first met in Los Angeles, CA, and immediately connected over a shared excitement for the growing popularity in women’s soccer in the U.S. “I’m so excited to join the Washington Spirit’s investor group at such a pivotal time in the club’s history! Partnering with a visionary like Michele Kang and her team to advance the growth of the Washington Spirit and the NWSL is an incredible opportunity,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. View...
Kevin Durant has struck gold overseas. Olympic Victory The athlete is fresh off a USA Basketball Men’s National Team victory at the 2024 Olympics, taking home a gold medal alongside teammates, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and leading against France in a 98-87 upset, according to USA Today. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Basketball (@usabasketball) Durant now has four Olympic gold medals, according to his Team USA profile. “My goal every time I put this jersey on was to represent my country, my state, my street, my family name, and it help put the game forward,” Durant said, per USA Today. “And since I’ve been here, we’ve done that. We built off the Dream Team in ’92, and we carried that torch and that was the main goal.” Investing In Paris Saint-Germain Besides focusing on the victory lap on the court, Durant also looked to do the same in the business world through his sports, media, and entertainment company Boardroom, which he founded in 2019...
NFL player Bryce Young is investing in women’s sports. According to KGW8, the Carolina Panthers quarterback has joined the Portland Thorns ownership group. The women’s soccer team’s controlling owners are Lisa Bhathal Merage and her brother Alex Bhathal, who manage it through their investment firm RAJ Sports. “Supporting women’s sports is extremely important to my family and I,” said Young in a press release, per KGW8. “I am thankful to the Bhathal family for the opportunity and look forward to being a passionate supporter of this club.” Other Portland Thorns investors include two-time U.S. decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton, former NFL quarterback Joey Harrington, and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks. “We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished group of athletes into the Thorns investor group,” Bhathal Merage said. “This is truly a group of champions, both in their respective sports, and as leaders in the Portland community. We are excited and honored to access...
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the latest athletes to become a minority investor. ESPN reports that the Milwaukee Bucks star has acquired a stake in Major League Soccer (MLS) club Nashville SC . Alongside Antetokounmpo in the group are his brothers and basketball players Thanasis , Kostas, and Alex.
When Beyonce’s “Move” comes on from “Renaissance,” it is a musical indicator that things are about to turn up. The proverbial meaning of the song suggests that those who are making marks on this world need space to thrive and live out loud as their authentic selves. Well, French soccer player Kylian Mbappé is an example of one who needs space on and off the court as he makes his next moves. In a recent estimation by Sportico, Mbappé is now the highest-paid soccer player in the world.
There is no shortage of conversations about getting a bag and staying in it to earn more coins. But what happens when someone loses that bag? Former Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo de Assis Moreira — more commonly known as Ronaldinho — knows firsthand. Throughout his career, he played in seven soccer clubs across 15 seasons. He reportedly earned “FIFA World Player 2004, 2005 and third 2006; Best Player in the World FIFA/FIFPro 2005, 2006; America’s Best Player (El País) 2013.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (@ronaldinho) As a result of his impressive career and athletic ability, he was a well-sought-out player and earned endorsement deals. However, with great fame comes great responsibility, where Ronaldinho faced some trouble. During a 2012 press conference, the then 32-year-old drank a Pepsi. The gag? He had an endorsement deal with Coca-Cola, now a thing of the past because of the infamous sip.
In an effort to work toward closing the racial wealth gap, Major League Soccer (MLS) will participate in a first-of-its-kind deal with Black-owned banks. According to MLS Soccer, the partnership includes a $25 million loan from a syndicate of Black-owned banks and will serve as a defining moment in history because there has never been a major commercial transaction “exclusively” between Black banks and a major sports league. “Major League Soccer’s partnership with the National Black Bank Foundation is a tangible step in the efforts to close the racial economic gap in the United States, and it’s the right business decision for us,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber in an official statement. “As a league, we continue to increase our initiatives in support of racial justice. In order to make a genuine impact, economic justice must be part of the equation. This transaction with a syndicate of community-focused Black banks is an important measure, and it is our hope this will raise...
The year 2021 has served as a huge wake up call for diligent action to be taken for Black female athletes to be provided with more opportunities, proper recognition — and most importantly — better care. To help in dismantling the structural barriers that they face, the Black Women’s Player Collective (BWPC) is building a community for Black female athletes in soccer. Black women continue to dominate in their respective sports and bring value to the game, yet the support they receive doesn’t always match up. Founded by Black players in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), BWPC is an organization taking action to expedite the movement for Black women to acquire equity, representation and access in the sports industry. With the mission of helping to shift the culture, adidas recently became a long-term partner of BWPC and is spearheading an initiative to connect young Black girls and women in soccer across the country. adidas and BWPC’s partnership aims to foster a space of...