|
Portman joined Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian,
tech venture capitalist Kara Nortman and video game entrepreneur
Julie Uhrman as part of the ownership team. Los Angeles will
begin play as NWSL's 11th team in 2022.
Ohanian's wife, tennis star Serena Williams, joined 12 former
United States Women's National Team players -- including Mia
Hamm, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach -- as part of the founding
investor group.
"Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women
majority-owned and led ownership group," Portman said in a
statement released by the league. "I am thrilled by the
opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to
bring a professional women's soccer team to Los Angeles.
Together, we aim to build not only a winning team on the field,
but also to develop a passionately loyal fan base.
"We also hope to make a substantive impact on our community,
committing to extending access to sports for young people in Los
Angeles through our relationship with the LA84 Foundation.
Sports are such a joyful way to bring people together, and this
has the power to make tangible change for female athletes both
in our community and in the professional sphere."
Actresses Jennifer Garner, Eva Longoria, Uzo Aduba, Jessica
Chastain and America Ferrera as well as late night talk show
host Lilly Singh are also involved with the Los Angeles team.
"We've long sought the right partner in LA considering the NWSL
fanbase that already exists in the region and the massive
interest in women's soccer in general," commissioner Lisa Baird
said in a statement. "Those factors, along with an incredible
ownership group make this an ideal situation and we couldn't be
more thrilled to move forward."
-Field Level Media
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
