Who helps with the grow of women's football? Check celebrities who invest in the NWSL clubs
Over the years, the NWSL has produced plenty of iconic moments, not only on the pitch. One of them came in 2023, when Patrick Mahomes joined the ownership group of Kansas City Current, becoming the first active NFL player to hold a stake in an NWSL club.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has a number of other business ventures and has also shown a strong commitment to social causes and initiatives promoting equality in Kansas City. Mahomes joined the Current with the ambition of helping build one of the best women’s football clubs in the world and creating a model for the wider growth of women’s sport.
His wife, Brittany Mahomes, has played an even more significant role in the club’s story. A former footballer herself, she played at university level before competing professionally in Iceland. She was one of the founding owners of Kansas City Current and has become one of the driving forces behind the growth of women’s football in the city.
Some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment
Investment from high-profile individuals, major companies and investment funds has helped make the NWSL one of the leading examples of growth in women’s football.
Perhaps nowhere is that more visible than at Angel City FC. The club has attracted investment from a remarkable list of figures from sport and entertainment, including Serena Williams, who regularly attends matches with her daughter Olympia. Olympia herself became part of the club’s ownership group at just two years old, making her one of the youngest owners in professional sport.
Angel City is also backed by actresses Eva Longoria and Jennifer Garner, singers Christina Aguilera and Becky G, NBA star Chris Paul, NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford and tennis legend Billie Jean King. Some of the biggest names in women’s football, including Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, have also invested in the club.
NJ/NY Gotham FC has similarly attracted investment from some major names. NBA star Kevin Durant, former WNBA player Sue Bird and former US international Carli Lloyd are among those who have invested in the club and its growth.
Washington Spirit is another NWSL club with high-profile investors, including NBA legend Magic Johnson, Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US president Bill Clinton, and Jenna Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush.
From Alex Morgan to Naomi Osaka
And the list does not end there.
San Diego Wave added club legend Alex Morgan to its ownership group following her retirement from professional football, while NBA star Jimmy Butler is another high-profile investor in the club.
Utah Royals also have a major sporting name among their investors in Lindsey Vonn. The legendary skier recently made headlines after competing at the Winter Olympics at the age of 41 despite suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament just four days earlier.
James Harden and former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya are shareholders in Houston Dash, while tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur have invested in North Carolina Courage.
Bay FC can also count one of the biggest names in American basketball among its investors, with WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu holding a stake in the club.
From NFL and NBA stars to tennis champions, actors, singers and former footballers, celebrity investment has become a notable part of the NWSL’s growth. Their involvement brings not only financial backing, but also visibility and influence from far beyond women’s football — another sign of how the league’s profile continues to expand.
