Legendary WNBA player Sue Bird and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning are the latest high-profile NWSL investors. Forbes announced Thursday that Bird and Manning have joined the Gotham FC investment group as minority owners. Other notable members of the ownership group include retired USWNT player and New Jersey native Carli Lloyd, who played for the club from 2018-2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Kevin Durant‘s investment group Thirty-Five Ventures.
Bird’s investment includes the responsibility of acting as an advisor to the club, which will help boost its popularity. She says she is investing in Gotham FC because the club empowers female athletes. Bird is also connected to Gotham FC because she is from New York.
The financial details about the deal have not been released to the public, but Sportico reports that Gotham FC is currently valued at $40 million. The Washington Spirit were valued at a record-breaking $35 million last year, so Gotham FC is now the highest-valued NWSL club.
Bird and Manning aren’t the first athletes to invest in the NWSL; I’m sure they won’t be the last. Abby Wambach, Serena Williams, Alex Ovechkin and Lindsey Vonn are investors in teams around the league.
Who would you like to see become the next NWSL investor? Let me know in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter and check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more women’s sports coverage.
