• Loading stock data...
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

Bob Iger and Willow Bay to Buy Angel City FC: Report

  • Majority stakeholder Alexis Ohanian has sought a sale for months.
  • The team currently brings in the most revenue in the NWSL.
Mar 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Willow Bay and Bob Iger arrives at the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY

Angel City FC is on the verge of having new ownership. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay, who is dean of the USC Annenberg School of Journalism, are close to acquiring the team at a valuation of $250 million, according to reports from Puck. The deal would double the valuation of the already most-valuable women’s sports franchise in the world. 

The couple would replace Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as the team’s majority stakeholder. Ohanian was also the team’s representative for the NWSL board of governors, and it is currently unclear who would assume that role. 

Ohanian has been looking to sell the team since fall 2023, after he had issues with the franchise’s spending, which set it back from profitability despite having $31 million in revenue for 2023—the most in the NWSL. Ultimately, the franchise hired Moelis & Co., a New York investment bank, to handle a sale. 

According to Semafor, Bay and Iger’s investment puts the team at a value of more than $300 million, which is $120 million more than Sportico’s valuation in October, and five-and-a-half times the average valuation of the other 11 NWSL teams.

Angel City FC was founded in 2020 by actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, and Ohanian, who quickly added 100 other investors from sports and Hollywood, including U.S. women’s soccer legends including Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach. 

Other minority owners include Candace Parker, Eva Longoria, and Billie Jean King. The ownership group is mostly women, making Angel City FC the largest women-led ownership group in the history of sports, which The Los Angeles Times reports made Bay’s role in the investment important to get the other owners to sign off on the deal. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Duke Keeps ACC Alive in March Madness

Duke will represent the ACC in the Elite Eight in both tournaments.
TCU Horned Frogs guard Hailey Van Lith (10) celebrates as she heads to the locker room after winning the NCAA Playoff Regional semi-final game against Notre Dame at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama, March 29, 2025.

Hailey Van Lith Is an Early Success Story of Unrestricted Transfer Portal

She becomes first player to reach the Elite Eight with three teams.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) and the Alabama Crimson Tide bench celebrate during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.

How Alabama Became College Basketball’s Newest Juggernaut

The Crimson Tide have found success rivaling their historic football program.

NCAA Denies Colorado-Syracuse Spring Football Game

The schools hoped for permission to organize a formal scrimmage.

Featured Today

Columbia, SC - February 16, 2025 - Colonial Life Arena: Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco during a regular season game.

Inside Ryan Ruocco’s Rapid Rise to ESPN’s Top Voice of Women’s Hoops

The top voice became “quickly addicted” to calling the women’s game.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
March 25, 2025

Kendall Coyne Schofield Wants More for the Next Wave of Mom-Athletes

The Walter Cup–winning Frost captain says small changes mean “everything.”
Dec 21, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to pass the ball against USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) in the first half at XL Center.
March 23, 2025

‘More Value to Be Had’: Were Women’s March Madness Media Rights Undersold?

Could the NCAA have gotten millions more in its latest TV deal?
Mar 20, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Jasen Green (0) dunks the ball during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena
March 22, 2025

Basketball-Only Schools Could See Power Surge After House Settlement Approval 

Football teams might monopolize the revenue-sharing dollars at power conference schools.
Mar 16, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Intuit Dome.
March 26, 2025

Celtics Sale Has Made Ballmer’s $2B Clippers Stunner a Bargain

The Celtics owners agreed to sell the team for $6.1 billion.
Adam Silver
March 27, 2025

The $6.1 Billion Celtics Sale Is Not Street-Legal Yet

The complex deal still has some league hoops to jump through.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
NWSL Ball
March 26, 2025

Boston NWSL Team Tries Second Name: Legacy

Boston Legacy Football Club will replace Bos Nation FC.
March 25, 2025

Diggs to Patriots, Wilson to Giants in Late NFL Free Agency Moves

Russell Wilson and Stefon Diggs agreed to deals Tuesday night.
Anthony Davis
March 24, 2025

Anthony Davis Returns to Mavs in Crisis

The Mavericks beat the Nets 120–101 in Davis’s return.
Feb 21, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta smiles during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center.
March 24, 2025

How Tilman Fertitta’s Ambassador Stint Will Affect Rockets

President Trump nominated Fertitta as U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino.