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Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade has reportedly shown interest in investing in his hometown WNBA team, the Chicago Sky.
Wade spent Tuesday afternoon at the Sky’s practice facility and had conversations with Sky principal owner Michael Alter and VP of basketball ops Ann Crosby, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The NBA legend’s cousin, James Wade, the coach and GM for the Sky commented on the impact of a potential investment from D-Wade.
“It would mean a lot, of course,” James Wade said, “especially when you’re talking about the type of person that he is and how he does stuff for people. He’s recognized and has a reputation of supporting not only this league but supporting everyone. So it would be special if something like that were to happen.”
Wade, a 13-time NBA All-Star, reportedly told Sky players that he was interested in continuing to help the WNBA grow. The three-time champion has bought ownership stakes in the NBA’s Utah Jazz and MLS club Real Salt Lake since he retired from the NBA in 2019.
The Sky, who are on the hunt for a new practice facility, were valued last week at $85 million after a 10% stake in the team was sold to a group of investors that include Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. The Sky are one of seven independently owned WNBA teams, with the five others sharing ownership with their NBA counterparts.
“We need people like [Dwyane Wade],” Sky guard Dana Evans told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We need more NBA players to help expand the WNBA, and he talked a lot about that. Once you see D-Wade on with the Sky, it just brings more. It’ll bring more people out, more fans. We just want to have our name out there.”
