Former Bucks owner Marc Lasry is closing in on a deal to purchase a majority stake in the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage, according to Sportico.
Lasry is expected to buy a 60% stake in the franchise at a valuation of $108 million from current majority owner Steve Malik, who founded the Courage in 2017 after purchasing the Western New York Flash for an unknown amount.
Angel City FC and the Seattle Reign were two other NWSL franchises that Lasry, who sold his 25% stake in the Bucks in April at a $3.5 billion valuation, was reportedly targeting before this deal with the Courage. Disney CEO Bob Iger and his wife, Willow Bay, purchased Angel City FC in July at an NWSL record valuation of $250 million.
The Courage raised $15 million in funding in August 2023. The following month, Malik brought in new investors, which included tennis stars Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur. The team has seen success on the field, winning back-to-back NWSL championships in 2018 and 2019.
However, the team was also deeply embroiled in the Yates report released in 2022 after then head coach Paul Riley was accused of sexual coercion.
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