Breathe
By Rosa Covarrubias
Over the years, especially in the last century and in the current one, we have seen the development and growth of women in the sports field.
Little by little, they have been gaining ground, first, as athletes, with the inclusion of the female branch in most of the disciplines in the Olympic Games, the creation of female leagues in other sports and finally, in management positions, as coaches, sports directors, in medical positions, etc., but in recent years, the interest of women has increased with respect to investment in sports teams, becoming shareholders and owners of the same .
A few days ago, Serena Williams, the best tennis player in recent years, announced in a spectacular video that she will be co-owner of the Toronto Tempo, the first Canadian team to join the WNBA in 2026. Under the slogan, new court, new game, Williams will seek to boost the team's marketing, reaffirming her commitment to women's sports.
But this is not the first team in which the winner of 23 Grand Slams will invest, she has shares in the NFL's Miami Dolphins, in addition to being part, along with her husband Alexis Ohanian, of the Angel City of the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League), actress Natalie Portman and former soccer player Mia Hamm. Beyond being a soccer team, it represents an innovative business model based on gender equity and investment in women's sports.
One of the most recognized women in the world of women's soccer is Michele Kang. The Korean businesswoman has created a true empire in women's soccer; she owns one of the most recognized teams in the world, Olympique Lyon of the French League, Washington Spirit and OL Reign of the NWSL and London City Lionesses of English soccer, in addition to creating Kynisca Sports, the first international women's soccer group.
Kang's vision has helped to improve working conditions for female players and, as she mentioned in an interview with the Washington Post, her intention is for women's soccer to be followed on a global level and with the same conditions as men's soccer.
In NBA basketball, Jeanie Buss, owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers. She assumed full control of the team in 2017, leading the franchise to an NBA championship in 2020, cementing her legacy as one of the most prestigious organizations, not just in the league. His leadership has been key to maintaining the Lakers' greatness, with big-name signings, most recently Luka Doncic.
There are also women in the NFL who have left their mark. Virginia Halas McCaskey, who passed away on February 6, inherited the Chicago Bears from her father, owning the team for more than 40 years and one of the most influential figures in the league in recent years.
Another case in American soccer is that of the owner and president of the Detroit Lions, Sheila Ford, who took over the team in 2020, taking it to the playoffs, in 2025 they were one of the favorite teams to reach the Super Bowl, or that of Kim Pegula, co-owner of the Buffalo Bills, playing a key role in the management of the team.
This is just one example of how the presence of women in the ownership of sports teams not only represents a conquest in terms of equality, but also brings new business visions, innovation and development for leagues and clubs, especially in the women's branch, in which women's investment will undoubtedly contribute further in economic terms.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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