Serena Williams, Jennifer Garner, More Investing In Soccer Team

The National Women’s Soccer League has a new team with a star-studded ownership group. Actress Natalie Portman and other high-profile women are bringing an NWSL franchise to Los Angeles for 2022.

Technology venture capitalists Kara Nortman and Alexis Ohanian are among the owners of the expansion team. Media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman is the consortium president.

“Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group,” Portman said in a statement released Tuesday. “I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles. Together, we aim to build not only a winning team on the field, but also to develop a passionately loyal fan base. We also hope to make a substantive impact on our community, committing to extending access to sports for young people in Los Angeles through our relationship with the LA84 Foundation.”

Actresses Jessica Chastain, America Ferrera, Jennifer Garner, and Eva Longoria are also part of the investor group, along with several female athletes, including tennis star Serena Williams. Former members of the World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team, including Lauren Cheney Holiday and Abby Wambach, have an ownership stake.

The team’s official name will be announced by the end of the year.

“I am proud to be a part of this wonderful group working to bring a women’s professional football club to Los Angeles,” Ohanian said. “Chiefly, because I’m a fan of the game, but also because I believe there is massive potential for the sport and it’s been undervalued by too many people for far too long. As someone who spends hours kicking around a football with my two-year-old daughter, I want her to have a front row seat to this revolution. I’m personally investing on behalf of my family because creating more opportunities in women’s sports is important to my wife and me, and we want to be a part of making a better future for our daughter.”

The NWSL became the first U.S. professional team sport to return during the coronavirus pandemic with the start of the 2020 Challenge Cup tournament on June 27.