NBA Hall of Famer and businessman Magic Johnson has officially joined the Washington Spirit’s ownership group, partnering with the team’s majority owner Michelle Kang, the first Black woman to hold a controlling stake in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Johnson told “CBS Mornings” that he and Kang shared their vision for the Spirit and the future of women’s soccer.
“It’s important that owners not only love to win on the field, as Mitchell does, but also love to win in the community,” he said.
Johnson – who now owns a stake in Five professional sports teamsMinority representation in sports ownership is important, with many other teams including the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. According to Kang, adding Johnson to the team is an important step in the growth of the Spirit and the league.
“I think his success, his great success on the basketball court, is something that everybody knows about. But as you guys are talking about, his involvement in mentoring young kids and giving them dreams and hopes, that is something that nobody can match, and we are incredibly honored to have him as part of our community,” Kang said.
The partnership came about when Johnson and Kang met in Los Angeles and they quickly hit it off. shared vision For the future of women’s football.
“The sport is growing rapidly in popularity in the U.S.,” Johnson said.
As for what’s next, the two are focused on helping Spirit reach new heights.
“We want to win championships,” Johnson said, noting that his previous teams have won 14 championships. “I want a 15th championship now.”
Kang said she hopes to benefit from Johnson’s vast experience in turning a sports franchise into a dynasty.
“These lessons, knowledge and experience are something we desperately need and we are eager to learn from them,” Kang said.