Most-Loved WTA Star Joins Hands With Naomi Osaka as the Duo Takes $100,000,000 Inspiration From Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian to Make a Giant Sporting Move

Published 08/26/2023, 11:00 AM EDT

Something big is happening! Tennis stars Ons Jabeur and Naomi Osaka have joined hands to make a real difference in women’s sports, following the steps of Alexis Ohanian. It’s been three years since Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s investment in Angel City, which is currently worth $100 million. In fact, they would love to see their daughter, Olympia, become a professional soccer player. But not until “they pay her what she’s worth” as pay issues are prevalent in women’s soccer. Now, Jabeur and Osaka are taking the spotlight for their advocacy. Their goal? To make women’s sports even better.

This isn’t just about investing—it’s about making sure everyone gets the same opportunities. After all, fans of NWSL are on the rise. As per a study conducted, it was revealed that NWSL saw a growth in its TV audience by 500% (2021). Further, women’s soccer has more male fans than ever before. Thus, Jabeur and Osaka seem to be adding their share of work in the National Women’s Soccer League.

A new chapter in Women’s sports advocacy, courtesy of Ons Jabeur and Osaka

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The dynamic duo announced their joint ownership of the National Women’s Soccer League’s North Carolina Courage. With this, they solidified their commitment to women’s sports and advocating from positions of power. Naomi Osaka was announced as the minority owner of NC Courage in 2021 and now Jabeur is the latest entry. At the US Open Media Day, Jabeur shared her happiness about joining the team. “Finally, Naomi accepted me in the team,” Jabeur jokingly said.

This partnership has been on Jabeur’s radar since she became part of Osaka’s management company, ‘Evolve’. A big fan of soccer, Jabeur said she’d been wanting to invest in a team like this for a while, as reported by WTA.

“I believe that we deserve more. Especially in tennis, it’s great that we have equal prize money at the Grand Slams, but I feel like other tournaments, it needs to be better, for sure,” the Wimbledon finalist stated.

The resonance between tennis and soccer in the context of equal pay is not lost for Jabeur. As the US Open commemorates 50 years of gender pay equality, Jabeur drew parallels between the strides made in tennis and the ongoing battle for equal pay in women’s soccer.

‘Can’t Do Anything about My Love..’ – Belarusian Tennis Beauty Aryna Sabalenka Kick-Starts US Open Locker-Room Banter as She Makes Quirky Revelation about Ons Jabeur

Surprisingly, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian is also part of Women’s soccer club investment journey. He’s a big supporter of women’s soccer and there’s an interesting tale behind that!

Alexis Ohanian from being a latecomer to an enthusiast

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In an honest talk with ESPN reporter Fernando Palomo, Ohanian strongly said, “The value of being associated with these women… is a greater brand value than being associated with their male counterparts.” Ohanian surely meant what he said as the team he has invested in is now worth over $100 million.

Ohanian, who’s also involved in a soccer-related startup named Gloria, admitted he became a soccer fan a bit late. However, watching the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal between the US and France changed that. Not only did he become a soccer fan, but he also realized that women’s soccer had a lot of untapped potential and opportunities.

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In an era marked by changing perceptions and evolving norms, the Jabeur-Osaka partnership signifies a monumental shift in women’s sports ownership.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘I Love…’ – Naomi Osaka Points to the Ancient Technique She Relies on for Keeping Calm 2 Years After Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas Vouched for It

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Written by:

Ansh Tandon is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. Ansh received his undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has been working in content creation for 2+ years. Before Ansh stepped into sports journalism, he was a professional tennis player, honing his skills in national level tournaments for the past 12 years as an active AITA athlete.

Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty

Most-Loved WTA Star Joins Hands With Naomi Osaka as the Duo Takes $100,000,000 Inspiration From Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian to Make a Giant Sporting Move

A new chapter in Women’s sports advocacy, courtesy of Ons Jabeur and Osaka

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