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Is Natalie Portman Walking Out of Angel City FC? Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian’s Stoic Response Sparks Rumours

Published 03/16/2024, 5:33 AM EDT

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With Serena Williams‘ husband’s shadow, the Angel City FC has stretched its limits. But even after doing great on the field, the soccer team might have some internal tension on the business side of the game. Recently, there have been a lot of speculations regarding Natalie Portman leaving ownership behind, as the 40-year-old American entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian’s recent response sparked rumors regarding the same.

As the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s husband is someone who has the highest stake in the soccer team, there have been a series of events and ups and downs in the NWSL franchise. Let’s take a look at what’s going on with team ownership.

Serena Williams’ husband-owned team sparks internal speculations

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As one of the most valuable teams in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Angel City FC seems to be about to undergo a big ownership change. According to a Sportico story published on Friday, the club has hired Moelis & Company to begin the sales process, which was purportedly spurred by internal debates among board members about team governance.

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Alexis Ohanian is still the club’s largest shareholder in spite of the upcoming changes, but it’s unclear how much of his equity is up for grabs. The club’s three co-founders, Kara Nortman, Natalie Portman, and Julie Urham, as well as a number of well-known investors, further complicate issues and add levels of complication to the possible ownership change.

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This all speculation started when Angel City FC did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for a comment. The 23-time Grand Slam champion’s husband, however, told Sportico that he is not selling his equity. Sportico’s sources said the franchise’s ownership structure also added to the tension.

Ohanian contributed the largest fraction of the funds upon the club’s founding in 2020. However, he did not retain a majority of equity or board control. But if it’s not him then there are a lot of rumors going around that it might be the Hollywood actress who might just walk off the ownership belt. Not only that, a few years ago, the 40-year-old American entrepreneur opened up about his intention of becoming a part owner of the team.

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“underappreciated, under-supported, the list goes on.” – Alexis Ohanian vouching for women’s sport

Back in 2022, during the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Reddit co-founder opened up about how it was not just her daughter that made him invest in soccer. But at the same time, he also detailed how he has been a die-hard soccer player for a long, long time. Along with that, he stated, “Women’s soccer, in particular, I believed was tremendously under-resourced, under-marketed, undervalued, underappreciated, under-supported, the list goes on.”

Not only that, he also mentioned how he saw it as the first and foremost business opportunity, which is going to be an amazing success in the future as an investment. Further, on the other hand, it’s his daughter who has inspired him to be the voice to advocate women’s sports in the best way ever.

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Nevertheless, what are your thoughts regarding Ohanian’s team’s ridding on the speculation? Let us know in the comment section below.

READ MORE – Fashionista Serena Williams Makes Displeasure Felt With the Olympics Over Her Evolution From the Sport

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri