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It’s becoming increasingly common for athletes to invest in sports beyond their own, especially among current and former NFL players. Take New York Giants legend Eli Manning and Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, for instance. Both are co-owners of teams in the National Women’s Soccer League. Manning has a stake in NJ/NY Gotham FC, while Young is part of the ownership group for the Portland Thorns. Fast forward to now, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that “Eli Manning and Bryce Young, investors in Gotham FC and the Portland Thorns respectively, are joining the NWSL’s new Advisory Board — a group of 20 cultural leaders and soccer legends who also are club investors — created to help guide the league’s next era of growth.” ADVERTISEMENT Manning and Young join the impressive list of board members, including: Chris Paul (Angel City FC) Julie Foudy (Angel City FC) Brandi Chastain (Bay FC) Sabrina Ionescu (Bay FC) Elizabeth Banks (Boston Legacy FC) Aly Raisman (Boston Legacy FC) Jordan Angeli (Denver Summit FC) Brittany Mahomes (Kansas City Current) Sue Bird (Gotham FC) Lauren Holiday (North Carolina Courage) Grant Hill (Orlando Pride) Tamia Hill (Orlando Pride) Joey Harrington (Portland Thorns FC) Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Reign FC) Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC) Lindsey Vonn (Utah Royals FC) Dominique Dawes (Washington Spirit) Magic Johnson (Washington Spirit) Manning became a minority owner of Gotham FC in 2022 alongside Pete Guelli. Young, meanwhile, entered sports ownership in 2024 when he joined the Thorns’ ownership group. Now, both NFL stars will take on key roles as members of the NWSL’s new Advisory Board. ADVERTISEMENT “The NWSL is one of the most exciting leagues in sports today, with growth that rivals anything we’ve seen before,” Manning said. “I’m honored to be part of this Advisory Board and to help continue building a league that inspires communities, empowers women, and sets the standard for excellence on and off the field.” And the credit for this initiative goes to Jessica Berman, the NWSL Commissioner. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports “When we looked across our Clubs’ investor base, we realized how fortunate we are to have such an extraordinary group of cultural icons, athletes, and leaders who believe – and have invested – in the power and potential of this league,” Berman said. “Their experience and influence will be instrumental as we continue building not just a league, but a movement — one that redefines entertainment and what’s possible in sports.” Berman’s reasoning behind setting up the business advisory board with star investors is simple. The commissioner wants to expand the league’s footprint across the States, with 16 clubs already stretching across the country. Which naturally raises a question: What will the Board do? For starters, the Advisory Board will meet twice a year with league officials, team owners, and players to align on the league’s growth strategy. Their primary focus will be expanding the NWSL’s business side. Beyond business, Eli Manning and Bryce Young, along with the other board members, will also collaborate with Boardroom, the media company led by NBA star Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, to host its first official summit in Spring 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Brittany Mahomes’ Kansas City Current surged to a remarkable valuation “These women deserve to feel important and have their own facility so that they can perform at their best. I hope this sets the bar for women’s sports everywhere and other cities continue to build around women’s sports.” It’s the mindset Brittany Mahomes has carried since day one. She’s been one of the loudest voices pushing for women’s sports to get the same respect, investment, and visibility. This is exactly how she played a huge part in transforming Kansas City’s NWSL team, now known as the Kansas City Current, into one of the league’s most ambitious franchises as the team’s co-owner. Fast forward to now, and Brittany has just joined an elite crew of the NWSL’s first-ever Business Advisory Board, alongside star investors. ADVERTISEMENT
