What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
If there’s one thing we learned from the Women’s EURO this summer – apart from the fact that Lucy Bronze is absolute nails – it’s that there are plenty of European nations with thriving women’s football fan bases, ready for their day in the sun. As the new club season begins, they’ll get another chance to showcase their support on the international stage, with the women’s game opening up to more teams than ever before.
“Olivia Smith became the first female player to break the million-pound barrier with her move to Arsenal”
The Women’s Champions League has a new format, following on from the men’s version introduced last term. The number of teams is up to 18 from 16, playing in the same league and knockout phase setup. There’s also a new competition, the Women’s Europa Cup, so we should see more clubs from the likes of Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland, who put their thriving women’s football cultures on show this summer. Bring on the tifos, handmade signs and painted faces.
Fresh off their Women’s Champions League triumph, Arsenal Women quickly levelled up again, signing striker Olivia Smith from Liverpool for a record-breaking £1m, to become the sport’s most expensive fee ever. The ink had scarcely dried when Chelsea snapped up forward Alyssa Thompson for just shy of the million-pound mark. It speaks volumes about the sport’s trajectory that Smith’s record lasted less than two months, following Orlando City’s £1.1m move for Lizbeth Ovalle from Tigres. Keep an eye too on WSL newcomers London City Lionesses, who are reported to have paid a seven-figure fee to Paris Saint-Germain for Grace Geyoro. Given how women’s football is flourishing these days, we’re taking bets on how long Ovalle’s record will stand. We’re giving it until Christmas.
What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
If there’s one thing we learned from the Women’s EURO this summer – apart from the fact that Lucy Bronze is absolute nails – it’s that there are plenty of European nations with thriving women’s football fan bases, ready for their day in the sun. As the new club season begins, they’ll get another chance to showcase their support on the international stage, with the women’s game opening up to more teams than ever before.
“Olivia Smith became the first female player to break the million-pound barrier with her move to Arsenal”
The Women’s Champions League has a new format, following on from the men’s version introduced last term. The number of teams is up to 18 from 16, playing in the same league and knockout phase setup. There’s also a new competition, the Women’s Europa Cup, so we should see more clubs from the likes of Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland, who put their thriving women’s football cultures on show this summer. Bring on the tifos, handmade signs and painted faces.
Fresh off their Women’s Champions League triumph, Arsenal Women quickly levelled up again, signing striker Olivia Smith from Liverpool for a record-breaking £1m, to become the sport’s most expensive fee ever. The ink had scarcely dried when Chelsea snapped up forward Alyssa Thompson for just shy of the million-pound mark. It speaks volumes about the sport’s trajectory that Smith’s record lasted less than two months, following Orlando City’s £1.1m move for Lizbeth Ovalle from Tigres. Keep an eye too on WSL newcomers London City Lionesses, who are reported to have paid a seven-figure fee to Paris Saint-Germain for Grace Geyoro. Given how women’s football is flourishing these days, we’re taking bets on how long Ovalle’s record will stand. We’re giving it until Christmas.
What do 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and eight-time Women’s Super League winners Chelsea Women have in common? Up until a few months ago, not much, other than both being prominent in their respective sports. But the answer now is Williams’ multimillionaire husband Alexis Ohanian, who was announced as a new minority investor and board member of the west London club in May. Ohanian, Williams and their eldest daughter were very visible in the royal box at Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup final win against Manchester United last term, and we can very reasonably expect to catch plenty more sightings in the season to come.
Ohanian isn’t the only American investor getting involved either. US businesswoman Michele Kang recently bought Lyon’s women’s team, becoming known as the “first tycoon in women’s football” – she also owns Washington Spirit, who compete in North America’s NWSL, and newly promoted Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses. Kang, who has spoken passionately about her aim to professionalise the women’s game, has also recently overseen a full rebrand of her French team, renaming them OL Lyonnes and unveiling a new lioness-themed logo.
As more Wall Street titans see the value and potential of the sport, it’s obvious that their ambitions are anything but small-time. Whether you think they’re in it for the mission or the money, the message is received loud and clear.
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