Black women have been breaking barriers in sports. While it might not be known to most people, many Black women own sports teams. From Serena Williams to Tems, here are 5 Black Women owners in sports.
Black Women Who Own Sports Teams
1. Serena Williams
Serena Williams is the new owner of the Toronto Tempo
pic.twitter.com/souOob8JJz— WNBACentral (@WNBACentral_) March 3, 2025
Playing professional tennis at 14 years old, Williams is no stranger to sports. During her prolific career, the tennis star won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, which is the most titles won by a woman in the sport’s Open era. She also won 14 major trophies in women’s doubles with her sister, Venus.
Williams joined the Women’s National Basketball Association’s ownership group for the Toronto Tempo. The Tempo is the WNBA’s first expansion team in Canada and will begin play in the 2026 season. The team is also owned by Larry Tanenbaum, who is chairman of Kimer Sports Ventures.
The entrepreneur has expressed her excitement for her latest business venture, stating. “I am thrilled to announce my ownership role in the first Canadian WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo. This moment is not just about basketball; it is about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes — I have always said that women’s sports are an incredible investment opportunity. I am excited to partner with Larry and all of Canada in creating this new WNBA franchise and legacy.” Williams will play a vital role in the team’s aesthetic, from jersey designs to merchandise collaborations.
The former tennis player is also a minority owner of other sports teams, such as the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City FC, the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins, and TGL’s Los Angeles Golf Club.
2. Mellody Hobson
We have to talk about Mellody Hobson more often. She’s part of the Denver Broncos ownership group. the co-CEO of Ariel Investments and she also serves on the board of companies including Starbucks and JPMorgan Chase. Former co-CEO and President of Dreamworks Animation. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/377DYTTeff
— Ricky Tyree | (@_RickyTyree) January 8, 2023
After graduating from Princeton University in 1991, Hobson started working at an investment firm called Ariel Investments. She was named president of the firm in 2000 while simultaneously starting a philanthropic organization that had a goal of increasing corporate diversity, which started with a conference for Black corporate directors. By 2019, the businesswoman was named Ariels’ co-CEO and served on multiple company boards, including Starbucks. Serving on the Starbucks board made her one of the highest-profile Black board chairs in the United States.
Hobson’s firm, Ariel Investments has a total of $17.8 billion dollars in assets. The Starbucks chairwoman still have has an enormous shareholder in the company as her stake is worth tens of millions of dollars.
During June 2022, the investor joined the Walton-Penner Family Ownership group and bought the Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion dollars. She is the first Black women to be apart of an original ownership group buying a team as well as becoming a part-owner in the NFL.
“The moment is humbling, and it’s historical. And yet I feel at home. I’m very excited to be here. As someone once wrote, if you are going to exceed your wildest expectations, your wildest dreams, you have to start with some pretty wild dreams. And this is certainly in that category,” Hobson expressed.
3. Valerie Daniels-Carter
HBCU alum Valerie Daniels-Carter stands as the sole Black woman to own part of the Milwaukee Bucks. https://t.co/67er116vPU pic.twitter.com/pheAQyYAjg
— #becauseofthemwecan (@Becauseofthem) September 12, 2022
Receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Lincoln University, Daniels Carter went on to work in corporate for several years. Eventually, she decided to launch her business with her brother, V&J Foods Inc., in 1982. She also became a Burger King franchisee in 1984 with one store at the time. Now, the company owns 38 stores that spwan across Wisconsin and Detriot.
Daniels-Carter expanded her business into V&J National Enterprises LLC and V&J United Enterprises, which were founded in 1997 and 1999. The enterprises are Pizza Hut franchisees that have 64 restaurant locations across New York and Western Massachusetts.
The business mogul made her name in sports by becoming a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Green Bay Packers. Daniels-Carter is the only single African American woman to be involved in an NBA team’s ownership. When speaking on her experience owning the Bucks, the entrepreneur explained, “There are couples that own the Bucks. I’m the only African American female that’s single that I know of that owns the Bucks.”
4. Sheila Johnson
Why did self-made billionaire Sheila Johnson become a part-owner in three sports teams?
“Because women don’t get that opportunity,” she tells #COOSummit. https://t.co/aObxhHEYpY pic.twitter.com/UDUPF4nxEm
— FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) October 7, 2024
Johnson attended the University of Illinois before becoming a billionaire businesswomen. With her former husband Robert, she co-founded Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 1979 that forever changed African American culture. When Viacom purchased BET for $3 billion in 2001, the business icon sold her shares which started her venture into the sports industry.
The philanthropist founded Salamander Hotels and Resorts in 2005. The company has a luxurious portfolio that expanded into the Salamander Resort & Spa in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Reunion Resort in Florida, and Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Through this luxurious brand, Johnson was able to become a part owner in the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA’s Washington Wizards, and the NHL’s Washington Capitals. At the Marshall Center Oval Theater, Johnson reflected on her sports ownership stating, “Building a company is like building a basketball team: It starts with finding the best talent. For me, integrity, the ability to grow, and embracing healthy competition are three core values that define my hospitality company and my WNBA team.”
5. Tems
From Lagos to San Diego…
GRAMMY Award-Winning, Oscar Nominated Nigerian singer-songwriter @temsbaby joins San Diego FC ownership group as a club partner.
Tems becomes the FIRST African female to be involved in MLS ownership.
Read
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) February 12, 2025
The Nigerian artist is a triple threat: she can sing, write songs, and produce them. Tems, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, has won two Grammys and has been Oscar-nominated. Through her company, The Leading Vibe, the singer has jumped into the soccer industry.
Tems joined the San Diego FC ownership group as a club partner which makes her the first African woman to own a professional team in the United States. The union is in partnership with Pave Investments, which is an African private investment firm that led a group of investors to invest in NBA Africa in 2021.
The Grammy-winning musician took to Instagram to express her excitement. “I get to be a part of a family that encompasses everything I believe in with the SDFCs @right2dream initiative, which is all about giving young talents the opportunity to shine both on and off the field.”
As the sports industry becomes more diverse, more seats will be given to women of color. It is important to recognize the achievements of Black women who have created future opportunities for newer generations to own sports teams.
Image Credit: Pierre Suu / Contributor | Getty Images
