Caitlin Clark joins WNBA rival Angel Reese in bid to own soccer franchise

NWSL's Cincinnati expansion franchise bidding team sees WNBA and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark join as investor.

Caitlin Clark joins WNBA rival Angel Reese in bid to own soccer franchise

WNBA and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark will likely join rival Angel Reese as soccer club owners

Ever since Caitlin Clark burst through college basketball, she has been the de facto superstar. Coming into the WNBA, that stardom turned into mega endorsement deals from reputable brands. Flush with that money, she is looking to join her rival Angel Reese in investing in other areas.

She signed a $28 million contract with Nike, which is regarded as the most lucrative endorsement deal in women’s sports. Along with that, she also has a deal with Wilson to be their official brand partner. Those deals alone ensure she is earning millions in her first year as a professional basketball player.

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She is also using that stardom to be a speaker at various events across the country. In the events she is appearing via video conference, she reportedly earns more than her WNBA salary. The Indiana Fever star is now looking to use all that money into becoming a part-owner of a sports franchise.

But she cannot do it in the WNBA, as rules do not allow active players to be part of an ownership group. Which meant, she turned to a sport she loves and was very good at before concentrating on basketball full time. ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf quoted this statement from the NWSL’s Cincinnati investment team.

The NWSL Cincinnati bid team is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our ownership group in pursuit of bringing a women’s professional soccer team to our city.

NWSL Cincinnati bid team to ESPN

The bidding team may end up becoming the 16th franchise of the NWSL. The bid might cost them close to $100 million. That means Caitlin Clark will hold at most a minority stake in the franchise. But even then, that could be worth a lot more down the line.

Caitlin Clark follows Angel Reese and Sue Bird in sports team investments

When Caitlin Clark came into the WNBA, she brought along with her a massive fan following. That has helped the league transcend new heights in terms of ticket sales, merchandising, as well as viewership. That impact has not just been in basketball, as fans across the world are starting to tilt towards women’s sports in general.

The impact was also evident at the Paris Olympics held this year, where fans filled stadiums to watch women superstars in action. This growing interest means women’s sporting leagues and teams are bound to grow in value. Sue Bird was among the few to take an early step into ownership when she purchased a stake in former NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.

Angel Reese followed suit when the Chicago Sky star opted to purchase a stake in the USL Super League professional soccer team DC Power FC. That league is playing its inaugural season and is already showing interest from fans.

Caitlin Clark is investing for the future and could help open the gates for other women in sports to follow suit at owning teams. Maybe with the WNBA’s CBA up for negotiation, stars can have the salaries to fund such investments.