Disney's Bob Iger Buys Controlling Stake In NWSL Team Valued At $250 Million

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Wednesday was a massive day for women's sports in America. The WNBA agreed to a huge new media rights deal that promises to deliver unprecedented revenue to the league. And Disney CEO Bob Iger, along with wife Willow Bay, purchased the controlling stake in Angel City FC, an NWSL franchise.

The franchise was valued at $250 million, making it the most valuable women's team in the world. It's unclear exactly how much Iger and Bay invested in the team. 

Axios reports that "NWSL league rules warrant that a controlling team owner must own at least 35% of a team, which would mean that Bay and Iger would have had to invest at least $87.5 million in the deal." 

Disney CEO Bob Iger purchased the controlling stake in Angel City FC, a women's soccer team in the NWSL valued at $250 million.

Disney CEO Bob Iger purchased the controlling stake in Angel City FC, a women's soccer team in the NWSL valued at $250 million. 

(USA Today Network)

Angel City FC put out an official statement, saying that Bay will serve as the controlling owner and represent the team on the NWSL Board of Directors. 

On top of purchasing the controlling stake, Iger and Bay will "invest an additional $50 million to support the Club’s future growth." 

The statement also says that "in 2023, ACFC generated the highest revenue of any women’s team in the world." 

Women's sports are certainly booming in the United States right now, seeing massive numbers in viewership, attendance, and sponsorships, particularly in soccer and basketball. 

Obviously, the WNBA is having the best season of its existence thanks to Caitlin Clark joining the league in April's draft. 

But there's clearly more interest in women's sports now than ever before, which is a great thing. 

That's what makes the transgender issue such an important one right now. Women's sports are exploding and allowing biological males to compete in women's sports is just plain wrong. 

Unfortunately, the increased popularity in women's sports is only going to encourage more biological males to identify as females to enter that space. 

That's why OutKick stands fully in support of keeping women's sports for females only and we will not stop advocating that position. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.