Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner and billionaire Marc Lasry is now not in talks to buy a controlling stake within the North Carolina Braveness, Lasry’s international funding fund, Avenue Sports activities, mentioned in a press release.
In September, reported that Lasry was negotiating with present proprietor Steve Malik , valued at round $108 million.
Avenue Sports activities cited league restrictions round personal fairness funding as to why the talks fell aside. Sportico first reported the information.
“We is not going to be transferring ahead with our deliberate funding within the due to restrictions for personal fairness funding as a management proprietor in groups,” Avenue Sports activities mentioned. “Commissioner (Jessica) Berman, the NWSL, and the Braveness possession together with Steve Malik have been unbelievable companions and we are going to proceed to hunt alternatives to spend money on the groups and gamers throughout this unimaginable league.”
Sources with the Braveness and the NWSL briefed on the matter confirmed to that Lasry is now not looking for possession.
“Marc Lasry and his group have been nice all through this course of, and it was clear from the start they believed in our imaginative and prescient and have been excited about serving to us construct upon our unmatched on-field success, model energy, and mission of group affect,” the Braveness mentioned in a press release. “The NWSL continues to develop at unprecedented charges, and we stay dedicated to offering our gamers, employees, and group with a best-in-class group. As essentially the most embellished membership in league historical past and on the heels of a historic season during which we set a number of membership attendance information, we’re enthusiastic about what the longer term holds for the North Carolina Braveness.”
The Braveness most just lately went via a funding spherical in August, elevating $15 million and bringing in new buyers together with tennis gamers Naomi Osaka and Ons Jabeur.
Lasry offered his 25 % stake within the Bucks in 2023 and tried to bid on a controlling stake in earlier this 12 months. His agency, Avenue Capital Group, has been elevating cash in a fund aimed particularly at sports activities funding.
The Braveness gained the NWSL nationwide championship in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, , which detailed allegations of sexual coercion and verbal abuse by Paul Riley, head coach on the time. The report additionally named Malik, exhibiting proof that former proprietor Merritt Paulson had informed Malik in regards to the misconduct allegations whereas Riley coached the Thorns.
In 2024, the Braveness had the bottom common attendance within the NWSL at 5,714, in comparison with the general league common of 11,477.
This text initially appeared in .
North Carolina Braveness, NWSL, Sports activities Enterprise
2024 The Athletic Media Firm
