Big news from the world of women's football! Nigerian-Greek NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo just announced he's joining the ownership group of Chelsea FC Women. The two-time NBA MVP is teaming up with his friend Alexis Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit and happens to be married to tennis legend Serena Williams.
This is a minority ownership stake, but it's still a massive deal for Chelsea Women and the Women's Super League. Giannis joins majority owner Todd Boehly and the BlueCo Chelsea group, who bought the men's team back in 2022 and added the women's squad two years later.
"I'm proud and honored to partner with my friend, joining the ownership group of Chelsea FC Women, a historic club built on passion, excellence, and a winning culture," Giannis shared on social media. He's clearly excited about supporting the growth of women's sport and pushing the game to new heights.
Chelsea Women's Impressive Trophy Cabinet
Chelsea Women are absolutely dominant in English football. They've won the Women's Super League eight times, with six of those titles coming in just the last six years. That's the kind of consistency that makes them favourites in betting markets season after season.
The Blues also boast six Women's FA Cup titles and three Women's League Cup trophies. The only thing missing? A Women's Champions League trophy. That European glory has eluded them so far, though they've come close several times.
With Giannis's investment bringing more resources and visibility, Chelsea's chances of competing at the highest level just got better. This could impact their odds in both domestic and European competitions moving forward.
Giannis's Growing Sports Portfolio
This isn't Giannis's first rodeo in sports ownership. The Milwaukee Bucks star already owns minority stakes in MLB's Milwaukee Brewers and MLS's Nashville SC, which he bought with his brothers in 2023.
His Nigerian heritage runs deep too. Born to Nigerian parents in Greece, Giannis visited Lagos in 2023 and even named fufu and egusi soup as his favourite Nigerian meal. Now he's bringing that same pride and passion to women's football, which could inspire more athletes and investors to support the women's game.
