Tennis Star Naomi Osaka Becomes Part-Owner Of Professional Women’s Soccer Team [Photos]

The tennis phenom is already light years ahead of the competition as she works on cementing her legacy for generations to come. At just 23-years-old, Osaka has already received several accolades, winning the U.S. Open, being named 2020 Athlete of the Year by The Associated Press, and earning a spot as one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” Now, she is expanding her name in the industry, taking on the title of sports team owner, becoming part-owner of the North Carolina Courage, a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team.

Osaka is the first investor to onboard with the Courage, alongside Steve Malik, who has served as an active owner since 2017. She will be acting as a strategic advisor, utilizing the opportunity to advance women’s sports.

“I’ve been wanting to get involved with the NWSL for a while, to promote women’s sports and also as a business investment because I can see it growing rapidly. The commissioner of the league introduced me to a few teams, and after lengthy conversations, I decided the Courage was the best fit for me,” Naomi told reporters.

Malik issued an official statement about the new partnership, saying, “I am thrilled to welcome Naomi as an owner of the North Carolina Courage. Naomi embodies the values we have been striving to cultivate at our club, and she brings an invaluable viewpoint on topics beyond sports.”

A legend in the making, Osaka has a lot on her plate right now, juggling a number of fashion endorsements, including a recent Levi’s campaign alongside Jaden and Willow Smith, while preparing for the Australian Open abroad. She took to social media to announce her new endeavor, thanking all the women who poured into her that made this possible.