Published 12/27/2022, 6:00 AM EST
Alexis Ohanian, the husband of iconic tennis player Serena Williams and co-founder of Reddit, has been a vocal supporter of women’s sports. Ohanian believes that the future of the sports industry lies in women’s sports.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Ohanian has put his money where his mouth is by investing in Angel City FC. This Los Angeles-based women’s soccer team plays in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). It is backed by huge investor names like Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Christina Aguilera, and Mia Hamm.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Alexis Ohanian’s bold statement to fans
Ohanian believes in the future of the women’s sports industry. He said, “There’s a million people on Twitter right now who are going to say no one watches women’s sports,”. Ohanian knows that there are doubters out there who question his investment, but he remains undeterred.
Dive Deeper: “It’s Been Treated as a Charity”- Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Once Made a Bold Statement by Saying NWSL Is Much Bigger Than American Soccer League MLS
The entrepreneur further added- “The message I have for them is facts don’t care about your feelings. The data shows Americans would rather watch two women in the U.S. Open.”. And he’s right. Since Serena Williams came on the scene, interest in women’s tennis has been skyrocketing.
2018 US Open Tennis Tournament- Day Thirteen. Naomi Osaka of Japan with the winners trophy and Serena Williams of the United States with the runners up trophy with Chris Evert after the Women’s Singles Final on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2018 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8th, 2018 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
The 2018 U.S. Open women’s final drew higher TV ratings than the men’s championship. The final was played between Serena Williams and upcoming talent, Naomi Osaka. This proved that there is a huge appetite for women’s sports.
Has Serena Williams and Ohanian’s investment in ACFC paid off?
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s investment in Angel City FC is also paying off. The team was able to sell 15,300 season tickets, despite not having played a single game in the league. This far outpaces the LA Galaxy, the men’s soccer team that shares the same city, demonstrating that there is clearly a market for women’s sports. The team also claims to be averaging more than 19,000 fans per game.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Though some may have been skeptical at first, it’s now evident that there is a market for professional women’s sports. Angel City FC has shattered attendance records and shown that women’s soccer can be just as popular as the men’s game.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
This is a huge win not just for ACFC, but for women’s sports as a whole. With more investment and support, women’s soccer could become one of the biggest professional sports leagues in the world.
Watch this story: Danica Patrick Was Kept in Same Bracket as Serena Williams and Cristiano Ronaldo for Prestigious Honor Back in 2018
‘Americans Would Rather Watch 2 Women in the US Open’- Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Said He ‘Doesn’t Care About’ Fans Who Downplay Women’s Sports, Earlier This Year
