Sue Bird joins Gotham FC as minority owner at record $40M valuation

WNBA star Sue Bird is set to join NJ/NY Gotham FC’s ownership group. The retiring Seattle Storm legend is buying a minority stake in the NWSL club, Forbes reported Thursday.

Bird is joining Gotham FC’s ownership group alongside former NFL quarterback Eli Manning. While the financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed, Sportico reported that the franchise now is valued at an NWSL-record $40 million.

BREAKING via @Sportico: Sue Bird joins Gotham FC ownership group.

Gotham is now valued at $40M, making it the most valuable team in the NWSL. pic.twitter.com/cM3pL9D0S9

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 28, 2022

Bird and Manning join Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures and former USWNT star Carli Lloyd on the roster of Gotham FC investors.

As part of the investment, Bird will act as an “advisor” to the club as it aims to increase its brand profile. Bird told Forbes that Gotham FC “met her business requirements” and that the club appears to be sustainable. The investment was also met with enthusiasm from fiance Megan Rapinoe, who plays for the NWSL’s OL Reign.

“It wasn’t a conversation,” Bird said. “It was, ‘Yeah, that sounds amazing.’”

Bird will retire upon the conclusion of this WNBA season. She announced her intent to do so on June 16. The Storm sit in fourth place in the league and well within playoff position, with the league’s top eight teams making the postseason.