Naomi Osaka invests in women's soccer franchise
Naomi Osaka hasn't been idle on business over the past few months. The three-time Grand Slam winner has acquired shares in a franchise for the National Women's Soccer League.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 29, 2021, 04:33 pm
Naomi Osaka appeared back on the tennis stage on Friday with an appearance on “A Day at the Drive” in Adelaide, but Osaka will easily get over the defeat in the match tie-break against Serena Williams . As with Serena, the focus of the Japanese is primarily on the Grand Slam tournaments, after completing the quarantine there is still plenty of time to fine-tune the Australian Open. Osaka celebrated its second major success in Melbourne in 2019, last year it failed early on Cori Gauff .
In addition to the recent triumph at the US Open, the year 2020 was also a good one financially for Naomi Osaka. Forbes Magazine estimates her income at 37 million US dollars, making the 23-year-old top of the rankings among female athletes worldwide. There is of course some room for investment - and Osaka has made one in a franchise for the National Women's Soccer League. She became a shareholder in the North Carolina Courage.
Osaka in the footsteps of Serena
"I was thinking, why not me and why not right now?" Osaka is quoted on The Athletic . She has probably found no other answer to this question than actually to strike. And thus also to walk in the footsteps of Serena Williams. It has invested in Angel City FC, a newly formed team in Los Angeles that also takes part in the American women's professional football league. Incidentally, not the first investment for Serena: She also holds shares in the Miami Dolphins with sister Venus.
"I always try to see the big picture," Osaka told The Athletic . “My business approach is to create something for the time after my career, while I'm still playing.” Naomi Osaka didn't do anything wrong in terms of sport: Courage won the last regular championship round.
"I'm very entrepreneurial and ambitious when it comes to business," Osaka said. And I'm passionate about raising awareness of women's sports and inspiring the next generation. To be an owner in the NSWL seems to be a good way to combine these two interests. "